blown, and then wither and fall to the ground. Year after year glides away, too often without reflection. Of nothing do we take fo little notice, as of the few years we have to live. We see a long perspective—an extensive view -drawn by the flattering pencil of Hope; but we see not the pit-falls that lie under our feet; and while we are looking at a distance, we fink, and are feen no more. In this ftate of inftability, walking on the brink of a precipice, how fhall we fix our troubled minds; where find reft to our weary feet ; on what fhall we anchor the frail bark? On the firm ground of religion. Let every year advance us more nearly to Heaven, as it brings us nearer to our diffolution. Fear God, and keep his commandments. Plain, unrefined, but folid and fubftantial, advice! Keep it with anxious folicitude, and beware of that philofophy and indifference which are prevailing in the land, diffufing mifery of all kinds, and terminating in madness and fuicide. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for as this is the whole duty, so it is the WHOLE HAPPI NESS OF MAN. SERMON X. On CONFORMITY to FASHION and the IT ROMANS, xii. 2. Be not conformed to this World. T is impoffible to admit this doctrine," "Am "I forbidden to conform to the world? "Abfurd and reprehenfible precept! It is "the business of a polite education, and the study of every man of fenfe, to acquire "fuch habits as qualify him to conform to "the world with gracefulness and address. "I look around," continues he, " and fee the "ablest and most celebrated among mankind labouring to please the world, by complying with all its extravagancies. On the other "hand, I fee those who are fingular in their ❝ opinions 66 opinions and conduct, however virtuous and "innocent they may be, the objects of cenfure ❝and of ridicule. I conclude therefore, that "the Chriftian religion does not command a "non-conformity to the world; or if it does, "that this is one among the internal evi"dences of its want of foundation." Such probably are the ideas of a worldlyminded man, on hearing the text repeated. But however he may deceive himself with false reasoning, it is evident to every candid mind, that the text forbids conformity to the world in plain and express terms, and without the poffibility of evafion. Be not conformed to this world. Language cannot more directly utter any prohibition. I affirm that the Christian religion certainly does forbid us to conform to this world, however strange it may appear to the man of the world; and, inftead of an evidence of want of truth, that this prohibition conveys an idea of its heavenly extraction. No religion but that which originated from Heaven, could teach fo fublime and magnanimous a morality. It is to be lamented that fome cautious mo→ ralists appear to be under the influence of a fear to offend, which induces them to explain away any doctrine which is unpalatable. They exercise exercise great ingenuity in devifing limitations and exceptions to rules which oppose the general inclination. But it becomes every faithful fervant of Jefus Chrift, to teach fuch doctrines as he finds in the Gospel, and as his own conscience affures him to be true, though they should appear paradoxical to proud philosophy, and impracticable to the infirmity of human nature. The minifters of the Gospel may indeed please men for their good, when they do not violate the truth or neglect their duty; but St. Paul fays, If I yet pleafed men, (by improper compliances,) I fhould not be the fervant of Chrift. However then it may displease men, it is the preacher's duty to enforce the prohibition of the text in its plain and unfophifticated meaning; which is, that the true Christian must not be conformed to this world. But it is proper to make a few obfervations on the Scriptural fenfe of the word "world." It means a predominating fyftem of conduct and fentiment opposed to good morals and true religion. It comprehends that part of mankind only who are influenced entirely or chiefly by the luft of the flesh, the luft of the eye, and the pride of life; and who, by dint of audacity and falfehood, make profelytes, and lead lead the fashion. Such perfons, even in com mon language, call themfelves the world. All who tread not in their footsteps they confider and represent as no less infignificant than obfcure. Versatility of morals and manners, and a compliance with the vices and vanities in vogue, constitute, in their opinion, the fummit of all human excellence. To have a great deal of the world*, to be perfons of fashion and of the world, is confidered as a much more defirable character, than to be an Ifraelite indeed, an honeft man, or a pious Christian. The world then in the Scriptures, when it is cenfured in the aggregate, means the wicked part of the world, which appears unhappily to conftitute fo large a part, that, by a very natural figure of fpeech, it is put for the whole. It is evident then, without any refinement, cafuiftry, or fophiftry, that nothing can be more reasonable than a prohibition to conform to a wicked world. To correct the vices of a wicked world, is the bufinefs of all morality and all religion; and if any arguments should prevail on great numbers not to conform to it, a reformation must be produced in the whole, and the wicked at laft become a mi * Avoir du Monde. nority. |