305 be remembered as a maxim, that whenever it is in a man's power, it is at the fame time his duty. Let not indolence prevail on any man to neglect this duty, for he can in no respect be active to fo good a purpose; and let not any one presume to fay, It is not my business, and why should I interfere? but let him recollect, that there is a great difference between the interference of a busy-body, and of a Christian actuated by pure benevolence. The one is influenced by selfish motives, and the gratification of his own curiofity; the other acts from humanity, and a fenfe of his duty as a follower of Jefus Christ.

But while we endeavour to prevent evil in others, we must keep a conftant eye over ourselves, to prevent our own corruption. Many and great are the miseries of life into which they fall, who are not upon their guard to watch the beginnings of evil, and to check the first tendencies to deviation from virtue. To gain wisdom by experience of the pains and penalties of folly, is a coftly purchase. How much better to prevent the wound from festering, than, after fuffering much anguish, to find at last a tardy cure!

But as we are weak, and, after our best endeavours, unable of ourselves to help ourX felves,

felves, let us never omit to feek affiftance of him who has taught us to fupplicate him daily for deliverance from evil. And he can deliver. His grace, his preventing grace, will be a shield against all the fiery darts of the wicked one. In his ftrength our weakness shall triumph.

God is able to forefee confequences in their causes; to fee evil likely to become the fruit, while the bloffom appears to us goodly, and worthy to be cherished with all our care. Το him, then, let us have recourse for guidance and support, as we fojourn here in the pilgrimage of life. We must do our utmost for ourselves, but after all depend upon him. His hand acting in fecret, like the magnetic influence on the needle, fhall guide the feet of the faithful into the paths of peace. His hand unseen, like the repellent power of electricity, shall turn away many a dart dipt in poison, and pointed at our vitals. He fhall guard us from the peftilence that walketh at midnight, and from the arrow that flieth at noon-day. To him, then, let us fly for fuccour; duly remembering to be thankful for the many deliverances from evil unknown, and dangers unfufpected, which every one here affembled has frequently experienced; though

though peradventure at the time unconscious of the mercy. O let us all join in one voice of gratitude, and fay, Blessed be the Lord God of Ifrael, who hath preserved us to this day, and enabled us to meet in his prefence, as at this time; and blessed be the means of grace, which he has now and often afforded us; and blessed be his Providence, who has not led us into temptation without a way to escape; and who, in inftances more in number than tongue can tell, has delivered us from the evil in which our own folly and wickedness would have involved us for ever!

SERMON

XIV.

On pursuing visionary SCHEMES of HAPPINESS, without attending to Scripture, and revealed Religion.

JEREMIAH, ii. 13.

Men forfake the fountains of living water, and hew them out cifterns, broken cifterns, that can hold no water.

IT

T is true, that every rational creature poffeffes a right to judge for himself in every thing which concerns the choice of his principles, either in religion or morality; but it is also true, that every one is by no means qualified to exercise this right, without instruction and advice. Many want natural abilities, to form a fafe judgment in affairs of importance; and many are not sufficiently furnished with the observations of experience. But it is obfervable, that when the choice is once made, however weakly or ignorantly, and to what

ever

ever evil it may lead, it is ufually retained with a degree of perseverance, which may be juftly termed invincible obftinacy.

It is then of great confequence to direct men rightly in fixing their choice. This is not difficult. Every one can point out the broad path of the national religion, and of the morality derivable from revelation. The difficulty confifts, in perfuading men to walk in the right way, without deviating into error. A thousand temptations in the external world, a thousand internal paffions and infirmities, unite their force, to allure and drive men from the straight path, into the dangerous obliquities of error.

In infancy, fome care is commonly beftowed to inculcate good principles. The catechifm is taught, and the Bible read. This early inftruction yields, after the boyish age, to the pursuit of fuch accomplishments as contribute to adorn the mind, or furnish it with lucrative science. The youth steps out into the world, and before he has quite entered it, his ears are addreffed by a charmer, to whofe voice it is difficult not to liften with delight. Pleasure, which, during the period of tutelage, engaged only a part of her votary's attention, now ufurps the whole of it.