SERMON XVIII.

The CUNNING of the WICKED inconfiftent with WISDOM.

JEREMIAH, iv. 22.

They are wife to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

HERE are perfons in the world, who

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are celebrated for fhrewdness and fagacity; who understand business, who know how to acquire money in abundance, and to preserve and improve their acquifitions; but who, at the fame time, are acknowledged to have no pretenfions to goodness of heart, or that kind of wisdom which the Scriptures recommend. They are known to do many things, which, if they are ftrictly juft, are hard; they are tormented by continual anxiety and fufpicion; and however they may boast of wisdom, they are certainly guilty of exC c

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treme folly, if to renounce innocence, a good conscience, and tranquillity, can deserve that appellation.

I fhall think our time and attention well employed, in endeavouring to convince them of their error, and to lead them from falfe wisdom and false happiness, to fuch conduct as produces enjoyments at once fubftantial and durable.

Different men appear to view the world with different degrees of attachment to it. Some are so paffionately fond of it, as to determine at all events, and whatever it may coft them, to poffefs a confiderable fhare of it. They obferve, that more is to be gained by art and cunning, than by real merit and fincerity. They learn to watch for opportunities favourable to their defigns; and if, in the course of their negociations, they find a man who is unfufpicious, because he is honeft, they felect him as their proper and natural prey, and as furnishing full fcope for the practice of their artful machinations. They are, it must be acknowledged, too often fuccessful; for the good are not on equal terms with the wicked, in the contests for worldly profit and preferment. But what do they gain of real and durable fatisfaction? If their gains

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are weighed against the pleasures of a good conscience and a good character, they will be found light as the duft in the balance. The honeft man whom they over-reach, is far happier than they, even though he should be fo far injured by them as to be reduced to poverty. It is better to be cheated, than to cheat. The worldly wife man does not see his folly in the midft of worldly affluence. He trufts in riches and honours, and exalted station; but the time will certainly arrive, when he will feel the weakness, or rather madness, of putting his truft in any thing but the approbation of conscious virtue, and the wellgrounded hopes which the Christian religion must always afford to the faithful.

There are others, who value themselves greatly on their skill in games of chance; who live apparently for no other purpose, but to shake the dice, or to win and lose by any other cafual contingencies. It must be acknowledged, that many of their sports and games require a great deal of ingenuity and care in the fuccessful practice of them. But they incur great temptation to wrong, and frequently commit it, when engaged in play with those who are not equally skilful in the various games, and in the doctrine of chances. Their

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Their characters are thus fullied, and their peace of mind interrupted. They are afraid of detection. They are afraid of a viciffitude of fortune, and indeed often experience it. They are either elevated with joy beyond all the bounds of reason, or they are depreffed with grief in the fame degree. Their grief often terminates in defpair; for none are found to be guilty of fuicide fo frequently, as gamefters by profeffion. After all their pretenfions to fenfe and judgment, can they justly be esteemed wife, or even able men, who pursue such a course of life, as is inconfiftent with peace and reputation?

There are again many who value themfelves on those polite accomplishments and fhining arts, which enable them to feduce the innocent to ruin, and to destroy the happiness of families. Their arts are fubtle, their behaviour refined; and they too often fucceed in the immediate objects of their pursuit. But they pay a dear price for all their acquifitions. They are avoided by all decent and respectable perfons, as soon as their characters are known. They are loaded with the reproaches of those whom they have deeply injured, and they are stung by remorse. What avail an infinuating address and an art

ful management, an affiduous attention and an unwearied perfeverance in pursuit, if the refult is infamy, anguish, and repentance?

How much happier it had been for the feducers themselves, as well as for fociety, if they had exerted their agreeable and active powers in sweetening domeftic intercourfe, and adding to the security and comfort of family connexion? Many a broken heart would have beat with joy at their presence, and taken refuge under their protection. O that ye could bear witness to the villany and folly of seduction, ye numerous tribes both of men and women, who have been brought by its confequences to an untimely grave! I wish it were poffible to call you from your clay-cold manfions, to appal with your pale and forrowful looks the gay, the riotous, the unthinking debauchee, who, like the evil fpirit, goes about Seeking whom he may devour, and prides himself on that cunning which enables him to diffufe deep and lafting mifery for the fake of selfish and momentary gratification.

Liften, young man, and return from the paths that lead to deftruction, while a return is practicable! Thousands have tried the course of life which you purfue, and have, with a figh, confeffed that it is deceitful; and that, though

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