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ordered ftate, in which mankind have chofen SERM. to dwell? What turbulence and uproar, what contests and quarrels, would perpetually reign in it? What man of common understanding would not rather chufe to dwell in a defart, than to be affociated for life with fuch companions? Shall, then, the fcoffer prefume to make light of thofe virtues, without which there could be neither peace, nor comfort, nor good order, among mankind?

Let him be defired to think of his domeftic fituation and connections. Is he a father, a husband, or a brother? Has he any friend or relation, male or female, in whofe happiness he is interested?Let us put the queftion to him, whether he be willing that intemperance, unchaflity, or dif sipation of any kind, fhould mark their character? Would he recommend to them fuch exceffes? Would he chufe in their prefence, openly, and without difguife, to fcoff at the oppofite virtues, as of no confequence to their welfare?-If even the moft licentious fhudders at the thought; if, in the midst of his loofe pleasures, he be defirous that his own family fhould remain untainted; let this teach him the value of those private

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SERM. private virtues, which in the hours of diffi pation, in the giddinefs of his mind, he is ready to contemn. Banish sobriety, temperance, and purity, and you tear up the foundations of all public order, and all domeftic quiet. You render every house a divided and miferable abode, refounding with terms of fhame, and mutual reproaches of infamy. You leave nothing respectable in the human character. You change the man into a brute.

THE Conclufion from all the reasoning which we have now purfued is, that religion and virtue, in all their forms, either of doctrine or of precept; of piety towards God, integrity towards men, or regularity in private conduct; are fo far from affording any grounds of ridicule to the petulant, that they are intitled to our higheft veneration; they are names which should never be mentioned, but with the utmost honour. It is faid in Scripture, Fools make a mock at fin*. They had better make a mock at peftilence, at war, or famine. With one who fhould chufe these public calamities for the fubject • Prov. xiv. 9.

of

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of his fport, you would not be inclined to SERM. affociate. You would fly from him, as worse than a fool; as a man of diftempered mind, from whom you might be in hazard of receiving a fudden blow. Yet certain it is, that to the great fociety of mankind, fin is a greater calamity, than either peftilence, or famine, or war. These operate, only as occafional causes of mifery. But the fins and vices of men are perpetual fcourges of the world. Impiety and injuftice, fraud and falfehood, intemperance and profligacy, are daily producing mischief and disorder; bringing ruin on individuals; tearing families and communities in pieces; giving rife to a thousand tragical fcenes on this unhappy theatre. In proportion as manners are vicious, mankind are unhappy. The perfection of virtue which reigns in the world above, is the chief fource of the fect bleffedness which prevails there.

per

When, therefore, we obferve any tendency to treat religion or morals with dif respect and levity, let us hold it to be a fure indication of a perverted understanding, or a depraved heart. In the feat of the fcorner let us never fit. Let us account that wit con

taminated,

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SERM. taminated, which attempts to fport itself on facred fubjects. When the fcoffer arises, let us maintain the honour of our God, and our Redeemer; and refolutely adhere to the caufe of virtue and goodness. The lips of the wife utter knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is near to defluction. Him that honoureth God, God will honour. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wifiom: and be that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own foul:

SERMON XIX.

On the CREATION of the WORLD.

GENESIS, i. I.

In the beginning God created the heaven, and

the earth.

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SUCH is the commencement of the hif-, SERM. tory of mankind; an æra, to which we muft ever look back with folemn awe and veneration. Before the fun and the moon had begun their courfe; before the found of the human voice was heard, or the name of man was known; in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.To a beginning of the world, we are led back by every thing that now exifts; by all hiftory, all records, all monuments of antiquity. tracing the transactions of paft ages, we arrive at a period, which clearly indicates the infancy

In