this rule is utterly forgotten. I have even been assured that men professing godliness, have entertained a circle of acquaintance, so far removed from all pretence to piety, that they separated without family worship, the reason assigned, for such an omission, being the incongruity of such a service in so mixed a company. Of things like these, I have heard, but I cannot say that I have seen them. My conviction is that, if they exist at all, they are only found in the instance of persons whose apostasy from godliness has already proceeded to such a length, that should they abandon religious society altogether, the loss would be exclusively their own.

Few occurrences, in this imperfect world, are more delightful than the familiar and confiding intercourse of those whose identity of Christian character affords a pledge that their friendship will be renewed in heaven. But, even in their case, converse to be mutually profitable, must be of that order which the prophet Malachi describes ;-it must bear to be written in the book of God's remembrance, Mal. iii. 16. How little of that which passes in Christian circles is worthy of such a record, let those, who are most familiar with our best society, bear witness.

Sometimes, indeed, the social party becomes an occasion of mutual profit and of holy gladness; but, in general, its highest recommendations are rather of a negative kind, so that the retiring guest may well account it a matter of thanksgiving, to have been there, without having done, or suffered, any harm. The blame of disappointment, on such occasions, is often laid to the pastors of the flock, even when they little deserve it. They are justly expected to be "blameless," and "of good behaviour," and while "given to hospitality," to be "apt to teach," 1 Tim. iii. 2. But it is more than man can do, to lead when none will follow. Hence, seasonable and important topics are hastily dismissed, and the time which is allotted to social converse is grievously consumed in trifling conversation; so that when, at last, the Bible is brought, and the bell is rung, and the servants are summoned, for family worship, too often does it seem like a forlorn attempt to sanctify, with the word of God and with prayer, the frivolities of a most unprofitable evening.

A page, yet darker, must conclude this chapter; for the melancholy catalogue would be incomplete without the mention of a still more fearful cause of religious defection than

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any that has yet been specified. I now allude to fictitious conversion, a case of which almost every religious society can supply some examples. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have continued with us," 1 John ii. 19. Transient impressions were mistaken for a change of heart, or reformation of conduct for "newness of life." The confidence thence arising, stood for a while, but afterwards proved to have been misplaced.

Some have thought, that instances of this description, more frequently occur in seasons of special prosperity, than at any other time; on the ground, that natural sympathy with real conversion, tends to produce its unreal similitude. The supposition is plausible; but, so far as my observation has gone, facts are against it. Of those who apostatize from the faith, the vast majority will be found to consist of persons who, from early training, association, or example, gradually, and almost imperceptibly, embraced a religious profession, the maintenance of which depended on little else than the absence of temptation. At length, temptation came, and profession vanished.

But, under whatever circumstances apostasy

may occur, it is not necessary to contend that, in every instance, the parties were hypocrites. It may have been that they were only selfdeceivers, and that the imposition, which they practised on others, had first deluded their own souls. Perhaps, they were really impressed at the time; perhaps, others not more powerfully affected than themselves have proved the genuineness of their conversion by lives of faith and holiness; perhaps, some of them have closed a happy life by a happier death; and— why should the sincerity of these, their companions in awakening, have been questioned or denied? No reason was either found or suspected. They were welcomed, with the rest, as friends and brethren; but they entered the marriage feast, without the wedding garment, Matt. xxii. 11.

CHAPTER IV.

RELIGIOUS DECLENSION, AS TO ITS

CONSEQUENCES.

INTERWOVEN with all the causes which have been set forth in the preceding chapter, and oftentimes concealed so dexterously as to escape observation, runs a tissue of infernal temptation. Our adversary the devil, who as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter v. 8, adapts his stratagems to all conceivable circumstances; and, if we are ignorant of his devices, we shall not long escape them.

The consequences, therefore, of religious declension, are precisely those which a malignant spirit would most desire. Of these, there are some which relate to the individual, and others which extend to society; some which afflict the church, and others which desolate the world; some which overshadow the inte