denly affaulted and flain, not being able to defend themselves. And there is abundant reason to conclude, that if the people of Ifrael had been lefs addicted to gluttonous defires, they would not so often have fallen into idolatry; to which their fenfuality inclined them, being tempted by the feasts in honor of heathen idols. Thus St. Paul defcribes them, 1 Cor. x. 7. The people fat down to eat and drink, and rofe up to play. And as they by coveting to please their appetites, were tempted to forfake the Lord their God, fo are we enticed to confent unto all manner of wickednefs, when our hearts are overpowered with revelling, and drunkennefs. It was during the intemperance of a banquet, and under the influence of wine and high fpirits, that by an unguarded compliance, Herod fo cruelly fealed the murder of the holy Baptift, at the requeft of the daughter of his unlawful miftrefs. Again, had not the rich voluptuary in the gofpel, been fo totally devoted to the gratification of his own appetites, he could never have acted fo unmercifully towards the diftreffed Lazarus, nor would he have had caufe to repent of his unfeeling dispofition in the midft of unchangeable torments. Further, what led to the fingular vengeance of God, against thofe abominable cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? If you read the xvith of the prophet Ezekiel, and 49th verfe, you will find it thus refolved, Behold this was the iniquity of thy fifter Sodcm: pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in ber, neither did fhe ftrengthen the hand of the poor and needy. It is manifeft from this account that their proud and dainty feaftings, their continual floth, and want of humanity towards the poor, by degrees involved them in fuch deteftable courfes, as hurried them to quick deftruction. Innumerable are the dreadful effects of this one vice, that might be brought both from profane as well as facred hiftory, to alarm mankind from fuch excess: VOL. I. whereby

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whereby men of the braveft fpirits, and most eminent talents, fubmit to be enslaved by the most levelling, and degrading of all human vices. After a certain degree of indulgence, they have no power to refift the force of the temptations. The more they drink, the more they want. One luxurious entertainment leads on to the defire of another. And hence comes the common proverb, that a drunken man is always thirfty, and a glutton never filled.

To conclude, as we too fadly experience that through the depravity of our fallen nature, the lufts and affections of mankind are truly insatiable; all that we can do is to learn to rule them by the fear of God, and a due regard to the welfare of our fouls. We must strive to conquer our most prevalent paffions, and every finful appetite, left we kindle God's difpleasure against us. St. Paul directs us to an excellent rule, whenever we feel difpofed to gratify forbidden defires, you will find it in 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do; do all to the glory of God. This is a fafe measure of action, how far we may proceed without incurring fin and angering God. This will prevent us from gratifying all animal appetites, beyond what is needful to ftrengthen the body, or to recruit and cheer the fpirits; and from rendering the foul incapable of praifing God in purity for all his benefits to his unworthy creatures. Take this then for your unerring guide; that whofoever fo far tranfgreffes the bounds of moderation, as to fall fhort of ferving God in all becoming fobernefs and truth, and with the utmost decency of behavior, he has facrificed to improper lufts, and may depend upon it, unless he fpeedily repents, and thoroughly reforms, he will fooner or later experience the due punishment which fuch mifconduct merits. Let all who are unhappily dead to any proper fense of shame and holinefs, and who perfift to make a mock at fin, confider ferioufly, this folemn, and most interesting

truth,

truth, that there can be no pardon or mercy without repentance; that repentance is of no avail without amendment; and that amendment will never take place, without ufing thofe means of grace that God prescribes, in order to obtain his help and favor: these are conftant prayer, fhunning all bad company and temptation, and the ftrictest watchfulness over our own ways. What further arguments may ftill be used to diffuade you from continuing in fuch vices, will compofe the fubject of the next difcourfe. In the mean time, may God bless what has now been faid for the improvement of all whom these exhortations most concern; through the merits and mediation of Jefus Chrift, to whom, &c.

DISCOURSE XXIII.

A fecond Difcourfe against Gluttony and Drunkenness.

ROMANS xiii. 13, 14.

Let us walk honeftly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provihon for the flesh to fulfil the lufts thereof.

a former difcourfe upon these words, it was

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highly displeasing to Almighty God, is the abufe of thofe good creatures, which he has moft mercifully provided for our refreshment and fupport, and not for the ends of wasteful profuseness, or vicious indulgence. The truth of this has been abundantly proved, both from the exprefs precepts of Holy Writ, and the dreadful punishments therein recorded to have been vifited upon offenders of this defcription. But as many are grofsly ignorant of the true spirit of God's commands; and alfo fo enslaved by a depraved nature, as to fuffer the influence of fenfual defires to prevail against the force of all the fevere threatenings and judgments already mentioned; as fuch will perhaps be fooner touched (upon felfish principle) by the prefent mischief that may befal them, than by any

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that