, XII. as have carried their purfuit of pleasure S ER M. to the most criminal excefs; a clafs, in which few if any, will admit that they deferve to be ranked.-They who are only beginning the course of vicious pleasure, and who fin within prescribed bounds, may reckon with certainty on their bearing a fhare of the evils and miferies which I have described. Not only fo, but having once entered on an irregular course, they cannot tell where they are to stop. They have drunk from the cup of the enchantrefs; and being fairly brought within the magic circle, their powers of reflection are laid asleep, and to make an escape may not be in their power. To fome, it may perhaps appear, that the whole ftrain of this discourse refers only to the rich and the great; and that perfons of moderate fortune, and of the middle ranks of life, who form the great body of fociety, have little or no concern in it. But this is entirely a mistake. Splendid fortune, and high birth or rank, afford, beyond doubt, the strongest and most frequent temp tations XII. SERM. tations to the loose indulgence of every enjoyment. But throughout all ranks the danger extends of being milled by pleasure in some of its forms. In this country, where wealth and abundance are fo much diffuffed over all stations; where it is well known that the inferiour orders of men are perpetually preffing upon those who are above them, and following them in their manners, a life of diffipation is perhaps not lefs frequent among the middle than among the higher claffes of fociety. The modes of amufement may not be fo refined. The entertainments and pleasures may be of a groffer kind. But in many an inferiour circle, there prevails as much love of pomp and fhow, as much proportional extravagance in expence, as much rivalry in the competition of paffions and pleafures, as in the most fashionable and courtly affemblies. Sober reflections are as much laid afide; the gratification of vanity and the indulgence of pleasure, are purfued with equal eagerness.Let us therefore, my brethren, in whatever rank of life this as SER M. life we are placed, proceed upon XII. VOL. V. U SERMON XIII. On the Confcience void of Offence. SERM. ACTS, xxiv. 16. Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a confcience void of offence toward God and toward men. THES HESE words were fpoken by the XIII. Apostle Paul, in the courfe of that manly and fpirited defence which he made for himself, when accused of fedition and impiety before Felix the Roman Governour. He vindicates himself from the charges brought against him; but boldly avows his principles, conceals no part he had acted, gives up no doctrine he had taught, XIII. taught, and, with the firm conscious- S ER M. nefs of innocence, appeals to his enemies themselves for the unblemished integrity of his life and character. In To maintain always a confcience void of offence toward God and toward men, is a degree of virtue, to which, in its full extent, none can lay claim. For who is there among the fons of men that can pretend, on every occafion, throughout his whole life, to have preferved a faultlefs conduct? How few days indeed, go over our heads wherein something does not pass, in which our behaviour has not been altogether correct, or free from every offence? the present imbecility and fallen state of human nature, he is the worthiest person who is guilty of the fewest offences towards God or towards man. But though the character referred to in the text be not attainable by us in a complete degree, it is the character to which we must all ftudy to approach; to come as near to it as the weakness of our nature admits; fo that neither in piety towards God, nor in focial duties towards U 2 |