or reverence ourselves? Drunkenness, therefore, is a vice which unfits us for living in this world, and takes away all hopes, all rational hopes, of the other.

On this foundation, how many other offences are built? Offences, like so many steps, leading gradually to destruction. Yet how can we wonder at these consequences, when the reason of a man is lulled asleep, all traces of instruction and Christian information are eradicated, and the propensities of mere animal nature alone are suffered to prevail? Then be no longer deceived-call your ways to remembranceand while you are shut out from society, correct those vices which you learned in it from your profligate companions. Correct that contempt which you have too long indulged for the worship and service of Almighty God. Think with horror on the profane language you have used, when, inflamed with wine, religion and things sacred have been the subjects of your conversation. What shall we say to the habitual swearer? to him who never mentions God without blaspheming his name? Or how shall we hear the meek and holy Jesus called upon as a spectator of riot, and witness to a lie? How shall we bear that lewd and obscene discourse which is too common where drunkenness abounds? In your present situation, offences of this nature cannot but strike you with the greatest force; however you may have despised things serious and sacred, in the day of dissipation,

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pation, and in the fulness of bread, in this hour of reflection you must look upwards to the Creator of Heaven and Earth, for, at this time, you feel yourselves in want of his protection. At this hour, when you are expecting the inflictions of justice, you must reverence that revelation, which brings a Saviour to your view, by whose merits and intercession only you can hope for salvation. No longer, then, indulge yourselves in blasphemies and profane jests, no longer use your tongue, which was made to bless the Lord, for the purpose of deceiving and injuring your neighbour, or in impious conversation; but remember, that the Gospel expressly inforins you, that "by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt. xii. 37.

And if discourses thus offend, what shall we say to real acts of lewdness and debauchery? Some, perhaps of this audience will acknowledge, that as well as drunkenness, intemperance of this nature hath brought them to this place. A description from the writings of Solomon will speak all that I would wish to say upon this head."I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. And behold there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through

his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life:" [Prov. vii. 1, &c.for his life indeed! The train of dismal consequences, attendant on such a connection, is too melancholy almost for reflection. And if any of you, unhappy sojourners, in this house of sorrow! have but too much reason to regret that you have fallen victims before this shrine, let tears and prayers endeavour to expiate your offences, looking stedfastly towards him, "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." Hab. i. 13. Into heaven nothing that defileth can enter. The spiritual nature of that kingdom is unfit for those, that love impurity, and rejoice in the indulgence of licentious actions. Remember, therefore, before it be too late, that "neither drunkards, nor adulterers, nor fornicators, nor unclean persons, can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." 1 Cor. vi. 9.

There is yet another vice I shall mention, which originates in evil communications, corrupts the best manners, and destroys the largest fortunes and the most generous dispositions. After having given this account of its effects, will it be necessary to say, that GAMING is the fault I would condemn? The gamester, in general, cannot plead in his excuse, the gratification of sensual passions. Cool and collected he pursues his way, nor stops his career, till he is obliged to do so by inevitable ruin and destruction. Then madness and despair succeed; and his misérable life is ended amidst the groans of disappointed am

bition,

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bition, and the pangs of a wounded conscience. Argument is less necessary on this subject, where so many fatal examples offer themselves to our view. What fills our prisons and our hospitals? The shadows of men once gay and thoughtless, whose incomes were not equal to their extravagance, who endeavouring by unlawful means to enrich themselves, having fallen sacrifices to their idol, and have nothing now to shew, but health destroyed by dissipation, and fortunes made bankrupt by their vices.

Of the miserable straits to which men are reduced by drunkenness, licentiousness, and gaming, many of you, my unhappy brethren, are melancholy witnesses. From one or other, or perhaps all of these causes, for they are all united in one band of iniquity, you have been removed from happy homes, and are now fast bound in misery and iron." The history of your crimes which I have begun I must pursue; though the recollection may wound every fibre of your hearts. Yet you must know, that the end of correction is happiness; for "no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. xii. 11.

Were it represented to a man, at his first entrance on a course of sin, that he would rise by degrees to the commission of the greatest enormities, it is probable the yet unextinguished spirit of natural virtue would prompt him to exF 5 claim

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claim with Hazael, "Am I dog, that I should do this thing?" 2 Kings viii. 13. Experience, however, teaches that such is the state of human life, and too many instances have we even in this assembly, to doubt for a moment the truth of the assertion. When the drunkard first begins to apply himself to intemperance, when the man of pleasure, as he is called, follows without suspicion the intricate windings of the strange woman, when the gamester endeavours to relieve an occasional distress, by running the hazard of the die; each of them would loudly resent any reflection on their honour or their honesty, and disdain the idea, that their conduct, by a straight course, leads to theft, to robbery, to murder.. Yet all these dreadful consequences have arisen from beginnings of no greater size than these. It is an old observation, that no man arrives at once at the height of wickedness. Cautious, therefore, should he tread, when he first ventures into the ocean of sin, for his next footstep may plunge him into a pit of destruction, from whence he will never be delivered.

The history of the life of almost every of fender commences with a recital of small transgressions. To supply those necessities, created by idleness and a profligate manner of living, he pilfers and purloins whatever accident throws. in his way. The admonitions of parents and friends he disregards, the observation of the sabbath and public instruction he totally neglects.. Companions, as dissolute as himself, encourage