hope and reliance on him; that his rational creatures can no other way be happy but in the attainment of these dispositions, and in the tender of that gratitude, love, and obedience, which they owe to him; and must be miserable in the contrary dispositions, which will cause the loss of his favour and benignity, which is more than life.

The early instilling of these right, just, and pious sentiments, will seldom fail of producing the happiest effects, and forming the worthiest characters. And if in any instance they are stifled and overwhelmed by the cares or deceitful pleasures of the world, they will seldom be wholly extinct; but the love of God, of virtue and goodness, will revive.

For this end, the precepts and examples of the sacred books, especially of the character of the holy Jesus, are to be put in the way of youth, to be studied and observed by them ; that they may see the happiness of the virtu ous, and the especial protection vouchsafed to them, and the misery of the wicked in being left to themselves, and to their hardened dark unsearching mind; and may view the forlorn state of the latter with horror, and catch the

holy

holy flame of love to God and goodness, and delight in those that are good.

But particularly will it be necessary to be frequent in prayer and devout application to the Almighty Father and giver of wisdom and virtue. For by such exercises the love of him and his laws, and an ingenuous fear of offending him, will be generated and promoted, and the inward principle of conscience fortified and strengthened. For never do we more feelingly perceive our own sinful defects, or more ardently desire to be delivered from them, than when brought before the immediate presence of Him, who is the fountain of purity and holiness and all perfection.

IV.

Lastly. We should all labour to have our minds well instructed in the things that are really good, worthy, and excellent; that we may not be taken up with, or lay any stress on, light trivial matters in religion, such as have no immediate connection with virtuous practice. For an attention to these will make us more easy and indifferent about things of higher importance; according to that severe denunciation

denunciation of our Lord against some men of his time; (Luke xi. 42.) "Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgement and the love of God. These ought ye to have, done, and not leave the other undone."

To keep the conscience clear, we must see that we take in the whole extent of our duty. There is no compounding or compensating for the neglect of one part, by the stricter observance of another. We are not to consult our own inclinations or desires, but the law of God, of purity and righteousness, what that demands of us. And in so doing, if our heart, our conscience, condemn us not, we may have confidence towards God. (Johniii. 21.)

But there is a false peace which some men speak to themselves; who live in the habitual commission of great crimes, without feeling any uneasiness or compunction of conscience.

This wretched and desolate state of mind, the worst of all others, is generally owing to a total neglect of religious and virtuous education in youth, or is sometimes brought on by long and headstrong indulgence to vicious irregular desires. And,

We sometimes see those, who would not be thought

thought to have cast off all hopes in a future world, so far to have lost all tenderness of conscience, as to console themselves at going out of life that they have done no harm in it: which too commonly implies no more, than that they have done nothing so as to deserve public infamy and punishment; whilst they have lived in intemperance, and in the neglect of every moral and religious duty. But it is but a poor refuge at the last, in a creature sent nto this world for improvement in all holy tempers and dispositions, that it has done no harm, if it should be truly said of any, which it cannot; for if we do no good, we do harm in the world.

At that solemn hour of our departure hence, the sweetest satisfaction and most solid comfort, is to be found in the reflection on a life well spent; or, in our apostle's language, "the testimony of our consciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world."

As examples of what is right and good, and worthy of imitation, make the deepest impressions upon us, I shall finish this head, and my discourse, with the concluding part of a letter, written by one who did honour to

the

the Christian name, the justly famous and excellent Mr. Locke, to a friend, and ordered to be delivered to him after his decease:

"May you live long and happy in the enjoyment of health, freedom, content, and all those blessings which Providence has bestowed upon you! I know you loved me living, and will preserve my memory now I am dead. All the use to be made of it is, that this life is a scene of vanity that soon passes away; and affords no solid satisfaction, but in the consciousness of doing well, and in the hopes of another life. This is what I can say, upon experience; and what you will find to be true, when you come to make up the account."

Unto God alone be glory for ever.

August 2, 1778.

SERMON

ப