we fhall, notwithstanding, even in this world, ufually be great fufferers one way or another: and, unless we become uncommonly zealous in our duty, fhall attain a much lower degree of happiness in the next. Bear in your minds therefore the fon of Sirach's words: Flee from fin, as from the face of a ferpent; for if thou comeft too near it, it will bite thee; the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, flaying the fouls of men. All iniquity is as a two-edged fword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed: cannot be healed at all, without danger and difficulty and pain; nor fo perfectly at beft, but that ftill either weaknefs, or fcars and deformities however, will be left behind. Let us therefore carefully avoid all fin: but particularly avoid all fins relating to the Holy Ghoft, and practise all duties relating to him that fo, abiding in his fellowship, being fupported by his teftimony, and rejoicing in his comfort, we may at length be fealed with the Spirit of promife, the earnest of that inheritancet, to which, &c.

Ecclus. xxi. 2, 3.

† Eph. i. 13, 14

SER.

0 2

may attack any other part of them, from fhewing itself by its common effects. And it is no more a crime, when they are in fuch a condition, to utter things even against God; than it is for a child, in convulfions or light-headed, to ftrike its parent. And though they may not think themselves disordered, and in other refpects may not be fo; yet in this want of felfgovernment, proportionably to the degree of it, they certainly are. And it makes no difference at all with regard to their innocence, whether the diforder be a natural bodily one, affecting the mind; which is notoriously the common cafe, though attended fometimes with very unaccountable fymptoms; or whether it arife from the fuggeftions of the wicked one. For as he tempted Chrift himfelf, fo he hath ever fince molested chriftians; and often fuggefted the worst of things to the best of men. Our words indeed, notwithstanding fuch temptations, we may for the most part reftrain: but we can by no means always prevent impreffions being made on our imaginations and how ftrongly foever any one may experi ence them to be made on his, ftill the wicked thoughts, which he laments all the while, is terrified at, and almost in agonies about, certainly do not procced from his own will and choice; and for that reason, far from being unpardonable fins, they are in truth no fins at all; but grievous affli&tions, for which God will hereafter reward him, if he endeavours to fuffer them patiently. This you would immediately perceive, and fay, in the cafe of any other perfon: and therefore, when occafion requires, you should fay it to yourself. But if you cannot, or if it proves to no great purpose, nay to fo little that you are driven to the very borders of defpair, yet defpair itfelf, fo far as it is a mere disease, is not an offence againft God.

But then, how remote foever we are from committing the fin, 'which cannot be pardoned; we may too eafily commit fuch, as will not be pardoned: for none will, without true repentance. And every tranfgreffion either invites or drives us into repeated and worfe tranfgrefions, which infenfibly fo harden us through their deceitfulness*, that though, while the day of falvationt continues, we always may repent, it becomes lefs and lefs likely, that we ever fhall. And even if we do,

we shall, notwithstanding, even in this world, ufually be great fufferers one way or another: and, unless we become uncommonly zealous in our duty, fhall attain a much lower degree of happiness in the next. Bear in your minds therefore the fon of Sirach's words: Flee from fin, as from the face of a ferpent; for if thou comeft too near it, it will bite thee; the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, flaying the fouls of men. All iniquity is as a two-edged fword, the wounds whereof cannot be bealed: cannot be healed at all, without danger and difficulty and pain; nor fo perfectly at beft, but that ftill either weaknefs, or fears and deformities however, will be left behind. Let us therefore carefully avoid all fin: but particularly avoid all fins relating to the Holy Ghoft, and practise all duties relating to him that fo, abiding in his fellowship, being fupported by his teftimony, and rejoicing in his comfort, we may at length be fealed with the Spirit of promise, the earnest of that inheritancet, to which, &c.

Ecclus. xxi. 2, 3.

↑ Eph. i. 13, 14

02

SER.

SERMON LII.

THE HAPPINESS OF ENJOYING SATISFYING EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY.

MATTH. xiii, 16.

But bleed are your eyes, for they fee; and your ears, for they

OUR

bear.

UR Saviour, in the parable of the fower, which occafioned thefe words, compares the reception of his doctrine in the hearts of men to that of feed in different forts of ground. Some are like the high-way, beaten and hard, an open thoroughfare to all comers and goers: there it lies loofe on the furface, and is immediately crushed under foot, or devoured by the fowls of the air: the very firft fuggeftion of the devil, the world, or the flesh, deftroys at once the effect of all the inftruction in their duty that is given them. Others refemble a light, but shallow foil, with a rock underneath: where the feed quickly fprings up, but is quickly alfo fcorched and withered. They are glad to believe, and forward to profefs, what promises the favour of God and future happinefs; but impenetrable to all attempts of a thorough change within: bad inclination refifts firmly at the bottom, while external performances måke a fpecious appearance to the eye. Whenever the time comes, that they are to fuffer or lofe any thing for doing their duty, this is much too difficult a fervice for them; they have no root fufficient to furnish them with ftrength to bear it; they are burnt up, and fhrivel away to nothing. In a third fort, the feed of the word takes deeper hold, and makes very ftrong and promifing fhoots: but thorns and bad weeds, the earlier poffeffors of the field, rife up and choak it. For thefe grow of themselves: but it requires culture, and watchfulness to root them out: inftead of which, too many plant them in the midst of the corn, intangle them

felves,.

felves, without need, in the cares and riches and pleafures of this life, which they heedlessly indulge, till every better principle is weakened, overshadowed and smothered. But fill there remains a fourth fort, who, in an boneft and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit*; yet very unequally, fome an hundred fold, fome fixty, fome thirty.

The perfons, to whom this doctrine was delivered, gave inmediate proof of its truth. The generality, fond of the thew of religion, but dreading to undertake the practice of it in earneft, bearing beard not, and feeing fuw not, to any useful purpose, what in this form of fpeech our Saviour laid before. them as indeed he declares he knew would be their cafe, and therefore defignedly used a manner of expreffion, which they would not take the trouble, small as it was, to understand.. For fuch neither deserved plainer inftructions, nor would have made any other than a bad ufe of them; which could only have increafed their guilt. Nay, his difciples themfelves apprehended his meaning, though obvious enough, but imperfectly and defired to have it explained to them. This however fhewed a good difpofition: and therefore he not only condefcends to their request, but affures them it was a happiness unfpeakable to have any degree of proper attention to, and ferious fenfe of, a thing fo infinitely important, as God's word. Blessed are your eyes, for they fee; and your ears, for they hear. A truth, which,, though applicable more eminently; beyond comparison, to thofe who heard and faw the word of life himfelf, yet must hold in proportion of all, who are taught, by the miniftry of his fervants, the chriftian doctrine. This paffage then afferts in a ftrong manner the benefit of religious inftruction: which many appear, unhappily for themselves and others, to undervalue exceedingly.

Indeed we are all very apt to overlook and flight the advan tages, that we have long enjoyed without interruption, even in our worldly affairs. Health and plenty, fafety and liberty, excite in us very little thankfulnefs: but the things of another, and, we imagine, diftant life, make a ftill fainter impreffion. Hence great numbers thoughtlessly difregard religion: and fome avowedly difbelieve it. No wonder, if many of thefe

Luke vii. 15. Matth. xiii. 14. Ib. $ Luke viii. 9.

think