lightened conscience. Let appetite and passion be at rest; let vanity and folly be awed into silence; and I scruple not to assert that religion will enshrine itself in every heart as the truth of the Most High.

The arrival of the commissioned angels in Sodom; and the character of Lot, made venerable by wisdom, integrity, and piety; ought to have recommended the annunciation of the approaching event to the belief of his family. But is not religion conveyed and confirmed to us by the only begotten Son of God-the word made flesh-celestial wisdom sojourning on earth in human form? O ye, who are in search of truth, what would ye more? After the attested manifestation, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let the gainsayer be dumb-let hesitancy be ashamed.

The family of Lot might have discovered the probable truth of the denunciation of which they were notified, in an event which had already occurred in Sodom: I allude to the blindness with which the heavenly strangers had affected the mob that surrounded the house of their entertainer. In like manner we ought to be convinced of the reality of that future awful and impartial reckoning which religion foretels as the sanction of its obligations, by a faithful retrospect of the various other predictions it has published. Consider the subversion of the cities of the plain, and the extermination of their inhabitants: Consider the universal deluge of waters from above and from beneath, from which Noah and his household alone were permitted to escape: both which manifestations of divine justice were alike foretold and disregarded: consider these events; and tell us if there is not a God who judgeth in the earth. Consider these events; and tremble at the sure prospect of a judgment to come. Listen to the reasoning of an apostle: "If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness; bringing

in the flood upon the world of the ungodly: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished."*

In the second place-Although religion be an affair thus solemn-thus momentous-thus unquestionable--how many are there, nevertheless, who appear, like the sons-in-law of Lot, to treat it as if it were a mockery?

That I do not speak unadvisedly, a few observations may convince you. Attend to the opinions entertained by the greater part of mankind on the subject of religion. Do they seem to you to consider themselves as under an obligation strictly and scrupulously to cultivate a religious life? Enforce upon them the distinguishing principles of the gospel. Recommend to them the love of God and the love of man. Exhort them to renounce the world; to deny themselves; to take up their cross; to be humble, lowly, contrite; to forgive enmity, and return good for evil, blessing for cursing. What, in general, will be the consequence? They will arraign your system as oppressively severe. They will deny that to embrace it is their indispensable duty. But would they arraign your system, would they recede from their duty, if they were convinced that the matters proposed to them were serious truths?

Attend, again, to the external deportment of most men. They, whom the kinsman of Abraham warned of the approach of a signal desolation, evinced their mistrust of the admonition by remaining in the menaced city. In like manner, is it not obvious that multitudes of those who name the name of Christ, persist in refusing to depart from iniquity, however faithful and vigorous the efforts made to reclaim them?

2. Pet. ii. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9.

Sinners: the ministers of religion, anxious to pluck you as brands out of the burning, endeavour to make you sensible of the tremendous consequences of enmity to God. Did

we not seem unto you "as those who mocked," could you be content to sit down in calm indifference, persevering in iniquity, and fearless of the gathering storm?

We tell you, that, unless you be born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God: that you must love and serve God here, if you would aspire to his presence in Heaven: that wisdom's ways are ways of peace, while the paths of the destroyer, vice, lead down to the pit: that righteous dispositions, and subjected passions and affections, must be your preparation for a judgment to come. Did we not seem unto you "as those who mocked," would you delay your conversion? would you say to us, go thy way for this time; at a more convenient season we will listen unto thee?

You often hear from us that sensual indulgence is poison to the soul: that pleasure, inordinately pursued, is the grave of virtue and tranquillity. Did we not seem unto you "as those who mocked,” would you still with unresisting submission wear the fetters of voluptuousness?

Contrast the conduct of numbers when the world courts their regard, with that which they exhibit when religion puts in her claim. The contrast, unfortunately for them, is so marked, that the most inattentive observer cannot fail to perceive it. The persons to whom I refer, (and there are multitudes of them) will act, in the affairs of this world, with deliberation, steadiness, perseverance, engagedness, vigour, and zeal. However intrinsically inconsiderable the interest which excites their pursuit, they are diligent--they are provident-they are indefatigable-they invite counselthey submit to rebuke-all their faculties are alive--every procurable resource is put in requisition. But the most weighty of all concerns, alas! how is it slighted! Here, inquiry is painful-here, conversation troublesome-here, ardour is extinguished--exertion loses its spring--opportuni

ty passes by unimproved-and year follows year into the Eternal Presence with the record of impenitency and obduracy. But, were this whole business of religion viewed as any thing better than an idle deception, could men be thus infatuated?

In the third place.--Whence does this dreadful infatuation arise? Why is it that God, and they who speak for God, should seem unto any "as those who mock them?"

An unbelieving temper, and a worldly mind, wrought upon the sons-in-law of Lot, and induced them to undervalue the counsels of their venerable relation. An unbelieving temper, and a worldly mind; a disposition to doubt when God speaks; and an overweaning attachment to, things present and temporal; a predeliction for the walk of sight, in contempt of the walk of faith; these form the sources of opposition to religion in every age. I speak not now of the avowedly profane-of the unblushing infidel. I speak of unbelief in the household of faith-of irreligion in the external family of the Saviour. The majority of the nominal friends of Christ have as little of the true and saving faith as his undisguised enemies. Nor can it be otherwise. In early life they are uninstructed by those whose duty, whose privilege, and whose interest it is, to "train them up in the way they should go;" "to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." In consequence of this neglect, they are averse in riper years, to study and meditation on these subjects. Whatever good impressions they may have accidentally received, are checked by the cares and the pleasures of after life. Under these circumstances, what wonder if divine things be regarded as mockery by the eye of an unimproved, if not a perverted intellect?

Indeed, so far are many who call themselves Christians from possessing the true and beneficial faith of Jesus, that they encourage themselves in notions diametrically opposed. to it, and fundamentally subversive of it: notions, calculated to banish the fear of God from the bosom of man. God,

say they, is too lenient and compassionate to execute his threatenings. Were he to execute them, what multitudes, and among them how many of our dearest friends, would perish! And, after all, who is there amongst us, that can lead such a life as the evangelical system requires?

Now, that men reasoning in this way, should cordially: embrace religion, is not to be supposed. That they should -yield a ready assent to the promises, and, especially, to the comminations of christianity, is not to be expected.

An unbelieving temper, however, is not more inimical to the reception of sacred truth than is a worldly mind. The love of the pleasant places and goodly heritage of Sodom, prevented the perverse part of Lot's family from profiting by his careful admonitions.. The love of the world, its pleasures, its wealth, and its honours, cannot co-exist, in equality of influence, with religious sentiment. The one, or the other, must give place; and, as present feeling will generally be consulted by the infirmity of lapsed nature in preference to the expectations of futurity, worldly-mindedness too often succeeds in banishing the superiour affection. Yes, my brethren: when we see you disposed to revolt against the salutary restraints of religion, the inference cannot be evaded, that the love of this perishing--this treacherous world, is paramount in your hearts: that you are strangers to the powers of the world to come: and that the unsullied and undecaying glories of the kingdom of heaven in vain solicit your aspirations. You love this world! In other words, you love a nothing! A nothing, did I say? Alas! would it were nothing! You love that which every day betrays your hopes, and will, sooner or later, pierce you through with ten thousand sorrows; and, at the same time, you pour contempt upon an inheritance which fadeth not away; you lightly esteem a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory; you impiously reject a crown of unalloyed and immortal splendour!

In the fourth, and last place.--What have they to expect, who are chargeable with such deplorable infatuation? Thus

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