only points which are of essential importance to them; points inseparably connected with their real felicity, both in this life, and in the life of the world to come. To persons who will not permit themselves to think-to reflect--to be serious—reason ceases to be a light-the Bible becomes a dead letter-and the occurrences of providence, so many fortuitous accidents, without guidance, and without design. It is only he who is in the habit of communing with his own heart, and whose spirit maketh diligent search, that can become a proficient in the science of religious truth and duty. What can he know of the divine Being, or his works and ways, who never turns his contemplations upon these noblest of objects? What can she know of herself, who is always abroad in quest of what may not immediately concern her, and seldom, or never, at home, exploring her own heart, and meditating on the end and aim of her existence? Now, if acquaintance with these interesting subjects be desirable, how much is that inconsideration to be reprobated which detains us from it?

SECOND. This same fault deadens the moral sensibilities of men. If the opinion be well founded, that before a bad man can be converted, or turned to that which is right, he must be convinced that he is a bad man, and that his principles and deportment are wrong; it is equally certain that before he can be convinced, he must be brought to reflection. How can we reach the conscience wrapped up in the security of indifference; or diverted from our appeal by the seductions of unreflecting levity? Unless we can prevail upon the sinner to make a solemn pause, and deliberately to inquire what that thing is which we call sin, and which we affirm to be exceedingly sinful, and in the divine view abominable and detestable; unless we can prevail upon him impartially to scrutinize his own actions; unless we can prevail upon him to open his eyes and fix his thoughts on the perilous issues of unrepented vice; vain is the hope that we may bring him into the fold of salvation, or reclaim him from sinful habits. He will be unconscious of alleged

guilt.

He will be insensible to threatened misery. The longer he indulges himself in this absence of serious thought, the more difficult it will become to work upon his apprehensions. The susceptibility, of which, at first, the operations were but dormant, will at length be extinct; and what began in lethargy, will end in death.

THIRD. Inconsideration renders men criminally and dangerously indifferent to the great salvation of the gospel. Not reflecting that God is angry with the wicked every day, it is not to be expected that they will seek to be reconciled to him. Not aware that without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin, it is not to be imagined that they will avail themselves of the blood of sprinkling, dropping from the wounds of that Lamb of God who only taketh away the sin of the world. Unimpressed with the conviction that they come from a degenerate stock, that they have lost the moral image of their Maker, and that of themselves they are incompetent for any thing of value in the sight of spotless excellence; it would be no better than absurdity to suppose that they will discern the necessity of divine succours, or feel an impulse to pray for the influences of God's renovating and quickening spirit. "They that are whole, need not a physician," said the Master, "but they that are sick."* And surely we may add, that neither will these apply to the physician, unless they believe themselves to be sick, and in need of his services. It is true, we readily admit, in a certain sense, that every man who wears the Christian name pays respect to the Christian salvation. Amongst all the sinners with which Zion abounds, there is not an invidual who does not hope for happiness, and who does not profess to hope for it, through the name of Christ. But what we have to deplore is, that from this unfortunate temper of inconsideration, the hope is too often such an one as must eventuate in shame; a groundless, treacherous, and destructive hope.

* Matth. ix. 12.

FOURTH.-Inconsideration reduces and detains men under bondage to corrupt affections. A little sobriety of thought, one should imagine, is all that is wanted to demonstrate to the sinner that every lust is a tyrant, and every vicious habit slavery of the vilest and most ignoble species. Men may glory in rejecting what they are pleased to call the fetters of superstition; they may revolt against the salutary restraints of wisdom and religion, as against a yoke too grievous to be borne. But while they call themselves free, and promise freedom to all who will adhere to them, they are, in truth, the bond slaves of corruption, the veriest drudges in the service of Satan. Their boasted liberty is much like that political licentiousness which has never yet failed to settle down into despotism. Happy they whom the Son of God shall enfranchise! Happy they who' submit to the influences of true religion!-For where the spirit of the Lord is, there, and there only, is liberty. But who are they? Shew me the persons thus made free, and thus voluntarily submitting to the wholesome government of divine grace. Shew me these, and I will shew you in them men who have accustomed themselves to think with seriousness and sobriety; women who have brought themselves to believe that they were placed in this world, and made to occupy the stations of daughters, wives, and mothers, for some better purpose than to dress, to dance, to sing, to visit, and be admired. It is not to be expected that persons blind to their real situation; persons too thoughtless and careless to be convinced that they are enthralled by sinful principles and affections which say to them, come, and straightway they come; which say to them, go, and with a promptitude of obedience, equally despicable, they go; it is not to be expected that these unthinking persons will arise from their degraded posture, and assert the holy liberty of redeemed Christians; of enlightened believers; or of understanding

men.

FIFTH.--Inconsideration contributes more, perhaps, than

any other thing to the victories of temptation. Temptation is indebted to this cause for by far the largest proportion of its power; and generally retires from a conflict with the man of thought and reflection. But inasmuch as human nature is encompassed with infirmities; inasmuch as the things of the present life assume a diversity of forms, each captivating to the senses, the appetites, and the passions; and inasmuch as our nature has to struggle, not only against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickednesses in high places; against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against our original enemy, who is still intent upon our destruction; how can they be safe who will not permit themselves to reflect upon their dangers? How can they escape present infelicities and future perdition who leave the passes to their hearts unguarded by serious consideration? Persons who cannot be brought to weigh in the balance of a sober spirit the limited extent of this world's possessions, splendours, and enjoyments, against the large capacities of their minds; the insignificance of things temporal against the dignity of their high calling in Christ Jesus; and the mutable and fleeting character of the utmost good that can now be attained, against the eternal duration of that state to which their faith and hope should be directed; have no shield to protect them in the day of trial; no armour which can withstand the shock of the meanest of their spiritual foes.

SIXTH.-Inconsideration betrays men into refuges of lies, and encourages them to build their confidence on the most deceptive foundations. Hence it is that we so often find sinners reposing themselves, amidst the uninterrupted pursuits of iniquity and profligacy, upon the infinitude of the divine mercy. They do not allow themselves to remember the multitude of comminations published on the part of God against the impenitent workers of iniquity. They have no memory for those terrors of the Lord, which are set in array against the obstinate sinner by the volume of

T

inspiration. They will not reflect that HE who has denominated himself the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, has in the same breath, declared that he will by no means clear the guilty. Neither will they reflect upon the legitimate character of this attribute of God. They will not take the time or the trouble to discriminate between the blind impulse of natural feelings amongst susceptible men, and that compassion, which being in indissoluble union with wisdom and righteousness, is worthy of the Supreme Ruler of the universe. For what justice would there be to upright beings; what encouragement to virtue, if the wicked were permitted to add sin to sin-outrage to outrage-ingratitude to disobedience--obduracy and impenitency to ingratitude-and all this in peace and safety? But, in this way, the inconsiderate never reason. On these things they

never think. And in this respect, it may well be said of them, that they trust in a lying vanity.

Hence, also, it is not uncommon to find persons leaning with full, but mistaken reliance, on the great atonement of the gospel. They have been introduced into the church by baptism. They have been educated in the Christian faith. They have never renounced their creed, and feel no disposition to renounce it; and are they not told that whoever believeth on the Son of God shall not perish, but have everlasting life? Would they but read and reflect, surely they would learn that there is such a thing as a creed of no significance as to our acceptance in the sight of Heaven; they would learn that there may be a dead faith; a faith consistent with the loss of the soul; a faith no better than that belief which makes the devils tremble. Would they but read and reflect, they would be convinced that for this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil; that he cannot be in any sense the minister of sin; that he was appointed to save his people from