take warning from this. The sons of Eli were even the children of Abraham, and the children of the priesthood; and what was their crime? They made themselves vile, they despised the piety of their parent, they led the fashion, they indulged in sensuality. Impiety makes a man vile. The decree is gone forth, and all the maxims and customs of the world cannot alter it. Them that honour me I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

ON THE DANGER OF EVIL COMPANIONS.

December, 1800.

SOCIETY is the atmosphere of souls, and we necessarily imbibe something which is either infectious or salubrious. The society of virtuous persons is enjoyed beyond their company, while vice carries a sting into solitude. The society, or the company you keep, is both the indication of your character and the former of it. In company, when the pores of the mind are opened, there requires more guard than usual, because the mind is then passive. Either vicious company will please you, or it will not; if it does not please you, the end of going will be defeated. You will feel your reverence for the dictates of conscience wear off, and that name, at which angels bow and devils tremble, you will hear contemned and abused. The bible will supply materials for unmeaning jests or impious buffoonery: the consequence of

this will be, a practical deviation into vice; the principles will become sapped, and the fences of conscience broken down; and, when debauchery has corrupted the character, a total inversion will take place, as the apostle speaks, they glory in their shame.

A PERORATION ON PRAYER.

February 7, 1802.

“In every thing, by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God."

SEEK, my brethren, repose by prayer. If your mind be overwhelmed with trouble and anxiety, go into the presence of God, spread your case before him; though he knows the desires of your hearts, yet he has declared he will be sought after. Go, therefore, into the presence of that God who will at once tranquillize your heart, give you what you wish, or make you more happy without it, and who will be your everlasting consolation if you trust in him, breathing peace into your soul, and commanding tranquillity in the midst of the greatest storms. How much are they to be pitied who never pray! the world is to them all gloom, for there they see none of the kindness and protection of our heavenly Father. We do not wonder that the sorrow of the world worketh death, with the distresses that human nature is exposed to.

Prayer is the sovereign remedy; use it, therefore. Try this medicine. In every season of affliction, whatever you feel of present distress, or fear of future calamity, go to God, before whom none ever bowed in vain, and he will bow the heavens and come down, and fill your souls with peace and consolation, with that peace of God which passeth all understanding, with a sense of his favour, of reconciliation with him, and an interest in his everlasting love. This preserves the heart of man in the greatest troubles, in the midst of the greatest cares, and from the incursion of ten thousand enemies. If your hearts and minds lie open to corrosion and care, what signifies how great or how famous you are? If you could silence all the world, yet, with such a clamour in a man's own heart, a civil war within, his passions in a state of confusion, what would it avail? And this is always the case with the wicked; they are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest; but that peace of God which passeth all understanding will keep and preserve in the soul a region of light in the midst of Egyptian darkness; and were discord to ravage the earth, there it could not reach. Let us, then, my brethren, seek after this peace of God by prayer and supplication. Seek relief from that quarter. Whatever uneasiness of mind you feel, go into the presence of your God, bow your knees before him, there deprecate your case, then seek forgiveness through Christ as a Mediator; open to him all your sorrows, he is the only being who will always attend to you. Friends, in many

cases, can only shed tears, and increase your sorrows by mingling them with your own; but he can give you light in the midst of darkness, he can give you eternal happiness. Let us, then, make all our requests known to him.

ON CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE.

January 10, 1802.

And

THEY were to walk as children of God. if the sons of God were indeed to descend to this earth, what majesty, what dignity, what elevation, what purity, what sweetness should we behold! You, as Christians, are exhorted to that spirit; you are adopted into that family, you have that same spirit within you. Walk, therefore, as the sons of God, holding forth the word of life, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. This is in allusion to a lamp that is large and splendid; for so is the word of God exhibited in the conduct of true Christians, and diffused into our spirit and temper.

Christians do not shine by any light of their own, but it is a borrowed light; it is by that spirit and temper which is formed by the word of God. This makes them shine as sons of God.

In consequence of this they show to men the way of salvation; they point the way to happiness; they shew the vanity of their pursuits; and, in the spirit of the patriarchs, they condemn the world, and thus become the heirs of righteousness through faith. You see, my brethren, how essential it is

that Christianity should penetrate your hearts. It is not merely calling yourselves Christians, either as churchmen or dissenters, which makes you shine as lights in the world; for these, in comparison, are contemptible distinctions. But it teaches us such an estimate of all human good, such moderation and meekness, as shall fit us for the inheritance of the saints in light; this is effected by the word of God sanctifying us throughout. Our Saviour prays, Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. I have consecrated them to be mine, even as thou hast sanctified me.

Our example, my brethren, cannot be indifferent; it will either be a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death; it will either bring great reproach or honour on the gospel. Let your light then so shine before men, that others, seeing your good works, may glorify our heavenly Father.

ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE THOUGHTS.

October, 1800.

CHRISTIAN Watchfulness includes in it a care of the thoughts; herein is the difference between a bad man and a good man, not as to the character of the thoughts themselves that occur, to the mind, for the same may arise in the minds of both, but in the selection, the complacency, and the esteem given, to such as are detained and solicited. If the thoughts of men are ambitious, their characters are