XIX. thing within ourselves, that leans to the S ER M. fame fide which is countenanced by the practice of others. We are always glad to find an apology for indulging our inclinations and paffions; and the example of the multitude too readily fuggefts that apology. Even before corruption has made great progrefs in our hearts, sometimes, mere complaifance and good nature incline us to fall in with the ways of others. Sometimes, timidity and falfe shame prevent our differing from them: Frequently, expectation and interest impel us ftrongly to comply. How great is the danger we incur, when, in times of prevailing vice, all these principles of imitation and compliance unite together against our virtue ? The world is too juftly faid by fcripture to lie in wickedness. It is a school wherein every vice is taught, and too eafily learned. Even from our earliest childhood, falfe fentiments are inftilled into our minds. We are bred up in admiration of the external fhow of life. We are accuftomed, as foon as we can Cc 2 understand XIX. SER M. understand any thing, to hear riches and honours fpoken of as the chief goods of men, and proposed to us as the objects to which our future purfuits are to be directed. We see the measures of outward respect and deference taken from these alone Religion and virtue are recommended to us, in a formal manner, by our teachers and inftructors; but all improvements of the mind and heart, are vifibly placed by the world, in an inferior rank to the advantages of fortune. Vices, that chance to be fafhionable, are treated as flight failings; and coloured over, in common difcourfe, with those soft and gentle names which exprefs no condemnation. We enter, perhaps, on the world, with good principles, and an averfion to downright vice. But when, as we advance in life, we become initiated in that mystery of iniquity, which is called, the way of the world; when we meet with deceit and artifice in all ranks of men; when we behold iniquity authorised by great names, and often rewarded with fuc cefs cefs and advancement, our original S ER M, good impreffions too foon decay. The practice of the multitude renders vice familiar to our thoughts; and gradually wears off the abhorrence with which we once beheld it. We begin to think, that what is so very general, cannot be highly criminal. The malignity of fin appears diminished, by so many being sharers in the reproach; and instead of men's vices detracting, as they ought to do, from our good opinion of the men, our attachment to the men oftener reconciles us to the vices of which they are guilty. The countenance which fin receives from the practice of the multitude, not only removes the restraints which are impofed by modefty and shame; but, fuch is the degeneracy of the world, that shame is too often employed against the cause of religion and virtue. The ridicule of the giddy and unthinking bears down the conviction of the fober and modeft. Against their own belief, they appear to adopt the notions of the infidel; and against their own choice, they XIX. XIX. SER M. they join in the vices of the libertine; that they may not be reproached as perfons of a narrow mind, and ftill enslaved to the prejudices of education. How much reafon is there to believe that, merely from this timidity of temper, many, whose principles are on the fide of religion and virtue, are nevertheless found walking in the way of finners, and fitting in the chair of the fcornful?—Intereft, too, often coincides with this weakness of difpofition, in tempting fuch perfons to follow the multitude. To fall in with the prevailing taste, to fuit themselves to the paffions of the great, or to the humours of the low, with whom they chance to be connected, appears the readiest way to rife in the world. Hence they are naturally led to relinquish the firmness of an upright character, for that fupple and versable turn, which accommodates itself to the times, and affumes whatever appearance feems most convenient for intereft. Such are the dangers to which we are expofed, in times of corruption, of fol XIX. lowing the multitude to do evil; dangers S ER M. which require our most serious attention and care, in order to guard ourselves against them.-I proceed to lay fuch confiderations before you as may be useful for that purpose, For In the first place. Let us remember that the multitude are very bad guides; are fo far from having a title to implicit regard, that he who blindly follows them, may be prefumed to err. prejudice, and paffion, are known to fway the crowd. They are ftruck by the outfide of things; they inquire fuperficially, admire falfe appearances, and pursue false goods. Their opinions are for the most part haftily formed, and of course are variable, floating, and inconfiftent. In every age, how fmall is the number of those who are guided by reason, and calm inquiry? How few do we find, who have the wisdom to think and judge for themselves, and have steadinefs to follow out their own judgment? Ignorance, and low education, darken the |