XIX.

under bondage to the customs of the SER M. world; whereas, by tamely yielding to the current of vice, you render that current stronger for carrying others along; you add weight and stability to the bad

ment and

cause; you
; you lend to the multitude all the
force of your example, for drawing
others after them, to the commiffion of
evil. While you are thus acceffary to
the ruin of others, you are, at the same
time, ftamping your own character with
the fouleft and deepest impreffions of
corruption. By furrendering your judg-
your confcience to the multi-
tude, you betray the rights, and degrade
the honour of the rational nature.
Nothing great of worthy can be expect-
ed of him, who inftead of confidering
what is right in itself, and what
part it
is fitteft for one in his station to act, is
only confidering what the world will
think, or fay of him; what fort of beha-
viour will pass with the fairest show,
and be most calculated to please the ma-
ny. When a man has thus given up the

liberty

SER M. liberty and independence of his mind, we XIX. can no longer reckon upon him in any

thing. We cannot tell how far he may be carried in vice. There is too much ground to dread, that he will lie, diffemble, and betray; changing himself, without fcruple, into every fhape that will find favour among those whom he feeks to gain. While this fervility to the world infers bafenefs towards men, it involves also the highest impiety towards God. It fhows that we yield to the world that reverence and fubmiffion which is only due to the divine law. We treat the government of the Almighty with fcorn; as if his precepts deserved to be obeyed, only when they fuited the caprice and the follies of the multitude; and were entitled to no regard, as foon as they contradicted the reigning customs and fashions of the world. While fuch conduct carries in it fo much wickednefs and folly, let us observe,

IN the fourth place, that the most excellent and honourable character, which

can

On no

XIX.

can adorn a man and a Chriftian, is SER M. acquired, by refifting the torrent of vice, and adhering to the cause of God and virtue against a corrupted multitude. It will be found to hold in general, that all thofe, who, in any of the great lines of life, have distinguished themselves for thinking profoundly, and acting nobly, have despised popular prejudices, and departed, in several things, from the common ways of the world. occafion is this more requifite for true honour, than where religion and morality are concerned. In times of prevailing licentiousness, to maintain unblemished virtue, and uncorrupted integrity; in a public or a private cause, to stand firm by what is fair and just, amidst discouragements and oppofition; defpifing groundless cenfure and reproach; difdaining all compliance with public manners, when they are vicious and unlawful; and never afhamed of the punctual discharge of every duty towards God and man;-this is what shows true greatness of spirit, and will force approbation even from the dege

nerate

SER M. nerate multitude themselves.

"This is

"the man," their conscience will oblige
them to acknowledge, "whom we are

"unable to bend to mean condefcenfi-
❝ons.
We fee it in vain either to flat-
"ter or to threaten him? he refts on a

66

principle within, which we cannot "shake. To this man you may, on

66

any occafion, fafely commit your "cause. He is incapable of betraying "his truft, or deferting his friend, or denying his faith." Thus his righteoufness comes forth as the light, and hisjudgment as the noon-day.

It is, accordingly, this steady inflexible virtue, this regard to principle, fuperior to all custom and opinion, which peculiarly marked the characters of those, in any age, who have fhone as faints or heroes; and has confecrated their memory to all posterity. It was this that obtained to antient Enoch the moft fingular teftimony of honour from heaven. He continued to walk with God, when the world apostatised from him. He pleafed God, and was beloved of him; fo that, living

among

XIX.

living among finners, he was tranflated S ER M. to heaven without feeing death; Yea, Speedily was be taken away, left wickednefs fhould have altered his understanding or deceit beguiled his foul.* When Sodom could not furnish ten righteous men to save it, Lot remained unfpotted amidst the contagion. He lived like an angel among spirits of darkness; and the deftroying flame was not permitted to go forth, till the good man was called away by a heavenly meffenger from his devoted city. When all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth, then lived Noah, a righteous man, and a preacher of righteousness. He ftood alone, and was fcoffed by the profane crew. But they by the deluge were swept away; while on him, Providence conferred the immortal honour, of being the restorer of a better race, and the father of a new world. Such examples as these, and such honours conferred by God on them who withstood the multitude of evil doers, fhould often be present to our minds. Let us oppofe them to the numbers

VOL. IV.

D d

*Wisdom of Solomon, iv. 11.