Let those who are impressed with a proper benevolence for their fellow-creatures labour to apply the proper remedy; and, especially, to provide all that may be in their power that themselves, their children, and all whom they can influence, may be the salt of the earth; may contribute to the seasoning of the world with virtue and true goodness; and to bring on that better state of things which we look for, and of which the increase of light and knowledge that is in the world, and is spreading itself abroad, gives us pleasing hope. Unto God be thanks for all his mercies.

PRAYER..

O God, who art over all, blessed and magnified for ever!

Who, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, art God from everlasting to everlasting.

With profoundest humility and thankfulness we desire to prostrate ourselves before thee, O God, for thine unspeakable most unmerited goodness to us, in giving us a being: and however mean the materials out of which we were composed, yet thou didst breathe into that dust out of which we were taken the VOL. II. breath

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breath of life, and hast made us capable of the highest attainments of virtue and goodness.

We would also express before thee, O God, our most grateful acknowledgements for the provision which thou hast made for our improvement of this, thy gift, of so noble an existence unto us, by the situations into which thou hast brought us, and the various instructions we have received; and especially in the opportunities of knowing thy holy word, and of profiting by the life and precepts of Jesus our Lord and Master, which thou hast appointed to be our guide unto eternal life!

Make us sensible of that kindness with which he was ever ready to serve men upon earth, with his extraordinary gift which he received from thee; because therein we behold thy goodness to mortal men; as in every thing he was under thy direction, and acted according to thy will.

Render us equally ready and willing instruments in thy hands, according to the power and abilities given, of subserving thy designs, and promoting the happiness of others, future and present; but especially that happiness which ariseth from virtue, and which will last for ever!

We

We adore and magnify thee, O God, for that power over nature, to heal the most inveterate diseases and raise even the dead to life, with which thou didst invest this thy beloved Son and chosen servant Jesus, our Lord and Master; that all men might know his authority from thee, and believe and obey thee in him.

And as by the same mighty power he will be enabled to call the dead, small and great, to life, at the last approaching day; those innumerable multitudes that are now asleep in the graves, and us and all others that are daily gathering unto them ;

Let the thought of that awful scene, in which we must all bear a part, alarm the sinful man to turn to thee in time by true repentance, and hasten the slow and tardy paces of every one of us, that we may find favour in the sight of him our appointed judge, and he may pronounce us blessed of thee, his God and Father; and receive us into that kingdom which thou hast prepared before the foundation of the world for the faithful and virtuous of mankind. Now unto thee, &c.

The Lord bless us, &c.

December 10, 1786.

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SERMON

SERMON XVIII.

PART I.

ACTS xxvi. 9, 10, 11.

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jeru salem; and many of the christians did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even unto foreign cities,

THE

HE apostle Paul, who here speaks, was no ordinary character:-of great natural powers and strong passions, active and ardent to pursue whatever he undertook, it could not be indifferent to what he turned himself: he must either be good and useful in the world, or otherwise, in the extreme. And it was happy for him that he had a pious education in his youth,