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ably prescribe falutary remedies, here recommends religious retirement and recollection, it seems evident, that he has no defign to say any thing in commendation of a total feclufion from the world. The words by no means import any thing of this nature. recefs from the world, and its cares, can never be the object of a general precept. In conformity, then, to the intention of the text, I am to confider that kind of retirement which is proper for men engaged in the business of life, and which is neceffary, in order to fupport the focial character usefully and honourably. Whether a total feclufion from the world, a refignation of all the endearing ties of friendship, affection, love, a departure from all the duties which our prefent ftate requires, and of which Providence feems to allot every one a fhare, be agreeable to the commands of God, or deferving praise of men, or a fit preparation for a state of happiness in the heavenly kingdom, where there is a fociety united by the strongest bonds, I will not at this time inquire. If they are ever allowable, the circumstances which call to them are very peculiar ; and I cannot hesitate to fay, that the most worthy

of all characters is the man who maintains his ftation in life, ever animated by a fervent piety, and ever guided by an inviclable integrity. To cherish a spirit of piety, and to affift him in fupporting an uniform uprightness of intention and action, religious retirement and recollection will be of the greatest importance. We will difcern this, if we confider in what the exercise of them confifts.

It confifts in devoting a portion of our time for the most valuable purposes, for converfing with our own hearts, for the confideration of our behaviour, and comparing it with the perfections of God, for inquiring after, and applying the means of regulating every unlawful defire, and of moderating every unreasonable wifh. In religious retirement, we are employed in pouring out our hearts before the Giver of our life and our mercies, in imploring his affiftance to improve our characters, in admiring and adoring the perfections of his nature, and in expanding the powers of our minds to receive his moft gracious influences. The difpofitions chiefly to be exercifed in the hours of retirement are, fincerity in the confidera

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tion of our own characters; impartiality in the examination of our lives; a devotion of heart, kindled by the contemplation of unerring wisdom, undeviating goodness, and unlimited mercy, especially as these are difcovered in our Lord Jefus Chrift; humility of mind, and contrition of heart, fo unavoidable when we are reviewing our own faults, and adoring the all-perfect God. The exact portion of time that should be devoted to religious retirement and reflection, or how often the seasons for thefe exercises ought to recur, cannot be precifely determined, as the circumftances of mankind differ fo widely. But furely there is no occupation of life which does not admit of fome intervals: and fhall Chriftians be lefs zealous about the interests of virtue and religion, than the philofopher who enjoined his followers every night, before fleep fealed their eyes, to call themselves to an account for the actions of the paft day? Befides this, by profeffing our belief in the oracles of God, we look upon one day in seven as particularly dedicated to religion. And by the views many of you have, and your attendance here, you profefs a degree of reverence for other seasons fet apart

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apart for this purpose. To the bufiest of us, will venture to fay, neither time nor opportunities for retirement and reflection are wanting. To excite you to lay hold on these, I now proceed to propofe fome arguments, which I shall endeavour to lay before you in fuch a manner, that they may not only ferve as motives to engage compliance with the Pfalmift's advice, but likewife, that they may convey, to the attentive hearer, fome farther inftructions, as to the method in which we may moft advantageously spend

the hours of retirement.

May God grant to you the hearing ear, and the understanding heart; and to the preacher, the power of perfuafion!

In the first place, then, religious retirement and reflection have a very direct tendency to reclaim and restrain from vice, and to improve in virtue. Man is compounded of feveral diftinct powers and faculties, all necessary for human life and happiness, provided there is that regular fubordination preferved among them, which nature points out, and, without which, experience fhews, that neither the individual, nor fociety, can fubfift. It is evident from our very frame,

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that God has conferred an authority upon reafon and confcience. In the narrow empire of the human mind, these claim a right to fway the fceptre. But who knows not, that man is apt to be mifled by the influence of his paffions, that are ready to act as rebellious fubjects against the justest and the best of fovereigns? To break the bands of reason, and to obey the lawless dictates of irregular paffion, the tumult of life, the fuggestions of the gay, and the example of the vicious, prove like fo many evil counsellors. They are the movers of fedition: and their chief way of moving it is, not by offering arguments, but partly by hurrying us away with the stream, and partly by raising such an uproar around us, that the voice of reafon, which may be compared to the still, small voice of God, which spoke to Elijah, is confidered as a whisper, from which we turn away our ear, as if we heard it not. If conscience offers its threatening admonitions, the mixing more deeply in the circle of the diffipated, the bufy, and worst of all, the debauched, proves an opiate for that time to lull it asleep. And thus the wretched man proceeds, till, like the haughty king, who,