guilty pleasures that are past, or looking forward to joys of the like nature. You have faid to yourselves then, perhaps, in the pride of your hearts, My houfe fhall never be moved. But I will make fome fuppofitions, that are often verified in life, which may, perhaps, convince you of the neceffity of reflecting in time. I will fuppofe that you yet retain the virtue of natural affection, and that you have friends and children who are dear to you. God fees fit to fend the rod of affliction, and to take them out of life. Attending upon their funeral, when every eye is ready to drop a tear, will you still allow thoughtlessnefs and inconfideration to poffefs your hearts? Perhaps you may here be able to boast of your fuperiority. But know, that by folly many have been brought to a morfel of bread, and by unforeseen accidents, this hath fometimes been the fate of those in whom the wisdom of this world has been remarkable. If you are fent, then, to the cheerless hut of miferable poverty, dependent, perhaps, upon the charity of those whom you formerly defpifed; will your former companions now vifit you, to fill up every vacant and lonely hour? Upon the very street, they would pafs

you

you without feeming to know you. Though in the days of your plenty, they fquandered profufely with you at the debauch or entertainment, yet they will now treat you, as reflection, perhaps, will inform you, you treated the beggar who was shivering at your door, while you was wallowing in plenty. Finally, I will fuppofe that thofe afflictions which befal many, pain, disquiet, sickness, shall befal you. And no matter whether you are rich or poor, for it will make very fmall difference. Can you then believe that the goblet, fparkling with wine or ftrong drink, is the banisher of care? Will your vicious. companions, fitting at your bed-fide, prevent a vifit from thefe ftrangers, thoughtfulness and recollection? Then, indeed, in any of thefe or the like circumftances in which may be, they will lay hold on you, and you can neither banish them, nor fly from them. They might have come to your aid and fupport, like guardian angels: but now they come like an armed force to bind you, and deliver you up to the tormentors. Therefore, my brethren, confider the fituation in which you are, the misfortunes to which you are liable, which will oblige you to think

U 2

you

and

bre

and reflect, even in fpite of yourselves: be perfuaded now to accuftom yourselves to thefe, that you may meet recollection and retirement, when they are neceffary, with peace and fatisfaction. As you would with to abstain from vice, to improve in virtue, to enjoy the pleafures of devotion, not to render fickness, or poverty, or death intolerable, comply now with the advice of the Pfalmift, Commune with your own hearts upon your bed, and be fill. Believe me, my thren, by following this advice, you will live the more harmonioufly in the fame fociety and neighbourhood: you will love one another the better, be more willing to overlook each others frailties and faults. You will be the more faithful minifters, the more diligent teachers, the more upright merchants, the more honeft artificers, the more affectionate parents, the more dutiful children. In a word, you will be the more perfect in all the relations and circumstances of life in which you may be placed.

SERMON

A

SERMON

LUKE VIL 36-48.

XV.

And one of the pharifees defired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the pharifee's houfe, and fat down to meat. And behold, a woman in the city, which was a finner, when he knew that fefus fat at meat in the pharifee's houfe, brought an alabafter box of ointment, and flood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the pharifee which had bidden him, faw it, he spake within himself, faying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for fhe is a finAnd Jefus anfwering, faid unto him, Simon, I have fomewhat to say unto thee. And he fayeth, Mafter, fay on. There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors:

ner.

the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him moft? Simon anfwered and faid, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And be Jaid unto him, Thou haft rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and faid unto Simon, Seeft thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but he hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kifs: but this woman, fince the time I came in, bath not ceafed to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I fay unto thee, her fins, which are many, are forgiven, for fhe loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little, And he faid unto her, Thy fins are forgiven,

FROM many principles of the human conftitution, it might eafily be fhewn, that there is no method of inftruction fo pleasing and powerful, as that which is derived from a

just