On Luxury and Licentiousness. 121 VI. pressed by the dread authority which it car- SERMON ries, shall you not fall down on your knees before your Maker, imploring his mercy to pardon your past offences, and his grace to rectify your future way? Such ought to be the effects of the consideration of God as the Governour of the world. It leads to thoughts of a very serious nature. When we regard the work of the Lord, and contemplate him as the Author of the universe, such contemplation prompts devotion. But when we consider the operation of his hands in providence, and contemplate him as the Governour of mankind, such contemplation prompts humiliation before him for offences committed. The former addresses itself to the ingenuous sentiments that are left in the heart; and awakens a sense of our unworthiness, in neglecting the Author of nature amidst our riotous pleasures. The latter addresses itself to our regard for safety and happiness; and awakens fear and dread, from consciousness of the Hence springs guilt we have contracted. up in every thoughtful mind, an anxious concern to avert the displeasure, and regain the prayer, repentance, faith, and all those by means of which we may hope, th a divine Mediator and Intercessor, to conciled to heaven.. Natural and re religion here appear in concord. We the original dictates of the human hea ing a foundation for the glad reception comfortable tidings of the gospel. I HAVE thus endeavoured to sh what manner, by regarding the work Lord, and considering the operation bands, we may prevent the dangers a from a thoughtless indulgence of ple we may be furnished with an antid the poison which is too often mixed i intoxicating cup. -Human life is f troubles. We are all tempted to al them as much as we can, by freely ing the pleasurable moments which . SERMON PSALM XVI. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: presence is fulness of joy; at thy rig there are pleasures for evermore. THE apostle Peter, in a discourse he held to the Jews, applies t sage, in a mystical and prophetical se the Messiah *. But, in its literal mitive meaning, it expresses the hopes by which the Psalmist Davi ported himself amidst the changes volutions, of which his life was ful Acts, ii. 25-28. the Sun of righteousness was not arisen, the dawn had appeared of that glorious day which he was to introduce. Even in those ancient times, holy men, as the Apostle writes to the Hebrews, saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them; and, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, declared that they sought after a better country, that is an beavenly*. Indeed, in every age, God permitted such hopes to afford support and consolation to those who served him. The full effect of them we behold in those triumphant expressions of the text, which are to be the subject of this discourse. They lead us to consider, first, The hope of the Psalmist in his present state; Thou wilt shew *Heb. xi, 13-16. me |