be broke; and I believe, that the most selfish men find it is so, and that they cannot, in fact, live so much to themselves, as the narrowness of their own hearts incline them. If these reflections are just upon the moral relations in which we stand to each other, let us close the examination with a short reflection upon the great relation in which we stand to GOD. The first and most natural thought on this subject, which at one time or other will thrust itself upon every man's mind, is this, That there is a God who made me, to whose gift I owe all the powers and faculties of my foul, to whose providence I owe all the blessings of my life, and by whose permission it is that I exercise and enjoy them; that I am placed in this world as a creature but of a day, hastening to the place from whence I shall not return.-That I am accountable for my conduct and behaviour to this great and wisest of Beings, before whose judgment seat I must finally appear, and receive the things done in my body, whether they are good, or whether they are bad.. Can Can any one doubt but the most inconfiderate of men sometimes fit down coolly, and make some such plain reflections as these upon their state and condition?-or that, after they have made them, can one imagine they lose all effect?-As little appearance as there is of religion in the world, there is a great deal of its influence felt in its affairs-nor can one so root out the principles of it, but, like nature, they will return again, and give checks and interruptions to guilty pursuits. There are seasons, when the thoughts of a just GOD Overlooking, and the terror of an after-reckoning, have made the most determined tremble, and stop short in the execution of a wicked purpose; and if we conceive that the worst of men lay some restraints upon themselves from the weight of this principle, what shall we think of the good and virtuous part of the world, who live under the perpetual influence of it, -who sacrifice their appetites and passions, from a conscience of their duty to God, and consider him as the object to whom they have dedicated their service, and make that the first principle and ultimate end of all their actions? actions?-How many real and unaffected instances there are in this world, of men thus governed, will not so much concern us to enquire, as to take care that we are of the number: which may God grant, for the fake of JESUS CHRIST. Amen. END of VOL, I. |