pen to it. Let us then adhere to it in all events. Let us endeavour, in this inftance, to ufe the fame prudence that the children of the world ufe in their affairs. What pains will they take, and what precautions will they employ, to avoid any dangers which they forefce, or to prevent evils which may poffibly come upon them? There is a danger hanging over us, as moral agents, greater than any this world can threaten us with; a danger dreadful and unutterable; the danger of falling into the punishment of fin, and of lofing eternal happiness. Were there ever fo hard and expenfive a method propofed to us of being fecured againft this danger, it would be our wifdom cheerfully to praclife it. But true goodness affords us, not a hard and expenfive, but a cheap and easy method of being fecured againft it. Walking uprightly will add to our prefent comfort, at the fame time that it will preferve us from future danger. What is required of us, in this inftance, is only to part with our follies and difeafes; and to make ourfelves happy now, in order to be fafe for ever.

All I have been faying is true, though there fhould be the greatest uncertainty with respect to the principles of religion. I have been all along fpeaking on the fuppofition of fuch an uncertainty, in order to fet before you, in a ftronger light, the wifdom of being virtuous, and the folly of a finful courfe. But if we will fuppofe that there is no uncertainty :

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uncertainty: If we will fuppofe it not only poffible, but probable or morally certain, that the principles of religion are true; that chriftianity comes front God; and that, agrecably to its affurances, all who are now in their graves fhall hereafter bear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth, thofe who have done good to the refurrection of life, and thofe who have done evil to the refurrection of damnation If, I fay, we fuppofe this to be the truth, how great will the wifdom of a virtuous courfe appear, and how shocking the folly of wickednefs?

There are, probably, few fpeculative and inquiring men, who do not fometimes find themselves in a ftate of dejection, which takes from them. much of the fatisfaction arifing from their faith in very important and interefting truths, Happy, indeed, is the perfon who enjoys a flow of fpirits fo even and conftant as never to have experienced, this. Of myfelf I muft fay, that I have been far from being fo happy. Doubts and difficulties have often perplexed me, and thrown a cloud over truths which, in the general courfe of my life, are my fupport and confolation. There are, however, many truths, the conviction of which I never lofe. -ONE conviction in particular remains with me amidst all fluctuations of temper and fpirits; I mean my belief of the maxim in my text, that he who walketh uprightly walketh furely. There has not been a moment in which I have found it poffible

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fible to doubt, whether the wifeft and best courfe I d take be to practife virtue and to avoid guilt. Low fpirits only give new force to this conviction, and caufe it to make a deeper impreffion. Uncertainty in other inftances creates certainty here; for the more dark and doubtful our ftate under God's government is, the more prudent it must be to choose that courfe which is the fafft.

I will only further defire you to confider on this fubject, with what ferenity of mind a good nían may proceed through life. Whatever is true or falfe, he has the consciousness of being on the fufe fide; and there is, in all cafes, a particular fatis? faction attending fuch a confcioufnefs. A manwho knows himfelf in a fafe way goes on with compofure and boldnefs. Thus may you go on in a courfe of well-doing. You have none of thofe calamities to fear to which others are liable. If the doctrines of religion be true, you will be completely happy through the Saviour of mankind. But should they not prove true, you will not be worfe off than others. I have fhown, on the contrary, that you will ftill be gainers. Your lofs, infhort, can be nothing. Your gain may be infinite. Forfake, then, every thing to follow righteousness. Never confent to do a wrong action, or to gratify an unlawful paffion. This will give you a fecurity that is worth more than all the treasures of the

earth. You may alfo, on all principles, entertain

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the apprehenfion that the gofpel has given right information concerning the abolition of death, and the happiness reserved for the faithful, in the future kingdom of Jefus Chrift. That perfon must have confidered the arguments for christianity very fuperficially, who does not fee, that they amount to an evidence, which is at leaft fufficient to give a just ground for this apprehenfion; and, consequently, for a hope the most animating and glorious. Let us cherish this hope; and endeavour to keep the object of it always in fight. The flightcft GLIMPSE of that ETERNAL LIFE which the New Teftament promifes, is enough to elevate above this world. The bare poffibility of lofing it, by finful practices, is enough to annihilate all temptations. Wherefore, let us be ftedfaft and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as we know that our labour MAY end in a blissful eternity; but, happen what will, CANNOT be in vain.