chiefly aims at the fupport of party names; because these are directly and eminently finful: they are an abomination in the fight of God. But, my brethren, even in those performances which you go about with fome measure of fincerity, how many defects are to be found? Oh! how much negligence, coldness, and formality, in worship! how many wandering, vain, idle, and worldly thoughts, in your hearts, when your bodies are in the house of God! Confider only the infinite glory and majefty of God, in whofe fight the heavens themfelves are not clean, and who charges his angels with folly; and fay whether you have ever prayed at all with becoming reverence of spirit. Confider only the unfpeakable condefcenfion of that God to his creatures, and the unfearchable riches of his grace to the finner; and fay, whether your hearts have ever been fuitably affected with his love.

It is our duty, my brethren, to confider, how far we have been from preaching the word of God with proper impreflions of the majefty of him in whofe name we speak; how far we have done it with fimplicity and dignity, neither fearing the cenfure, nor courting the applaufe, of our fellow-finners; how far we have done it with that tender. nefs and affection, with that holy fervor and importunity, which the value of those precious fouls to whom we speak manifeftly demands. And is it not your business to confider, how feldom you hear with that attention, reverence, humility, and love, with which the facred and important truths of the everlasting gospel ought to be received; how many hear much more as judges than as learners, as critics rather than as finners; and content themselves with marking the weakness of an indifferent, or praifing the abilities of an animated fpeaker? And how many run with itching ears from one congregation to another, or even from one party or profeffion to another, not that they may be edified, but that curiofity and fancy may be gratified? How many loft ordinances, how many mifpent fabbaths, have we to lament before God?

When we come to the fecond table of the law, how many finful motives mix their influence in the duties we perform to our neighbors? how many acts of juftice owe

their being, in part at least, to fear of reproach? how many works of charity owe their fplendor to a defire of applaufe, as will as to a better principle? I fhould never have done, were I to go through all the great duties of the Chriftian life, and obferve the finful defects that cleave to them. I believe I may fay with great truth, that would we but deal faithfully, there would be nothing more neceffary to our humiliation, than a ftrict examination of our duties themselves. This would oblige us to confess, that "all our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags before God;" that we must not plead for reward, but forgiveness; that no merit of our own, but infinite mercy alone, must be the foundation of our hope.

III, I come now to make fome practical application of the fubject, for your inftruction and direction. And,

1. How great is the deceitfulnefs of fin! how aftonishing the blindness of finners! How eafy and obvious is the confideration of our fins, in the order in which I have endeavored to fet them before you! Sins of omiffion, on the one hand, and of commiffion, on the other; and duties faulty in both refpects, viz. by effential qualities neglected, and fins mixed with the performances: fins in thought, in word, and in deed, against God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Yet, alas! how many are there in a great measure ignorant of the fins they are chargeable with, and therefore fleeping in fecurity! Think, my beloved hearers, on your condition. To know your danger, is the first step to deliverance. Is not the law of obedi ence clear, written upon all the Creator's works? Is it not engraven upon the confcience? and is it not often repeated and inforced by the difpenfations of Providence? Would there be fo much of divine judgment, if there was no offence? Every natural evil proclaims the fin of man, An inclement feafon, an injurious world, and a frail, dying body, confpire in pointing out our finful ftate. And yet, after all, how blind is the finner to the difcovery, how deaf to the friendly warning, how regardless of the approaching trial! Awake, I befeech you, while there may

be peace, and look upon your danger, while there is yet given you time and opportunity to fly from it.

2. If the holiest cannot ftand before God, if no flesh living can be juftified in his fight, how fearful must be the ftate of those who are lying under the guilt of atrocious, aggravated, and repeated crimes! Though great profligates often defert the ordinances of God, that they may fin at greater ease, and meet with lefs refiftance; yet, in fo numerous an assembly as this, there is reafon to suppose there are not a few of the chief of sinners; the rather, that while fome defert the ordinances, that they may have eafe from within, others attend them as a cover, that they may blind their neighbors, and meet with lefs fufpicion or difturbance from without. How, then, can murderers, fornicators, fwearers, drunkards, thieves, and retainers of unjust gain, hear what hath been faid on this fubject without trembling for themselves! Hear for your fouls fake; hear for eternity's fake; hear, I befeech you, for Chrift's fake. O that the Spirit of God may carry_home the truth, and make it "quick and powerful, fharper "than a two-edged fword," Heb. iv. 12. It is an easy thing for you now to diffemble the fins which men would punish, and even to boast of the fins which men must tolerate; but hear and remember the two following paf fages: Heb. iv. 13. "All things are naked, and opened "unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do;" and Heb. x. 31. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of "the living God."

3. In the last place, If any chriftian defires to keep his confcience tender and faithful, to have a deep growing and humbling sense of his own finfulness; if he would bar the gate against the entrance of pride, or banish it after it has obtained admiffion; if he defires to walk humbly and watchfully-let him live as in the prefence of God, let him often place himself at his awful tribunal. It is easy to justify ourselves before men, who have fo little to require, and from whom so much may be concealed. The truth is, it is not a great matter to be able to fet the world at defiance, But to look up to that God who fitteth upon the throne of his holinefs, is of infinitely greater moment,

He trieth the reins You fee how Job de

and of infinitely greater difficulty. and the heart. He abhorreth evil. fended himself against the accufations of his friends, held faft his integrity, and would not let it go; but no fooner did God speak to him in the greatness of his power, than he confeffed his vilenefs, and laid his hand upon his mouth. In the fame manner, he that would guard against the impofitions of a deceitful heart, that would not be abufed by flattering friends, or led aftray by a mistaken world; that would rather walk in the path of penitence than fecurity; let him live as in the prefence of God. And happy, happy they, who take confufion of face to themselves now, and feek for mercy through the blood of the atonement, in comparison of those who juftify themfelves now, but fhall ftand at last with unutterable confufion before the fupreme judge, ready to pronounce the

irreversible sentence.