But if there is any known sin, which may gain advantage over him, or easily beset him, whether because suited to his natural constitution; or, perhaps, it is common to the age, and not branded with the infamy it deserves; or, perhaps, it is of a secret nature, and may be transacted without the knowledge of others; or, perhaps, it is an old sin from which he was purged, to which, if he should return, his last state would be worse than the first; or, perhaps, it is a sin which is very ready to put on the visor and mask of duty, of which it is very difficult to repent ;-he is pe culiarly watchful against that sin. And that he may keep at the remotest distance from all approaches unto iniquity, and abstain from all appearance of evil, he goes not to the brink, or utmost verge even of lawful liberty. That he may not be guilty of any unlawful thing, he will abridge himself in the use of lawful things, upon a proper occasion.

But it is no less the duty of a watchful christian to wait the coming of his Lord, that he may be found of him in peace. He gives diligence, that neither his conscience be defiled with known sin, nor his affections entangled with vain cares; that when he shall appear, he may have confidence, and bid an unreluctant adieu to transitory vanities. He refers not his eternal interests to be adjusted till he is stretched on his sick or dying bed; for he knows, that both the time and manner of his exit are wholly in God's band. The numerous deaths of his acquaintances and fellowmortals, he considers as the calls of the bridegroom, be ye also ready. If his head ache, if. his stomach loathe its food, or sleep fly from his eyelids,-all these, and such like distresses, he regards as a set of monitors, crowding round about him, and telling him, that the judge standeth before the door, and the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Death comes; eternity unfolds itself to his view. See! with what dauntless magnanimity he enters the list with his last enemy. Far from discouraging his surviving fellow-christians, by a dispiriting behavior, he throws an additional lustre on

the christian faith, and makes the beholders wish themselves were the dying person.

Ye lying vanities of life! farewell. Welcome, ye heavenly joys! Amen: even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Such are the wishes he breathes from his inmost soul. His latter end is peace.

1040

ON GENTLENESS.

IT is that amiable grace, whereby the christian restrains unlawful anger and moderates even just resentment. Perhaps, his natural temper is of the rugged kind; yet he has experienced the accomplishment of that gracious promise, that "the Leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the lion shall eat straw with the ox." It is not in his tongue, but in his heart, where this grace chiefly resides. He pretends not, with the ancient stoics, wholly to discard the passions of anger, which were not the meekness of wisdom, but of folly. Nor does it wholly lie in a courteous and obliging behavior, commonly called good manners, which may be but an artificial appearance.Sometimes he may come with a rod, and assume a prudent severity; but it is rather in the cause of God, than in his own cause. If he smites, he breaks not the head; but his reproofs are precious oil. Blessed be his anger, for it is merciful; and his wrath, for it is kind. O my soul! come thou into his secret, and be thou united unto his assembly.

Cruelty and delight in the miseries of others, though his most bitter enemies, is a disposition he greatly abhors; far less can he suffer his attachments to any particular party to swallow up all his sentiments of humanity to those who differ from him. Let bloody papists sport themselves with the torments of those whom they call heretics; he has not so learned Christ, upon whom the Spirit descended, not in the likeness of a vulture, but a dove. When man is born at first

into the world of nature, we behold him a peaceful infant, all naked and defenceless; not armed with clawg and teeth, as some other animals; and can we reasonably suppose, that when a man is born again into the world of grace, he will come, armed with fire and sword, to destroy all around him?

So far is he from stretching forth his hand against them that are at peace with him, that he will not suffer rancor to foster in his breast against his most malignant for. He wisely considers, that he himself has acted a more unjust part towards his God, than ever the most ungenerous person did to him; and yet ob tained mercy. He does not only suppress his resentment from bursting out into violent vociferations; nor is he like some who affect a sullen silence, louder than all words, to proclaim the implacable malice of their hearts: but he banishes from his very thoughts the purpose of revenge. He considers, that it is far more glorious, that it bespeaks more solid wisdom and greatness, to forget an injury than to requite it. He leaves it to fools and madmen, to furious beasts and silly wretches, to tear themselves in their anger, to flash fury with their eyes, to faulter in their speech, to tremble in their joints, to stamp with their feet, to wreak their resentment on whatever comes in their road, though perhaps senseless and inanimate ;-when they receive some petty affront, or meet with contradiction.

He resembles not a city without gates, or broken down, and without walls, that may easily be assaulted; nor powder, that may quickly be inflamed; but may be compared to green wood, that is not easily kindled, but may soon be extinguished. He looks. not at every petty injury as through a microscope, which magnifies far beyond the life.

The natural state of mankind.

See how the mountains are covered with snow, and the valleys are stript of their lovely verdure. Να fragrant flower perfumes the air, nor embalms the evening walk. The songsters of the grove have folded up their wings, and forgot their notes, who, some time ago did sing among the branches. Where are the golden treasures of the harvest, or the smiling flowers of the spring? Joy and gladness is fled from the plentiful field, and all is one scene of desolation.What wonder when the glorious fountain of our day has withdrawn his enlivening beams; resigning to the power of chilling cold, both the aerial regions, and the watery element. In comparison with the heat of summer, the warmest days are cold, even at the height of noon. Full often the scowling wintry clouds wrap up the day's fair face. All joy is darkened. The sun seems to be swallowed up: the moon and stars withdraw their shining. The low-bent clouds pour down. Short is the day. How tedious the length, and how deep the horrors of the night! When every brook is swelled to a river, let not the traveller pursue his journey. Ye that do business in great waters! be not rash to tear your cables from the shore, when winter's fury rages on the main.

But, while I muse on the rigors of this un joyous season, let me reflect what moral sentiments may here be taught. Even the barren winter may be fruitful of intellectual truths; and binding frost may be instrumental in thawing the heart, and melting the affections.

And first then, what a lively emblem have we in this, of that state we are in when we come into the world! who are, as an apostle tells, by nature children of wrath. While this winter is not past, the flowers appear not in the earth, the time of the singing of birds is not come, the voice of the turtle is not heard in our

land. Then we derive not our consolation from the glorious Sun of righteousness, but from the fire of worldly enjoyments, or sinful pleasures; no flowers of divine grace adorn the conversation, nor are we filled with the fruits of righteousness; we know not the joyful sound, neither is the melody of praise heard in our tabernacles.-Is the day short, and the night long? Know, O natural man! that it is the very picture of that natural state wherein you are. How soon is the day of prosperity made dark with night!—a night that shall not see the dawning of the day, and no joyful sound comes therein. Though for a while you may cheer up your heart, and think to kindle a fire, and walk in the light of your fire, and compass yourselves about with sparks; what will you do, when the shadows of the everlasting evening shall be stretched forth, and the long night of eternity shall wrap you in its impenetrable gloom? Who can live in his cold? Who knows the power of his anger?

And here I recal to mind an admonition of our Lord to his disciples, when warning them of the dreadful catastrophe of that ungrateful city Jerusalem; pray ye, that your flight be not in the winter.

O merci

ful Father! let it not be my miserable fate, to take my flight from time and this my mortal body, while the winter of thy wrath is not past, while the rain of thy indignation is not over and gone.

141

ON IMMORTALITY.

REJOICE, ye wise and good! tremble, ye knaves and fools! (who is anxious for your happiness?) for immortality, that pleasing awful thought, is no fantastic dream. Not only is it brought to light in the gospel; it is written in the volumes of creation and providence. Set immortality aside, and beasts are wiser and happier than men, and vice is preferable to virtue.