day holy," tradefmen, fervants, and the like, by my vifiting, travelling, drefling; or doing those things which, with some little contrivance, might as well be done at another time? Do I often pray by myself? do I pray alfo with my family morning and evening, and inftruct my fervants and chil dren to the best of my ability, and restrain them as much as poffible from vice? Am I temperate, and gentle, and courteous, and just tender of the good name of my neighbours; with charity," thinking no evil;" and inclined rather to ftifle than to spread an ill report, when I hear it in converfation? Am I charitable to their bodily wants alfo, relieving them to the best of my power; and not laying up for the fuperfluities of my own family, but trufting them fomewhat to the providence of God? Do I forgive, as I would be forgiven? Am I truly zealous for God's glory? can I bear to hear an oath, or profane expreffion, or any thing that derogates from the honour of God, without feeling it as deeply as if my own honour, or that of my best friend was wounded? Do I love good nefs, nefs, and good men; rejoice when they are advanced, and lend an helping hand towards their fuccefs; and difcourage and reprefs vice, by private reproof? To thefe, many others might be added. All I fhall obferve upon them is, that fuch inquiries will certainly inform you, whether you are chriftians, fuch as the new Testament directs, and our faviour requires, or fuch as the world calls its "good fort of men;" fit, indeed, for its places, profits and preferments, but very unfit for the kingdom of God. To conclude; let now the best of us confider" in how many things we offend all," and mourn deeply for our faults; but let the worfer fort tremble indeed. How many Lord's days have they profaned; how many facraments have they defpifed; how many oaths and curfes have they fworn; how many flanders have they repeated; how many proud thoughts have they entertained; how many ways, in short, have they obstructed the glory of God, and the good of their own fouls? Nevertheless, if we will proftrate ourselves at the throne of grace; humble our hearts, and amend our lives; there is yet mercy for the wicked, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Let this be "our confolation, and our hope:" and let us inftantly lay hold of it, while "our day of grace" lasts, and before "the night cometh, when no man can work." DISCOURSE DISCOURSE V. PSALM CXIX. 9. WHEREWITHAL SHALL A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? EVEN BY RULING HIMSELF AFTER THY WORD. THE book of Pfalms, from whence this precept is taken, is a collection of devotional and religious truths, which have always been held in the highest estimation both in the jewish and christian church. And this maxim from them, which I have read to you, I think peculiarly worthy of your ftricteft examination and concern. How, fays the wife king, fhall a young unexperienced man conduct himself, amidst the various paths of life that are before him, fo as to meet the feweft dangers and difficulties here, and enfure to himself the greatest happiness E 2, happiness hereafter? And this question he immediately decides, by faying, that if the young man will but obferve the plain track which is chalked out for him in the fcriptures; believing what is there revealed, and doing what is there required, he cannot mifs of happiness hereafter, and has every probability of enjoying it here. This, I think, is the sense of the text. My prefent purpose, therefore, is to illuftrate, and apply it. It may be, fome ingenous youth who has his path of life to chuse, one of those few "who are yet unfpotted with the world,” is come to the house of God for inftruction. And, it may be, that the further confideration of this difcourfe, in the many vifible advantages attending a chriftian course of life, fhall move him to embrace the gofpel in all its purity, and to devote himself from this hour to the practice of those duties that will enfure to him the favour of God. Soon, perhaps, the evil customs of the world would have entangled him Satan would have tempted, fenfe would ; have |