rity, be ready, at all times, to give a reafonable account "of the hope that is in "him with meeknefs and with fear." I would have him think it as much his duty to do this, as though his honesty and truth, or any other principle which he held most dear, were called in question by the world. On fuch occafions, you cannot be too much aware of that fhamefaced candor, and that mean, accommodating temper which are fo common in the world; which are fometimes the flimfy disguise of libertinism or indifference; but oftener the poor refource of a weak and pufillanimous mind, afraid to avow its own purposes, or withheld from doing it by a false sense of modefty and decorum.

If you are in earnest with regard to religion, if you are not from luke-warmness, or indolence, to be ranked among thofe, who if they examine their own hearts, might fay, perhaps, with Agrippa, that they were almost perfuaded to be chrif"tians;" if you look up to the revealed

word of God as to the rock of your falvation; if you fuffer it to rule your conduct, form your principles, and direct your piety; or if you wish to derive comfort from it in affliction, and hope that when you lie on the bed of death, your prayers "and your alms will go up for a memo"rial before God;" you will never fuffer it to be trifled with, or abused within the sphere of your authority. In proportion as you defpife the ribaldry of a VOLTAIRE, and the frofty fcepticism of HUME, you will exert your influence in checking any thing that might approach to it, in your intercourse with the world. By a prudent mixture of fortitude and gentleness, much good may be done by every member of fociety. Where we cannot absolutely prevent evil, we may at least fignify our dif approbation of it; and not, as is too often the cafe, countenance obfcenity and impiety by indulging a loofe, diforderly merriment, at the ludicrous affociation of facred with profane ideas, and by expreffing a fatisfaction which we do not feel, or

which, at leaft in our ferious hours, we are afhamed to acknowledge.

WITH whatever tenderness we may view the venial errors of our neighbour; how ready foever we may be to admit the claims of confcience, the force of example, and the influence of education in religious practice, we must know that vice is always wrong, and that impiety is always finful. In this, at least, we may be unanimous, and as chriftians, are bound to check the growing influence of moral turpitude and corruption of manners, by every means in our power. While we are ready to guard against "the fin that doth fo easily beset "ourselves," let us ufe our utmost endeavours to fecure others alfo against her dangerous dominion; but more particularly those who are in any respect dependent on us. This is to be done, and for the most part effectually, as far as relates to our children and domeftics, by establishing fixed and regular habits of devotion, by withdrawing them from the contagion of bad example,

S 4

example, and by seasoning their minds with friendly admonition and wholesome reproof.

IN thus performing the grand duties which regard ourselves, our neighbour and the Deity, may we be not only unanimous, but active, earnest, and fincere. Let no perverse disputings, on vain and idle fubjects, encroach upon that small portion of time which might be so much better employed; but whenever an opportunity offers of glorifying God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, or of doing good to man, by fulfilling the precepts of his ever-facred gofpel, there let us, at all times, be ready to imitate the conduct of the holy apostles, and fhew the world, that we are "of one "heart and one foul."

દ

SER.

SERMON XII.

ON THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD

SAMARITAN.

LUKE X. 33.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he faw him be bad compassion on him.

I

T was one great object with our bleffed

Lord, while on earth, to establish men in social virtue, and to diffuse the sentiments of unbounded charity and benevolence throughout the world. He endeavoured in his character, as a moral teacher, to wipe away all illiberal prejudices, which men are apt to harbour against one another for difference of opinion, and always inculcated,