plain and eafy, that they can fcarce be miftaken. That doubtless may be deemed an abuse of the bleffings of providence which hath an effect, in any degree, to injure our health, to cloud our understandings, or to unfit us for the duties of life. When we thus tranfgrefs the bounds of moderation, our table becomes a fnare to us; and, for the fake of a little prefent gratification, we entail disorders on our conftitution, defraud the poor of their right, and put it out of our power to render thofe fervices to God and man which our station demands. But. regard is to be had to our circumstances, as well as to the health of our bodies and minds. Extravagance is not to be justified in any: there is however a kind of plenty and elegance which well becomes the tables of those of superior rank, and which either to imitate or condemn argues equal vanity in those beneath them. But it requires no pains to prove that that is intemperance, be the motive to it what it may, whether pride or luxury, which hurries perfons into expences they cannot answer; or ties up their hands from those acts of liberality, to which their fellow-creatures have an unquestionable title. Nor fhould I forget to observe, that sobriety fets limits alfo to the

time we spend in avocations of this nature. For though we are not guilty of excefs in either of the inftances juft mentioned, yet if we idly fquander away hours in the gratifications of animal nature, the duties both of civil and religious life must be neglected, or at leaft confiderably hindered and curtailed. And now thefe rules, as to the ufe of meats and drinks, may for the most part be applied to all our other fenfual of worldly enjoyments.

The duties of Temperance thus briefly explained approve themfelves, I make no doubt, to every man's reafon and confcience. Yet, fo violent are the appetites of depraved nature, that multitudes are not to be deterred, even by the laws of their country, from the open indulgence of them. And as to those whofe general deportment is decent and fober, there are but few, it is to be feared, whofe conduct is influenced by any higher motive than that of a regard to their health reputation or worldly interests. It is the grace of God therefore, and that only, which effectually emancipates the immortal miind from the cruel thraldom of bodily appetites. And this it does, by fetting the divine Being in all his infinite perfections before our

eyes,

As

eyes, by convincing us of the fuperior value and excellence of the foul to the body, by giving us a taste of the refined pleasures of communion with Heaven, and by fixing upon our hearts a lively impreffion of the important realities of a future ftate. And as divine grace thus puts the government of our appetites, as well as our other paffions, into the hands of enlightened reason; fo the gospel supplies arguments peculiar to itself to perfuade us to these duties of chastity and sobriety. particularly, God's own Son having been made flesh and dwelt among us"; his having bought us with the price of his own blood joined us to himself, and made our bodies his members"; as alfo the inhabitation of the Spirit, for our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghoft; and the refurrection of the body at the laft day. They therefore who are Chrift's must crucify the flesh with the affections and lufts'. And if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

;

Thus have we confidered the feveral duties we owe to God to one another and to ourselves, which are all comprehended

in the general phrafe in our text of the fruits

And now it remains that I close the whole with two or three reflections, which, however important, the length of this difcourfe will but just allow me to mention.

We hence fee the infinite excellence and utility of true religion. For if the duties that have been defcribed are of fuch confequence to the comfort and usefulness of individuals, and to the general welfare and happiness of fociety; that furely is moft worthy of our attention and regard which fets these duties in their true light, and furnishes us with the nobleft motives to urge us to them, and the only effectual aids to enable us to perform them in a right manner. By this extenfive view we have taken of the fruits of holiness we are also naturally led into an examination of ourfelves, whether we are Chriftians indeed, what is the general tenor of our conduct, and by what motives we are influenced. By their fruits, fays our Saviour, ye shall know them". And fince thofe who, as the apostle expreffes it in this context, have from their heart obeyed that form of doctrine which was delivered unto them, are never

theless deeply fenfible of innumerable follies and fins; how fhall we fufficiently admire and adore that grace, which has made so free and ample a provifion for our final acceptance and salvation in Jesus Christ! Thus hath the Bleffed God, of his infinite mercy, effectually relieved us of those distreffing fears which would have miserably perplexed and impeded us in the path of duty; and at the fame time, as effectually secured to himself alone the glory of our everlasting falvation. But of these things we fhall have occafion to discourse hereafter.

END of the FIRST VOLUME.