make sport for others. And And yet, how many are there that will spare neither God nor Scripture, neither heaven nor religion, if they present but an opportunity for their wit. However sacred, however venerable—nothing can escape them, if they can but turn it into ridicule-wretches! who dare to violate the most tremendous mysteries of religion, and expose their God to scorn, his oracles to contempt, and their own souls to eternal perdition; for the praise and admiration of fools, who think they commence wits by applauding blasphemy! Too many, alas! there are, who, not content with laughing at the sins of others, make a mock, also, at their own, and think the commission of them a matter even of the most trifling nature. The slightest provocations, the easiest temptations, are sufficient to make them rush boldly into the commission of sin. Any slight and trifling gain, any short and transitory pleasure, is fully sufficient to make them venture upon whatever crime either the devil or their own depraved hearts shall suggest to them.

How hard, then, must it necessarily be to bring them to any real sorrow or compunction! Though even the dreadful threatenings that are denounced in God's holy word, and all the woes and curses of God's justice, be directed against them; yet will they still hold fast their confidence and boldness; and cannot, or will not, be persuaded that God should be angry for such trivial causes.

And too frequently, even if they should happen to be sensible of the truth of these considerations, they think that a slight and formal repentance will suffice to make amends for all. They pacify their consciences, and think they can appease God also, by crying his mercy; and consider it as easy to repent of their sins, as it is to commit them.

If we would know the cause that induces the wicked to make so light of their sins, we shall find that it is because they see so few instances of God's wrath and vengeance in this world. And those rare ones that cannot but be seen and acknowledged, they are ever more willing to impute to chance, than to the retribution of divine justice. Because God winks at them for a time, they conclude that he is blind; or, at least, that he does not greatly disapprove when he does not speedily punish. It would be somewhat difficult, indeed, to answer this argument, were this present life the appointed time of recompence. But, though thou art daily adding to thy sins, and feelest not now the effects of God's wrathful indignation; yet know, that the storm is gathering around thee. And, when thou launchest forth into the boundless ocean of eternity, then will it break upon thee in tempestuous fury, and drown thy soul in perdition and destruction.

Another cause that makes the wicked think so lightly of sin, is, that it cannot affect God with any real injury; for, as he is not benefited by our services, neither is he wronged by our iniquities.

Thy sins, it is true, can never invade God's essence; for infinitely is it above the vain attacks either of men or devils. But yet thou wouldst dethrone him if thou couldst; thou wouldst not have him be so just and holy as he is; not so holy in hating thy sins, not so just in punishing them: in a word, thou wouldst not have him to be God. Sinners (remember) contradict God's purity, they rebel against his sovereignty, they violate his commands, they defy his justice, they provoke his mercy, they despise his threatenings, and hinder the manifestations of his glory to the world and is all this nothing? Thou, therefore, who art guilty of this rebellion against the majesty of heaven, canst thou think that thy sins are slight and inconsiderable, unworthy either of the cognizance or the vengeance of the Almighty? Believe it, the day is coming and will not tarry, when the guilt that thou carriest so peaceably in thy bosom, and which, like a frozen serpent, stirs not, and stings not, shall, when heated by the flames of hell, fly in thy face, appear in all its native horror, and overwhelm thy soul with everlasting anguish. And then, but alas! too late, then wilt thou exclaim against thyself, as WORSE than a fool, or madman, for making a mock at that which has eternally ruined and destroyed thee. Is it not the very height of folly and of madness when men rush into sin, upon the presumptuous confidence, that they may hereafter be sorry that they have done it. They venture on a certain guilt, in

hopes of an uncertain repentance. But God may cut thee off, thou rash and thoughtless sinner, in the very act of that sin which thou intendest to repent of hereafter: or, if he afford thee time for repentance, he may withhold his grace; and in his just and righteous, but yet fearful judgment, permit thee to go on, treasuring up unto thyself wrath, against the day of wrath. Alas! how many, in his signal vengeance, has God cut off, with an oath, a curse, or a blasphemy in their mouths, even before they were pronounced.

If vengeance should spare thee for a while, yet thou knowest not how soon it may strike thee. It is folly for thee to expect the warning of a sick bed. Death often surprises by sudden casualties, or by diseases equally as sudden. But if God, as thou wouldst have him, should lay thee on the bed of sickness, may he not justly visit thee with such distempers as may make thee incapable of doing the last kind office to thy soul which thou hast so totally neglected in thy health? It is folly to expect the admonition of old age. Alas! the almond-tree does not EVERY WHERE flourish; and it is not one in many thousands who lays down a hoary head in the bed of the grave. But, granting thou couldst be assured of the continuance of thy life, yet, is it not the most egregious folly to sin in hopes of repenting, when every act of sin will make thy repentance the more difficult, if not impossible?

And suppose thou wert also certain that thou shalt repent, yet surely none but fools will purchase the pleasures of sin with the bitterness and anguish of a true and hearty repentance. Dost thou seriously consider what repentance is? It is. not a transitory wish, a deep and anxious sigh, a piercing exclamation of Lord have mercy upon me -No-Repentance is the breaking of the heart, a rending of the very soul in pieces. Say, then, when thou art tempted by thy lusts; say," If I commit this sin, either I shall repent of it, or I shall not. If I never repent of it (and it is doubtful whether I shall or not,) what is there in the sin, that can recompense the anguish and bitterness of repentance?" But to say, "I will sin; because perhaps I may repent;" is below the meanest capacity that ever owned the slightest glimpse of reason.

Is it not folly to make a mock of that which will make thee the public scorn of the whole world? How many by their sins and vices have become altogether infamous! Are they not a shame and a reproach; and lost to reputation, as much as they. are to virtue? Yes! The wicked shall be the scorn and the derision of God, of angels, and of men. God tells them so himself. Because ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will MOCK when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind. Then all their deeds of wicked