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fons who have acquired the greatest renown in the present or preceding ages? Who are the perfons who have been the greatest objects of human admiration? Have they not been the moft active, and the most fuccefsful, deftroyers of their fellow-creatures? This circumftance indeed communicates the guilt of individuals to the whole; fhows that it belongs to mankind in general; and that the defcription given by the apoftle is not more fhocking than true, ch. i. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. "And even as they "did not like to retain God in their know

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ledge, God gave them over to a reprobate "mind, to do thofe things which are not "convenient being filled with all unrigh"teousness, fornication, wickedness, covet "oufnefs, malicioufnefs; full of envy, mur"der, debate, deceit, malignity; whifperers, "backbiters, haters of God, defpiteful, proud,

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boafters, inventers of evil things, difobe"dient to parents, without understanding, "covenant-breakers, without natural affec"tion, implacable, unmerciful: who know. ing the judgement of God, (that they which "commit fuch things are worthy of death), not only do the fame, but have pleasure in "them that do them."

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There are to be found upon record inftances of fuch dreadful and aggravated guilt, as it were to be wifhed they had been, or could have been buried in oblivion. For this rea

fon,

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fon, I fhall neither mention their names, nor cite the examples; but obferve, that the extent and prevalence of wickedness should be confidered as a ftrong proof of the corruption of the whole race; and the particular fignal inftances of astonishing or monftrous crimes, as a proof of the exceffive depravation of our nature, and what man in his present state is capable of. I know it is pleafing and gratifying to human pride, to talk of the dignity of human nature, and the beauty of moral virtue and if it be done in fuch a manner as to make us efteem the only mean of recovering our loft integrity and original glory, I have no objection to it. But if it be fpoken of man as he now is without regenerating grace, I am certain it is more agreeable to reason and experience to fay, that, from the lengths to which fome have proceeded when placed in circumstances of temptation, it is owing to the power of reftraining providence, that others have been comparatively fomewhat better..

I have feen it obferved, with great apparent juftice, that probably one end which God had in view when he fhortened the period of human life after the deluge, was, to fet bounds to the progrefs of human guilt. As it is the nature of vice, to ftrengthen by habit, and increase by time; a race of wicked men living many hundreds of years, would degenerate and harden. to a degree not easily conceived.

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conceived. And indeed, if we examine into the true caufes of any little degree of order and peace which we now enjoy, we fhall fee abundant reason to adore the wisdom of divine Providence, but very little to afcribe much goodness to the human heart.

The most truly excellent characters which are to be found in history, and the most illuftrious deeds which those heroes have per formed, have for their very foundation the corruption of the human race. In this remark I have in view the fages and legiflators of antiquity, who acquired fo much renown by establishing fyftems of policy and government for different ftates. What was this elfe, and indeed what was it called, but taming the favage, and restraining the profligate part of their fellow-creatures? It feems plainly to be the point in view in every human law, to bridle the fury of human inclination, and hinder one man from making a prey of another. This is well described by the apostle Paul, 1 Tim. i. 9. 10. "Knowing this, that the "law is not made for a righteous man, but "for the lawless and disobedient, for the un

godly and for finners, for unholy and "profane, for murderers of fathers and mur

derers of mothers, for man flayers, for "whoremongers, for them that defile them"felves with mankind, for men-ftealers, for liars, for perjured perfons, and if there he

any other thing that is contrary to found "doctrine." We have indeed the testimony of men againft themselves in this cafe. It has been found to hold, without any exception, that the longer men live, they have the greater fufpicion of thofe with whom they live'; the greater experience they have of the world, they have the harder thoughts of men in general. In particular, those who have been moft converfant in public life, and have obtained most of what is called a knowledge of the world, have always the worst opinion of hu

man nature.

2. Let us now, from a general, come to a particular and perfonal view of our present ftate. You may be apt to fuppose, that thơ' the finfulness of human nature is too general, yet it is not univerfal; that though vice and wickedness has appeared confpicuously, and though perhaps wicked men may have obtained the afcendency in every nation, this will not ferve to found a fentence against every

man.

We might upon this part of the fubject obferve, that the truth illuftrated above will receive confirmation from our most intimate knowledge of one another. Human nature will gain nothing by a close inspection. Take it either in general or particular, its beft appearance is when viewed at a distance. The greatest and best characters, when clofely examined, have always fuch blemishes and imperfections

perfections attending them, as greatly diminish their luftre. This indeed has grown into a proverb, That much familiarity breeds contempt. On this account, we may fafely fay, that if fuch is the state of our nature, that no man is able to justify himself, or obtain the entire approbation of his fellow-finners, much more must “ every mouth be ftop"ped, and all the world become guilty before "God," Rom. ii. 19.

But the chief illuftration of this part of the fubject must be from the teftimony which confcience constrains every man to bear against himself. Examine, therefore, my brethren, what reason you have to be fatisfied, that you yourselves, unless your natures have been renewed by the Holy Ghoft, are under the dominion of fin; nay, that even fuch as have been "brought again from the dead" do still feel" a law in their members warring against "the law of God in their minds." Remember then that you have to do with him "who "feeth in fecret," and "who fearcheth Je"rufalem as with candles." It was neceffary formerly to take notice of the enormous effects of fin in this life; we muft now fearch a little deeper, and confider the beginning and fource of these in the difpofition of the heart. It is true, there are probably many here who are justly chargeable with the groffeft crimes; fuch as, impiety, lying, injuftice, or unclean

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