easy-then it is delightful-then it is frequentthen habitual-then confirmed-then the man is independent-then he is obstinate-then he resolves never to repent-then he dies-then he is damned."*

When a young man that has received a pious education, begins to be solicited to break through the restraints imposed upon him by conscience, he can venture only on lesser sins: he perhaps only takes a walk on the Sabbath with a friend, or goes to see a play, or joins in one midnight revel: but even this is not done with ease; he hears the voice of an internal monitor, starts and hesitates, but complies. A little remorse follows, but it is soon worn off. The next time the temptation presents itself, his reluctance is diminished, and he repeats the offence with less previous hesitation, and less subsequent compunction. What he did once, he now without scruple does frequently. His courage is so far increased, and his fear of sin is so far abated, that he is soon emboldened to commit a greater sin, and the tavern, and the horse-race are frequented with as little reluctance as the theatre. Conscience now and then remonstrates, but he has acquired the ability to disregard its warnings, if not to silence them. In process of time the society of all who make the least pretensions to piety is avoided as troublesome and distressing, and the heedless youth joins himself with companions better suited to his taste. Now his sins grow with vigour under the fostering influence of evil company, just as trees which are set in a plantation.

* Jeremy Taylor's Sermons.

By this time the Bible is put out of sight, all prayer neglected, and the Sabbath constantly profaned. At length he feels the force of custom, and becomes enslaved by inveterate habit. The admonitions of a father, and the tears of a pious mother, produce no impressions, but such as are like the "morning cloud, or early dew, which soon passeth away." He returns to the society of his evil associates, where parental admonitions are converted into matter of wicked sport. The sinner is settled now in an evil way; and the sapling of iniquity has struck his roots deep into the soul of depravity. The voice of conscience is now but rarely heard, and even then only in the feeble whisper of a dying friend. His next stage is to lose the sense of shame. He no longer wears a mask, or seeks the shade, but sins openly and without disguise. Conscience now is quiet; and without spectre to warn, or angel to deliver, he pursues without a check the career of sin. He can meet a saint without a blush, and hear the voice of warning with a sneer. Would you believe it? he glories in his shame, and attempts to justify his conduct. Not content with being wicked, he attempts to make others as bad as himself, puts on the character of an apostle of Satan, and, like his master, goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. As he is condemned in all his ways by the Bible, he endeavours to get rid of this troublesome judge, and persuades himself that religion is a cheat. With infidel principles, and immoral practices, he now hurries to destruction, polluted and polluting. His parents, whose grey hairs he brought in sorrow to the grave, have

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entered on their rest, and in mercy are not permitted to live to witness his shame. His vices leads him to extravagance; his extravagance is beyond his resources, and in an evil hour, under the pressure of claims which he is unable to meet, he commits an act which forfeits his life. He is arrested, tried, convicted, condemned, executed.

This is no fancy picture; it has often occurred. My dear children, see the deceitfulness of sin. Meditate, and tremble, and pray. Be alarmed at little sins, for they lead on to great ones; at acts of sin, for they tend to habits; at common ones, for they issue in those that are uncommon. I have read of a servant who went into a closet, with an intention only to gratify his palate with some sweetmeats, but perceiving some silver articles, he relinquished the meaner prey for these, purloined them, became a confirmed thief, and died at the gallows. Many a prostitute, who has perished in a garret upon straw, commenced her miserable and loathsome course with mere love of dress. Sin is like a fire, which should be extinguished in the first spark, for if it be left to itself, it will soon rage like a conflagration.

5. The last proof of the deceitfulness of the heart which I shall advance is, the delusive prospects which it presents to the judgement.

Sometimes it pleads for the commission of sin on the ground of the pleasure which it affords. But while it speaks of the honey of gratification, does it also tell of the venom of reflection and punishment?

At other times it suggests that retreat is easy in the career of sin, and may be resorted to if its progress be inconvenient. Is it so? The very contrary is true. Every step we advance renders it more and more difficult to return.

Then it urges us forward with the delusive idea that it is time enough to repent in old age. But does it say, what indeed is true, that for ought you know, you may die to-morrow? No; and herein is its deceit.

It dwells upon the mercy of God; but is silent upon the subject of his justice.

What think you now of the human heart? Can you question its deceitfulness, or that it is deceitful above all things? How then will you treat it?

Think meanly of it. Surely, with such a picture before you, you will not talk of the moral dignity of human nature; because this would be to talk of the dignity of falsehood and imposition.

Seek to have it renewed by the Holy Ghost. It is a first principle of religion, that the heart must be renewed, and here you see the need of it. It is not only the conduct which is bad, but the heart, and therefore it is not only necessary for the conduct to be reformed, but the very nature must be regenerated. It is the heart which imposes upon the judgement, and the judgement which misleads the conduct; and, therefore, the root of the evil is not touched until the disposition is changed.

Suspect the heart, and search it. Treat it as you would a man who had deceived you in every possible way, and in innumerable instances had been proved to be false. Continually sus

pect it. Always act under the supposition, that it is concealing something that is wrong. Perpetually examine it. Enter the house within you; break open every door; go into every apartment; search every corner; sweep every room. Take with you the lamp of revelation, and throw a light on every hiding place.

Watch the heart with all diligence, knowing that out of it are the issues of life. You would observe every attitude, every movement, every look of an impostor who had fixed his eye upon your person and property. Thus treat your hearts. Let every thought, every imagination, every desire, be placed under the most vigilant and ceaseless inspection.

Place it in the hand of God to keep it. "My son, give me thine heart," is his own demand. Give it to him, that it might be filled with his love, and kept by his power. Let it be your daily prayer, 66 Lord, hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; keep me by thy power through faith unto salvation."

CHAPTER VIII.

On transient devotions.

THE church, (said Saurin,) had seldom seen happier days, than those described in the nineteenth chapter of Exodus. God had never diffused his benedictions on a people in richer