intent, that we fhould not luft after evil things, as they formerly lufted:" to the intent, that we might learn wisdom at their expence; nor prefume to follow them in the ways of difobedience; " confidering the end,” the disastrous end, «of their converfation 1."

Irreligion and idolatry, profaneness and immorality are in their own nature, and according to the established order of things, injurious and detrimental to man: and this confideration ought in reason to put us upon our guard against them. But if neither the dictates of reason, the admonitions of revelation, nor the inconveniences we feel in a wrong course, can prevail upon us to correct our mifdoings; then God himself, as gover nour of the world, is obliged to take us into his own hands; and to urge us with feverer and more extraordinary inflictions. How "fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God"," the inftance before us is • 1 Cor. x. 6,

• Heb. xiii.7.

• Heb. x. 31.

7

an

an alarming proof! But if they, who defpifed" the antediluvian prophets, and the less perfect law" that was then given, “ died without mercy;"" of how much forer punishment, fuppofe ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God-and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing-and hath done defpite unto the spirit of grace's ???

That our hearts therefore may be preferved under an awful impreffion of the divine judgements, let us frequently meditate on those difplays of them, which are fet before us in the holy Scriptures. And when we reflect, that the old world," for the wickednefs of its inhabitants, "perished by water;' let us alfo remember, that "the prefent world is kept in ftore, referved unto fire against the day of judgment, and the perdition of ungodly ment."

. And fince the one element will as certainly diffolve "the world that now is," as ever the

3 Heb x. 28, 29.

• 2 Pet. iii. 6, 7.

other

other deluged "the world that then was;" let us endeavour, like Noah, by keeping the ways of truth and piety, to fecure the protection and favour of God; that, when the time comes, we may finally, like him, be fafely guarded, conducted and admitted into "that new heaven and new earth-" into that glorious and eternal kingdom, which God hath prepared for them that love him; and "in which dwelleth righteousness," peace, joy and happiness for ever-more.

Now to God the Father, &c. Amen..

SER

SERMON VIL

GEN. xi. ver. 4—8.

And they faid, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whofe top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, left we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to fee the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord faid, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be Teftrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

So