That though

he is merciful and longfuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance;" yet, if men will perverfly continue in fin, and abuse the means of falvation; "his wrath" will certainly burft out, and fall heavily at laft "on those children of vice and difobedience k." And therefore,

That it is no less our interest, than it is our duty, to confider these things in time; and make all the hafte we poffibly can, to fecure, by a courfe of virtue, both our prefent peace, and our future felicity.

turn

And when once we are engaged in this course, let us remember Lot's wife;" and take heed, that we neither again," nor" look back" to the things we have left behind us. For the ftands, not only as a woful inftance of the wondrous manner, in which the wicked inha

i

2 Pet. iii. 9.

* Ephef. v. 6.

Luke xvii. 32. Gen. xix, 26.

bitants

bitants of that country perished; but also as a lafting example to others, of the great folly of delay and remiffness in their obedience to the commands of God.

Now to God the Father, &c.

SERMON

X.

PSALM 1xxviii. 12.

Marvellous things did he in the fight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of

Zoan.

WE

E have feen the Ifraelites marvelloufly conducted into the land of Egypt, and providentially fettled in the diftrict of Gofhen; where, though they lived distinct by themselves, they had yet many and frequent opportunities of imparting fomething of the true religion to all the people around them.

Here they continued above two hundred years; during which time, great and momentous revolutions happened, as well in the general ftate of the kingdom, as in their own particular affairs.

In the first period of their fettlement; whilst they comfortably enjoyed the benign influence of royal favour; as they were gratefully difpofed to inftruct thofe, with whom they converfed, in the true knowledge of God and his providence; fo their correfpondents, we may prefume, were no less inclined to be taught and inftructed by them, From thefe mutually good difpofitions, from thefe kind intercourfes and friendly correfpondence, great improvements muft neceffarily arife. For religion and virtue, strongly inculcated on one fide, and readily embraced on the other, muft naturally thrive and increafe: And, as they fpread, muft naturally and of courfe gather ftrength.

But whatever improvements the Egyptians might make in their religious fentiments or moral conduct, during this calm and aufpicious period; yet, certain it is, that