It

firmity, this affords a handle to profane perfons to load it with reproach. Their fuccefs, in this unhappy defign, is no greater than may naturally be expected: few are able to diftinguish between a perfon and his caufe, nor, indeed, is it poffible to attack the one, without wounding the other. evidently appears, that it is impoffible to treat religious perfons in general, or the expreffions, forms, and rites commonly appropriated to religious worfhip, with fcorn; and not, at the fame time, bring religion itfelf into contempt.

I do not mean by this to plead for approbation, or even indulgence, to any indecency, by which folly or vanity may abufe or disgrace the worship of God: far from it. I think every thing of that kind ought to be reproved with feverity, and opposed with refolution: but I contend, that it is infinitely more proper to treat it with abhorrence and deteftation, than with fcorn. Whoever will give himself this liberty, may eafily find an opportunity, from the weakness infeparable from humanity, to throw off that reverence for God and his fervice, which it ought to be his chief folicitude to preferve and improve. There are many whofe vifible weakness is to be lamented; and, perhaps, there is no human character at all fo perfectly decent in every refpect but, by imitation, and a little aggravation, it may be ren

dered ridiculous.

Let it alfo be confidered, that it requires far lefs comprehenfion of mind to expose the folly

and

and weakness of others, or even to invent plaufible falfehoods, and mifrepresent them, than to reafon with juftnefs and propriety on the most common fubjects. A very small degree of ability is fufficient to accomplish a accomplish a fcoffer, who is not reftrained by any fenfe of duty. Nor is this to be wondered at; for there is always a fufficient number, to whose understandings the most vile and miferable performance is perfectly adap

ted.

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In fupport of all this, I could adduce many examples, abundantly known and familiar; but, for certain reasons, I fhall only mention a very celebrated inftance from antiquity. Socrates was certainly the wifeft and the best man of all the heathens, whofe characters have been tranfmitted to us. His behaviour was fuch, as not only deferved, but feemed fit to command the efteem and veneration of all who knew him; yet was this worthy man fuccefsfully turned into ridicule, by a perfon, whofe writings, which have come down to us, are to the laft degree mean and contemptible. Nor was the effect merely tranfient; for, in the opinion of many, this contempt paved the way for the hatred which his enemies foon raifed against him, and which brought him to his death.

I proceed now, in the last place, to make some improvement of what has been faid: and with this view fuffer me to apply the truths above illuftrated by giving you fome advice and direction

under

under the three following characters, one or more of which will include every person who now hears

me.

1. To those who are young in that lovely, precious, dangerous season of life, of all others the fitteft for learning what is good, and unhappily prone to learn or imitate what is evil. My dear children, this is not the first of many times I have addreffed inftruction particularly to you, and I pray that God may open your hearts to receive it. Let me beseech you, first of all, to learn this important leffon, to diftraft yourselves, be fenfible of your inexperience, and be perfuaded of your danger, from the admonitions of others. The greatest evidence you can give of real knowledge, is to be fenfible of your ignorance; and of true wisdom, to be willing to learn; the follicitude and concern of your parents or other rela➡ tions, to preserve you from the deftructive paths of vice, is from their certain knowledge of what you are now unwilling to believe. Above all things, fhun as the peftilence, the fociety of profane fcorners. Loft to all fenfe of piety, feared in their confciences, and enflaved to their lufts, they will do all in their power to destroy a rifing fenfe of religion in your minds: While they promife you liberty, they themselves are the ⚫ fervants of corruption. Think upon eternity approaching: no man can forefee or foretell to you now, whether your time on earth fhall be long or short; whether you fhall have much prof

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perity, or many trials in the prefent world; but as the blefling of God is the best ingredient-in all temporal mercies, fo being at peace with him is the beft fupport under fuffering, and the only preparation for death. not aromah Runne . But as all the delufive arguments in favour of fin are drawn from this prefent life, fuffer me to plead the caufe of piety and truth in this refpect. Be affured, that true religion is the way to health, peace, opulence and public esteem. Hear the wifeft of mere men Length of days is in wifdom's right hand, and in her left hand riches * and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantnefs, and all her paths are peace.' Do not look only on thofe libertines who are in the beginning or middle of their courfe, whofe fpirits are lively, and their vigour yet unimpaired: look on the few older practitioners. Thefe were the good-fellows and focial spirits of a former period: their companions were cut off in the middle of their days, and they remain as beacons for your inftruction and warning. Do you fee them fullen in their deportment, mean in their attire, and despised by the world itfelf; their fates bloated with intemperance, and their miferable offspring pale with hunger, or crippled by neglect? thefe are the terrible fruits of midnight rioting. They were ence as merry in their cups, as ready with their jefts, and as great defpifers of Sabbaths, and fermons, of whining and praying, as any of their more sprightly

fprightly fucceffors, who are in the high road to the fame defpicable end.

My dear friends, when you perceive any one ftirring up your averfion to parental authority, and teaching you to defpife the troublesome admonitions of minifters and mothers, know that he is enticing you to the ruin of foul, body, and estate. Hear again the wife man, or rather the Spirit of God fpeaking by him: Hear then, my son, and be wife, and guide thine heart in the way: be not amongst wine-bibbers, amongst riotous eaters of flesh; for the drunkard and the glutton 'fhall come to poverty, and drowfinefs fhall ⚫ clothe a man with rags; hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when he is old. The eye that mocketh at his

father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out, and the young eagles fhall eat it.'

t

Do you indeed think, that any of your loofe companions, with all their profeflions of friendfhip and attachment, have the fame concern for your true interest that a parent has; or the fame judgment to difcern it? You may esteem it as a favour when you are affifted in the indulgence of your pleafures, and your irregular courses are concealed from the knowledge of your relations; but it is in truth the greatest injury that can poffibly be done you: it is often diftreffing to thofe of riper years and more experience, to obferve how difficult it is to perfuade young perfons of

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