our comfort and peace. Perhaps, however, there are fome circumstances that render it peculiarly proper for this auditory. Young perfons are very apt to cherish vaft and boundlefs defires as to outward things; and having not yet experienced the deceitfulness of the world, are apt to entertain exceffive and extravagant hopes. The truth is, rich and poor, young and old, may here receive a leffon of the utmost moment.

Let me therefore intreat your attention, while I endeavour to open and improve this paffage of the Holy Scriptures; beginning, at this time, with the first request, Remove far from me ❝ vanity and lies.'

In difcourfing on which, I will endeavour,

I. To explain the import of it, or fhew at what it chiefly points, and to what it may be fup-posed to extend.

II. Apply the fubject for your instruction and direction..

I. I am to explain the import of the prophet's prayer, or fhew at what it chiefly points, and to what it may be fuppofed to extend, in the petition, Remove far from me vanity and lies.' The word vanity, efpecially when it is joined, as it is frequently in Scripture, with lying, or lies,' is of a very large and comprehenfive fignification. The word in the original, tranflated' vanity, pro

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properly fignifies' lightnefs' or emptiness;' and lies fignify falfehood,' in oppofition to truth.'

I imagine we fhall have a clear conception, both of the meaning and force of this phrafe, if we make the following remark: God himself is the great fountain of life and existence: the great I AM, as he emphatically ftyles himself to Mofes; the 'Original' and the only reality,' if I may fo fpeak. All other beings have only a dependent and precarious exiftence; fo that the creation itself, though his own work, compared to him, is vanity. Vanity of vanities, faith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.' Therefore, in a particular manner, the word is often used to denote the folly of all idolatrous worfhip; or the giving the respect and honour to any thing elfe, which is due to God alone. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God, they have provoked me to anger with their vanities. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can caufe rain; or can the heavens give fhowers, art thou not he, O Lord our God?'

Sometimes it is ufed to denote the folly or unprofitableness' of any vice, and particularly of an ill founded conceit of ourfelves, as well as of all fraud and diffimulation, in word or action. So that this prayer for our fouls, fhort as it арpears to be, when confidered in its full extent, will be found to contain a great variety of important matter.This I fhall endeavour to give you

a brief account of, under the following particulars.

1. We are hereby taught to pray, that we may be preserved by divine grace, from all falfe and erroneous principles in religion; fo as we may neither be deceived by them ourselves, nor any way inftrumental in deceiving others. This, by what has been faid of the ufe of the words in Scripture, appears to be implied in the request, and it is of more moment than fome are willing to allow. The understanding being the leading faculty, an error there fpreads its unhappy influence through the whole temper and life. Whereas, on the contrary, light in the mind produces fidelity and fecurity in the confcience, and tenderness in the converfation. You may obferve, that through the whole hiftory of the Old Teftament, idolatry, or a departure from the knowledge and worship of the true God, is the leading fin, and the fruitful fource of every other vicious practice. We fometimes, indeed, feem to stand astonished at the exceffive pronenefs of the ancient Jews to this fin. But we need only a little reflection to discover, that an evil heart of unbelief continues the fame at bottom, and daily produces the like dangerous effects. How prone have men been in all ages to depart from the fimplicity of the truth! In how many dif ferent fhapes have they perverted it! One age, or one country, has been polluted by one error; and another by an oppofite; impelled by the un

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ftable and irregular fancies of men of corrupt minds. In the last age, the great theme of the carnal reafoner was, to attempt to expofe the Scripture-Doctrine of God's certain knowledge, and precife ordination of all events; and in this, fate and neceffity, have become the strong hold of infidelity, and are embraced, or feem to be embraced, by every enemy of true religion without exception. Error, fhifting its ground, indeed, is but natural; for lying vanities are innumerable; but the true God is the fame yef6. terday, to-day, and for ever.

At this very time, how abounding and pre-valent is infidelity, calling in question the moft important and fundamental principles both of natural and revealed religion! And how properly is this described, by the expreffion in the text, vanity and lies;' for it always takes its rise from the pride and vanity of the human heart! Sometimes a pride of understanding, which aspires to pafs judgment on things far above its reach, and condemn things long before they are examined and understood: Sometimes alfo, from a pride of heart, or self-sufficiency, that is unable to endure the humbling and mortifying view given us in Scripture of our character and state. Oh how readily do men turn afide from the truth! With what greedinefs do they drink in the flattering but deftructive poifon! Need I point out to you the fatal effects of fuch principles taking place? It loofens the obligations to obedience, takes off

the

the edge of the reproofs of confcience, and thus removing restraints, leaves men, in the empha tical language of the Holy Scriptures, to walk in the ways of their own hearts, and in the fight of ⚫ their own eyes.'

But in this requeft,' remove far from me vani⚫ty and lies,' I would not have you confine your views to the moft grofs infidelity and avowed oppofition to God. Pray alfo, that you may be preferved from error, or mistake of any kind; but efpecially fuch as have the greatest influence on the fubftance of religion..

A clear apprehenfion of the holy nature, and righteous government of God-the infinite evil of fin-the foundation of our peace in the blood of the atonement and the renewing of our na tures by the Holy Ghoft, feem to me abfolutely neceffary to true and undefiled religion. And they are the truths which particularly serve to exalt the Creator, and lay the creature in the duft. When, therefore, we confider how grateful to corrupt nature every thing is, that tends to fofter pride, to create fecurity, and fet the mind at ease in the indulgence of fin; we must be fenfible of how great importance it is, to pray for divine direction and divine prefervation. Nothing is more dangerous to men than confidence and prefumption; nothing more useful, in faith and practice, than humility and felf-denial.

2. This prayer implies, a defire that we may be preserved from fetting our affections on fuch objects