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ty of all who profefs to fear God, to abftain from the fociety of those who are grofsly profane, without discovering any ferre of penitence or forrow. The truth is, I ought rather to make this a mark of true religion, and affirm, that all good men will do fo; than inform them that they fhould. There must be a likeness of difpofition among familiar friends. Had you that abhorrence of impiety that you ought to have, you would count the fociety of impious perfons a stain and reproach to your own characters. Of this I am able to give a very strong, and, at the same time, a plain and familiar proof. Were any perfon known to be guilty of theft and dishonesty, or any fault that is odious and difgraceful in the world, every one would reckon his intimate companions almost, if not to the fame degree, as abandoned as himself. The fame thing will certainly hold as to profanity. or licentiousness; though indeed it carries in it a melancholy proof, that fins against piety or purity are far from being held in the fame abhorrence as what endangers our fubftance or temporal interest. I muft, however, here beg of you, to attend to a fingular and very strong paffage of the epistle to the Romans. The apostle Paul clofes his defcription of the profane world in the following terms: "who knowing the judgment of God, (that they.

which commit fuch things are worthy of death) "not only do the fame, but have pleasure in them that do them.' I have looked into the original,

- and find the words juftly tranflated; and you; fee,

fee, from the conftruction of the fentence, the apostle represents having pleasure in fenfual and wicked men, as implying a depravity of character fuperior even to that of fenfuality itself.

But as affociating with the profane is a mark of profanity, fo every degree of countenance given to them, by perfons of entire character, is a fenfible injury to the public. It ferves to put honour upon vice, and in part to deliver it from that just reproach which ought to be the punishment of the guilty, and a warning to others not to tread in their steps. I have, on feveral occafions, obferved, that the prefent period or state of things, in this place and congregation, demands the greatest concern for the public interest of religion. Growing in numbers, and growing, I hope, in wealth, as the effect of your own and your fathers induftry, you are in danger of the introduction of a worldly fpirit by the rifing generation. This every good man ought, with the utmost prudence and refolution, to oppofe; par ticularly by doing all in his power to preferve the honour and refpect due to true religion, andtreating with contempt every open enemy to that important interest. I fincerely with you improved, and poffeffed of every accomplishment that is truly valuable; but beware of that false politeness, which confifts in little elfe than an oppofition to religion and fobriety. And, indeed I am afraid we shall not foon attain to any other; at leaft, not by the help of thofe, who as they fet religion at defiance,

defiance, fo are equally ftrangers to that elegance and fenfe of decency which diftinguishes perfons of higher rank.

The worst enemies of finners are those who treat them with indulgence, fo long as they continue to justify or to palliate their offences. Nothing ferves to harden them more, than when no notice is taken of their crimes; and they find themselves just as generally, and as well received, as if they had done no evil. On the other hand, when they perceive the deep concern of others on their account, it is an excellent mean of bringing them to serious reflection, and inducing them to tremble at themselves. Wherefore, my beloved hearers, let me beseech you to preserve your horror of fin, notwithstanding the boldness of finners. Do every thing in your own power to reclaim the offenders. Be earneft in your fupplications to almighty God, that he would fnatch them as brands from the burning, and raise them up as trophies of his victorious grace. But while they continue in their enmity to God, forget not, on your own account, the apoftolic counfel; have no fellow" fhip with the unfruitful works of darkness, but < rather reprove them.'

SERMON

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■ Theff. ii. 12. That you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you into his kingdom and glory.

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HE prefent ftate was intended to be, and I think must, by every person of reflection, be admitted to be a continual trial of the faith and conftancy of a Chriftian. It is therefore a duty

we

*It seems proper to acquaint the public with the reafon and intention of this publication. It had been the custom, in the college of New-Jersey, from its firft eftablishment, that the prefident fhould preach a fermon on the Lord's day preceding com. mencement, for the benefit of young perfons in ge.

we owe to others in general, but in a special manner, the elder to the younger, to give them faithful warning of the temptations and dangers,"to which they muft, of neceffity, be expofed, if they mean to walk in the paths of piety and virIt hath often occurred to me, in meditating on this fubject, that as falfe money is most dangerous, when it is likeft to the true, fo those principles, and that character, which approach the nearest to true religion, if notwithstanding

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neral; and in the end, address a particular exhortation to the feniors of that year, who were to receive the first degree in the arts, and leave college. This cuftom was very much approved by the author of the following feimon and addrefs, on his taking charge of the college, and therefore regularly continued. For feveral years, the addrefs was founded upon, and had a particular relation to whatever had been the fubject of the preceding dif courfe. But in the year 1775, when the war with Britain was actually begun, and every thing feemed to breathe the fpirit of defence, he chofe Chriftian Magnanimity, as the fubject of the difcourfe; and not knowing what might be the event of the important conteft, he thought it advifeable to make a collection, or fummary, of all the advices that had been given to the young gentlemen for their conduct in life, in different years, under diftinct heads. This produced the one now published, which, with fome variations and additions, has been delivered to the clafs annually, fometimes the Sabbath preceding commencement, and fometimes on commencement day, when the exercifes left room for it. The author having now introduced every

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