estimate things in proportion to their real value; surely, the transient gratifications of time would be deemed matters of little significance, when set in competition with the solid joys of eternity: we should not think it hard, at stated seasons, to retire from the pleasures or the business of this world, for the purpose of acknowledging, in the exercises of prayer and praise, our entire dependence upon that awful Sovereign of the universe, who originally created us, and who every instant preserves us in being: we should be ready at all times to express our gratitude to the bountiful Bestower of all good things, by devoting a part of our worldly possessions to the relief of our necessitous brethren, to the advancement of his glory among the sons of men: whenever we appear in his more immediate presence; when we come into his house, and make a show of prostrating ourselves before his footstool, the mingled emotions of fear, and love, and gratitude, rising in our bosoms, would prevent all lightness and indecency of behaviour-every look, and word, and gesture, which is not suited to the sacredness of the place, and the solemnity of the occasion.

The apostle speaks of the Man of God who is thoroughly furnished unto all good works; and this consistency of conduct, this perfection of character cannot subsist, unless religion be united with morality; unless men be as solicitous not to rob God of the services which are due to him, as they are to discharge their respective duties to each other. For the truth of this assertion, I will appeal to every understanding that can reason with propriety, to every heart that can feel with tenderness. Can that man pretend to be extremely anxious not to violate his obligations to his neighbour,

who is nevertheless entirely inattentive to that relation in which he stands to God Almighty? Can that man be actuated by pure social affections, who has no fear of an all-powerful Sovereign, no veneration for his heavenly Father, no love for his kindest Friend, no gratitude for his most bountiful Benefactor? However exalted the attainments in worldly wisdom may be, which now excite our admiration; however men may be distinguished by those virtues which are concerned merely in making provision for our temporal wellbeing; rest assured, that an awful sense of religious duty ever gives new dignity to the grave and wise; and to the most refined and delicate, it affords a peculiar sweetness and grace; it diffuses over the whole character a heavenly lustre, which we behold with both love and veneration.

In this age of scepticism and impiety, we hear much of what each one has a right to claim, of what is due from one man to another; but those who declaim with most vehemence on this subject, seem to be the least inclined to step forth and vindicate the rights of God. The unbeliever will petulantly observe; "He stands in "no need of our feeble assistance: he is altogether able "to maintain his own authority." It is true; he will support the dignity of his government, either by the reformation or the destruction. of the transgressor. But still, he expects that we should endeavour to extend his dominion over the hearts and lives of men, by all the rational methods which he has placed in our power: that we should not be ashamed of him and his word before a sinful generation: that on all proper occasions we should express an humble submission to the dispensations of his providence, and a profound

veneration for the institutions of his religion: that we should let the light of our virtue and piety so shine before men, that they may be induced, first by applauding, and then by imitating our good example, to glorify our Father who is in heaven. Ye men of deep meditation and comprehensive views; ye generous promoters of peace, and order, and security; ye disinterested guardians of the welfare of human society, testify in your whole deportment, that you deem it no degradation to seek instruction from infinite wisdom, no meanness to be obedient to the injunctions of almighty power: embrace every opportunity of signifying to the scoffers of these last days, your sense of the high importance, the absolute necessity of religion, in the prosecution of our true felicity!

Human laws provide punishments for those who violate their engagements; but they offer not rewards to those who owe no man any thing, and are careful to pay to all their dues. How much more liberal is our heavenly Lawgiver to his dutiful people! Hear his gracious assurances to the children of Israel, in some of the verses immediately following the text; “Bring ye "all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be "meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, "saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the "windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that "there shall not be room enough to receive it. And "all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a

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delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." Should our obedience be requited with few or no temporal rewards, let us persist in the determination not to rob our God of the services which are due to him; and, we may rest assured, that in his own good time, having

translated us to a better state of existence, he will open the windows of heaven, and pour us out a blessing which there will not be room enough in our most enlarged faculties to receive: we shall say, from happy experience of the love of Christ, that it passeth knowledge: we shall find, that his mercies, as well as his judgments, are unsearchable; and that the ways even of his loving-kindness are past finding out.

Let us, then, from the whole of what has been now said, learn the necessity of uniting the love of God and our neighbour; of adding piety to morality, in order to constitute a thoroughly consistent and truly amiable character.

While we are sensible of the propriety of discharging with alacrity all the relative duties of life; of cultivating all the tender charities of parents, children, and brethren; let us not forget the relation in which we stand to the ever-adorable Trinity-to him who created us, who redeemed us from misery and death eternal, who sanctifies our polluted nature, and makes us fit inhabitants of the pure regions of celestial bliss and glory.

Let us cherish religious sentiments in our own hearts, and endeavour to extend their influence over the heart and life of others, as the strongest incentive to the faithful discharge of duty in all the ranks of civil society; as the best preservative of both public and private virtue. He who stands in awe of God, will be careful not to offend his neighbour; but, it is to be feared, that he who is so presumptuous as to rob his almighty Sovereign and Judge of the honour which is due to his sacred name, will not hesitate to deprive a

whose inordinate appetites have vanquished reason and lead it captive at their will. But, could they be induced to consider seriously their real state and condition in this world; they would soon, by God's grace, return to a better mind. Crosses we must all sustainin the present circumstances of human life, every man must be subject, in a greater or less degree, to disappointment, mortification, and restraint: and the important inquiry is, Do we entertain just conceptions of our present situation? Do we consider this world, not as our continuing city, as our place of rest; but as a transitory state of discipline and trial? Do we stand constantly prepared to encounter the numberless difficulties which fall in our way? Do we take up our cross with alacrity, bear it with patient dignity, and make it subservient to the advancement of our felicity in a future state? Happy are they, who can answer these questions in the affirmative.

To excite, and to cherish these necessary dispositions in the hearts of you who are now present, shall be the business of the following discourse: and, for this purpose, let me entreat you, in the first place, to consider, that you are under the guidance of the almighty Creator and wise Disposer of the universe: and that, however mysterious the present procedure of his providence may appear, he will make all things work together for good to those who love him. "We have "had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we

gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be "in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" The modest and affectionate child is little inclined to suspect even an earthly parent of partiality and undue severity: how much less reason have we to imagine,