the middle, or the last of a man's life, that ought, in equity, to determine his character in a future ftate, but the whole of his character and conduct, taken together.

THE

SECTION IV.

Of the means of virtue.

HE facred writings not only contain the most powerful diffuafives from all kinds of vice, and the moft effectual exhortations to a life of univerfal virtue, but likewife a variety of obfervations and advices relating to the manner in which vicious, or virtuous habits, are formed, and the methods by which inordinate affections may be repreffed, and proper ones promoted.

For this purpose, they propofe conftant watchfulness, frequent meditation on the works and word of God, a careful choice of good company, and great refolution and selfdenial, whenever bad habits are become predominant.

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dominant. They, moreover, advise all perfons to watch over one another, and to do every thing to mutual edification.

"Set a watch,

David fays, Pf. cxli. 3. "O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door "of my lips." Our Lord advises his dif ciples, Matt. xxvi. 41. "To watch and

pray, that they enter not into tempta❝tion;" and Mark iv. 18. "To take heed, "left when they hear the word, the cares "of this world, and the deceitfulnefs of "riches, and the luft of other things, en

tering in, choke the word, and make it "become unfruitful:" and he charges the church at Sardis, Rev. iii. 2. "to be "watchful, and ftrengthen the things that "remain, that are ready to die." Exhortations of a fimilar nature abound in the apoftolical writings.

More especially are the books of fcripture recommended to our ufe, as containing the beft inftructions for a good life; and being a history of the divine proceedings, refpecting the human race, they neceffarily exhibit

fuch

fuch views as cannot but make an impreffion, in the highest degree, favourable to virtue. Mofes repeatedly charges the Ifraelites to read and meditate upon his laws and writings, Deut. vi. 6. "Thefe "words which I command thee this day "fhall be in thine heart. And thou fhalt "teach them diligently unto thy chil

dren, and fhalt talk of them when thou "fitteft in thine houfe, and when thou "walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft

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down, and when thou rifeft up." The fame injunction he repeats, Deut. xi. 18. The kings of Ifrael were moreover required to write out a copy of the law with their own hands, Deut. xvii. 18. "And it fhall "be when he fitteth upon the throne of "his kingdom, that he fhall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that "which is before the priests, the Levites, "And it fhall be with him, and he fhall "read therein all the days of his life: that "he may learn to fear the Lord his God, "to keep all the words of this law, and "these statutes to do them, &c." David says of a good man, Pf. i, 2. That "his

delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night;" and, Pf. xxxvii. 31. "The law of his God "is in his heart; none of his steps fhall "flide." Laftly, the apoftle Paul commends the parents of Timothy, and mentions it as a great advantage to him, 2 Tim. iii. 15. that, "from a child he had known "the holy scriptures, which, he fays, were "able to make him wife unto falvation,

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through faith which is in Chrift Jefus." Concerning the fame feriptures, he adds, that they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness: That the man of God may "be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all "good works."

Solomon repeatedly admonishes young perfons concerning the danger of bad company. Prov. i. 10. My fon, if finners "intice thee, confent thou not; v. 15. "Walk not thou in the way with them; "refrain thy foot from their path." And he observes in general, Prov. xiii. 20. that, he that walketh with wife men fhall be

"wife: but that a companion of fools fhall "be destroyed." The apoftle Paul alfo cautions the Corinthians on this head, when he fays, 1 Cor. xv. 33. "Be not deceived: "evil communications corrupt good man"ners."

The practice of our duty is, in general, reprefented in the fcriptures as pleasant and eafy, when we are accustomed to it. Thus Solomon fays, of wifdom, Prov. iii. 17. that her ways are ways of pleafantnefs, "and all her paths are peace;" and David fays, Pf. cxix. 165. "Great peace have

"offend them."

they who love thy law: and nothing fhall Our Saviour alfo fays, Matt. xi. 29. "Take my yoke upon you, "and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly "in heart: and ye fhall find reft unto your "fouls. For my yoke is eafy, and my bur"den is light."

But, notwithstanding this, we are warned, agreeable to what reafon and nature would apprize us of, that before vicious habits are fubdued, and virtuous ones formed, great

exertions