while to forget his people, yet he will in the issue be their refuge. Secondly, To show, that though he may seem for a season to connive at the ungodly, yet he will reckon with them severely at last. As good men may be tempted to murmur and despond, through a forgetfulness of God's faithful promises; so bad men often are hardened in their iniquities, through their disbelief of his righteous threatenings. "Because judgment is not speedily executed against an evil work, therefore the hearts of many are fully set in them to do evil."

The wicked, as the text imports, contemns God; he saith in his heart, Thou wilt not require-God will not call us to any very exact account-it is no very awful thing to think of appearing before him. But as the charge implied in the text is very heinous, some may almost question whether any can be guilty of it, and many may be unwilling to acknowledge themselves to be guilty of it. Let me therefore, FIRST, Attempt to bring home the charge." The wicked

doth contemn God."

Many are guilty of this wickedness. Not merely among those who have the fewest advantages, but among those that are favored with the best advantages for knowing him. Heathens show a superstitious regard for the meanest of idols; while Christians, so called, contemn the living and true God.

I shall not dwell on the conduct of such as are openly profane and profligate; who avow infidelity, and ridicule the very form of godliness. I shall not enlarge now on the profane abuse of the name of God, which is used more ridiculously than the name of any other being on earth. I shall not talk of the grosser violation of the sabbath, by those who neglect all public worship.

But I charge all those with contemning God, who live habitually in sin, of whatever kind; who make light of doing what they know God has expressly forbidden; or think it a small matter totally to neglect what they know he has commanded. If you allow the Bible to be the word of God, and yet very seldom read it, at least with seriousness and self-application; never asking, What does God say of me? What does he say to me? What does he command? What does he forbid? How shall I enjoy his favor?-do you not

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contemn God."? If you never pray; never seek God's face; never ask his favor; never deprecate his displeasure; never confess your sins; nor flee to the refuge set before you in the gospel ;-do you not "contemn God"? If you hear the word of God with indifference; if you willingly give up your mind to wandering imaginations; if you plan the commission of sin in the very house of God; if you try to get rid of every slight impression the truth made on your mind while there ;-do you not "contemn God"? If you endeavour to prevent others from paying more serious attention to religion than yourselves; if you try to laugh them out of their concern for salvation; if you show your dislike to them on account of their seeking God ;—do you not contemn God"? When you disregard the authority of God in his holy commandments, and virtually say, I will not do as he bids me; or, I will do what I like, though he has forbidden me;-surely you contemn God." When you are not alarmed at his threatenings, though they are pointed directly against you; as, "The wages of sin is death." "The soul that sinneth shall die." "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things, written in the law to do them." "Except ye repent, ye shall perish." He that believeth not is condemned already : the wrath of God abideth on him.” Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven;"-you "contemn God." When not allured by the kindest displays of his grace. He hath sent his Son to seek and save the lost he has sent to you the ministry of reconciliation; an embassy of peace. God beseecheth you by us, to be reconciled; and do you hold fast deceit, and refuse to return to the Lord? Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, long-suffering, and forbearance? and even of his dying love? Alas! it is too common a case, that men make light of this great salvation. When, invited to the gospel feast, they with one accord begin to make excuse-they "contemn God." But oh! what excuse will suffice? We propose,

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SECONDLY, To examine what excuse can be made by the sinner for his contemning God. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?"

Has

Do you know nothing of him? Have you had no opportunity of acquiring some knowledge of him? Hath he left himself without witness? Can the maker of this beautiful universe be a contemptible being? Do not the heavens declare his glory, and the firmament show forth his handy works? Are you not fearfully and wonderfully made? Has he not revealed himself to you in his word? Is there any thing contemptible in the scriptural character of God? Does it not unite all that is great, and all that is good? Is there any blemish or defect in his character or government? Could alteration be made for the better, in either? any not God laid you under infinite obligations to revere him, and love him? Is he not the Father of spirits, the author of your existence, your preserver and benefactor? Is not his eye upon you continually? Does he not know all your ways and your heart? Are any of his commands unreasonable? or would it be a good thing if they were reversed or repealed? if all men had leave to hate him; or were enjoined to hate one another? Would you have others released from the obligation to love him and their fellow-men, as well as yourself? Are the divine threatenings very trivial, and not to be dreaded? Cannot he that made you, cause his sword to approach unto you? Whether the fire of hell be literal or metaphorical, will it not be most tormenting? If God be resolved to show to all the universe how evil a thing it is to disobey him, will he not make their plagues marvellous, who fall under the weight of his anger? "Can thine heart endure, or thy hands be strong, in the day when he shall deal with thee?" "Who can dwell with everlasting Does God so uniformly defer the accomplishment of his threatenings, as that no bad consequences are to be dreaded at present? Do you believe that his enemies have the best of it in this life? Do you believe they will be best off at last? Will you avow it as your opinion-Blessed are the proud, and wretched the humble ! Blessed are the lascivious, and wretched the chaste! Happy are the covetous, and wretched the generous! To swear is genteel and respectable; but to pray is mean and vulgar! To despise the Bible is a mark of genius; to revere it a

burnings?"

sign of folly! Or will you say, Let me have the pleasures of sin for thirty years, and I'll risque the pains of hell for ever? Let me laugh now; and have weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth hereafter? Let me be honored now, and let me awake to everlasting contempt at last? Let me be wealthy on earth, and fare sumptuously every day; and Lazarus may enjoy Abraham's bosom alone, through all eternity? now?

Does religion make its votaries unhappy Are those that have most of its power, the most gloomy and melancholy? Is it discouraging to read of such lives as those of Joseph Alleine, Janeway, or Pearce? Do you think any king on earth is happier than Carey, or Vanderkemp? Will you say all professors are hypocrites? If they were, that would be a reason not to be what they are; but no reason not to be what they pretend to be. But conscience will testify against you, while you so insinuate. Many have given unquestionable proof of sincerity. Are you sure of plenty of time to repent? And are you wisely employed in making work for repentance? In doing what you must undo, or be yourself undone ? Are Christ and salvation of no worth? Is heaven contemptible, and hell desirable? Are the joys of heaven too pure, too refined, too exalted, too angelic, too divine, to be worth pursuit? Is not communion with "the spirits of the just made perfect, with an innumerable company of angels, with Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and with God the judge of all," to be preferred to the company of your present wicked associates, and of sinners already departed? Had you rather spend eternity with Cain and Ham, and Pharoah, Korah, Ahithophel, Gehazi, Judas, and Nero, &c. than with Abel and Noah, Moses and Elijah; with Paul and John, and all true saints? Need I do more than appeal to your own consciences?

THIRDLY, Let me show the greatness of the sinner's guilt and folly.

To contemn God, is a sin which is in a manner confined to our race and our world. It is a sin which sinners could not be guilty of, were it not for divine patience and forbearance; and of which none can be guilty in so aggravated a

manner, as sinners under the gospel.

It is a sin which

will be more thoroughly cured in hell than any other; yet will add more than any other to the torments of hell.

XX.

THE WANDERER RESTORED.

Ps. xxiii. 3.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.

DAVID, in this Psalm celebrates the divine care and goodness, especially as exercised respecting his spiritual concerns; and beautifully illustrates it by a metaphor, exceedingly plain and easy to be understood by all, and peculiarly suited to his own case, as being taken from that employment in which he was engaged in early life. David himself had been a good shepherd, and had ventured his life for his sheep. He knew the toils and cares of that occupation, and the attention necessary, especially in oriental countries, to the most useful and most defenceless species of creatures which God has formed for the service of man. He knew also the strong propensity of those animals to wander : and he knew his own heart, his original apostacy, and remaining propensity to wander from God. Ps. cxix. 176. Perhaps his great backsliding had not taken place when he composed this Psalm, yet he had room for this humble acknowledgement" My soul will he restore, he will lead me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Have not we need of the same consolation, and for the implied confession? Let us consider, my brethren,

FIRST, The necessity of this blessing.

We have all wandered from God in our natural state. "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned aside each to his own way." Not all so far, or so visibly. God has hedged us in and prevented us, by education, affliction, or various restraints; at which we have perhaps murmured, instead of being thankful.

Was there not a time when you took no delight in God?