the Gospel: by which we are made truly complete; being fully fupplied with all the things pertaining unto life and godlinefs "."

Having therefore fuch means of improvement in our hands, let us carefully make use of them. For if God punishedthe old world for defpifing the revelations delivered to them; how can we poffibly expect to" escape, if we neglect so great falvation?" Let us ever remember, that the Gospel is an institution peculiarly calculated for the advancement of piety and virtue: and let it effectually engage us, as it plainly reaches us, to deny ungodliness and worldly lufts; and to live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent world; looking for that bleffed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our faviour Jefus Chrift"

To

To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed, as is most due, all honour and glory, might, majesty, adoration and praise, both now and for everAmen.

more.

VOL. I.

K

SER

SERMON VI.

GEN. vi. 3.

And the Lord faid, My spirit fhall not always ftrive with man; for that he alfo is flefl: yet his days fhall be an hundred and twenty years.

N my laft Difcourfe I laid before you a

IN

very ample account of the ftrange corruption of the antediluvian race: where I endeavoured to fhew, from what bitter fource it originally sprung; in what different forms it displayed itself; and by what growing advances it gained upon the world; till it be

came at length fo univerfally prevalent, as to lay the Almighty under the fad neceffity of "deftroying man from the face of the earth 1."

It is obferved by the author of the book of Wisdom, that "idolatry is the beginning, the caufe, and the end of all evilm" And this obfervation we have feen verified in the conduct and converfation of Cain and his descendants. For no fooner did they forfake the true God, and engage in the worship of falfe deities; no fooner did they begin to "efteem either fire, wind, or the fwift air, the circle of the ftars, the violent water, or the lights of heaven to be the gods that governed the world";" but, in confequence of the fervice they paid them; in confequence of "the fecret ceremonies used, and the revellings of ftrange rites performed;'

they gradually fell into all the abominations of vice and immorality, and into all the ex

Gen. vi. 7.

Ch. xiv. 27. n Wisdom. xiii. 2.

ceffes