the fairest hopes of gaining an honourable distinction, and becoming useful members of the community, cast away by an intemperate indulgence in liquor: I have seen them sometimes bloated, sometimes shrunk in person, and the wreck only of their former selves, disfigured in their features, and carrying in their very countenance, even to the hasty glance of the passing stranger, their own accusation; I have known them to be, if possible, still more disgraced in mind; brought to such a weakness of understanding as to be little better than idiots, full of vain and empty fears, trembling at every shadow; a subject of mockery for the thoughtless bystander, of pity mingled with blame for the serious and compassionate Christian.

Who then can think of such consequences, and forbear to raise the warning voice? Who can forbear to put others on their guard, when he has seen these frightful effects of drinking?

Do we not in our daily prayers beseech God, that he would not "lead us into temptation?" Will you then lead yourselves into the very snare, from which you

intreat God to keep you back? To avoid temptation, you must shun the place where the danger dwells. Let not any one go thither depending on his own strength; but if "he thinketh that he standeth, let him take heed lest he fall." In an evil hour St. Peter trusted to the firmness of his own resolution, when he declared, that, rather than deny his beloved Master, he would die with him; yet within a few short hours he forgot this bold declaration, and soon thrice allowed himself to say, "I know not the man." So necessary is it to be watchful over the movements of our hearts! so wise is it to put no trust in our own strength, but depend, with lowliness of heart, on the protection and guardian care of Almighty God! If we set him always before us, he will hold up our goings, so that they shall not slip; he will be our shield to guard us against all evil, or will enable us to go through the trials, which we cannot avoid, with safety.

"Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners; and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful. He shall

be like a tree planted by the water-side, that will bring forth his fruit in due season: his leaf also shall not wither; and look whatsoever he doeth it shall prosper"."

But what will be the condition of those who turn a deaf ear to instruction, and go madly on in the course which leads to ruin? We may suppose the Redeemer to address them in the words of the inspired Solomon.

"Because I have called (by my ministers), and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and ye regarded not; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you; then shall ye call upon me, but I will not answer; ye shall seek me early, but ye shall not find me; for that ye hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: ye would none of my counsel; ye despised all my reproof: therefore shall ye eat of the fruit of your own way, and be filled with your own devices."

d Psalm i. 1, 3.

e Prov, i. 24-31.

SERMON IX.

MERCY THE PREVAILING FEATURE OF THE

GOSPEL.

JOHN viii. 10, 11.

Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

THE occasion of the words just read to you was this. The rulers of the Jews brought to Jesus a woman taken in adultery, and having mentioned that the law of Moses commanded all such to be stoned, asked how he would direct them to act. This they said, not from any real wish to do their duty, but merely in the hope of throwing a stumbling-block in his way; for if Jesus had declared against the law, he would have condemned what God him