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tender and interesting? what can better display the strength of Jonathan's friendship, than when he went, at the risk of his father's displeasure, and of his own life, to warn David to leave his lurking place and seek for safety in flight? When they were alone, "David arose out of a place toward the south, and "fell on his face toward the ground, and bow"ed himself three times and they kissed

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one another, and wept one with another, "until David exceeded. And Jonathan said "to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we "have sworn both of us in the name of the

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Lord, saying, the Lord be between my seed "and thy seed for ever."

What friendship was like unto this friendship! With whom, O! Jonathan! can we compare thee, but with Jesus the friend and patron of the human race; whose love to us was stronger than death. "We envy thee "not that thou wast the son of a king that "thou wast a successful warriour, and that "thou diedst fighting the battles of thy coun"try. But we envy thee thy generous, hon"est and disinterested heart. Thou wast the "friend of distressed innocence: the friend

"of mankind.

Envy thee, did we say? "Rather we desire to esteem and emulate

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thy virtues, that, like thee, we may live be"loved, and die lamented."

268

SERMON XII.

The young

warned against the dangers that most easily beset them.

I KINGS, CHAP. 20, VER. 11.

"Let not him that girdeth on his harness, boast himself as he that putteth it off."

MANKIND, in general, seem to judge of human life, and indeed of every thing else, more by their present feelings and dispositions, than by a calm attention to the nature of things. Hence, the appearance which the world presents to different men, varies according to their several tempers and characters. To the man whom misfortune has deprived of the external sources of pleasure, or whom wickedness or infirmity has rendered incapable of enjoying the good things which he possesses, human life appears a barren and dreary wilderness, and the whole face of nature seems overspread with a settled gloom. On the oth

er hand, the man whose natural temper is contented and cheerful, who enjoys the blessings of uninterrupted health, who is success. ful in his enterprises and happy in his connections, feels a constant gaiety of spirits, which enlivens every scene around him, and he imagines himself placed in a flowery and fruitful paradise, where the thorn of sorrow will never spring up to perplex his path: and he seems to live under a serene and bright horizon which, he thinks, will never be overcast with the clouds of adversity.

In no instance is this partial and prejudiced judgment of things more visible than in the sanguine expectations which youth usually form of their condition and character in future life. Having had little experience of the uncertainty which attends all human pursuits, they promise themselves the most unlimited success before they commence their attempts to acquire the gifts of fortune. They hope, that, the industry of a few years will be rewarded with all the blessings of affluence and independence. Conscious of the benevolence and generosity of their own dispositions, and unacquainted with the disguises which are assumed, and the artifices which are practised

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in the world, their hearts are warmed with the idea of disinterested affection, and they expect to find in every gay companion, a sage adviser, a sincere and faithful friend. Having never measured the extent of their abilities, they flatter themselves that they are capable of making improvements, and executing designs, which shall surprise the world, and crown them with immortal honour. Having never tried the strength of their moral powers, or observed the snares which beset the path of unsuspecting innocence, they presume that they shall find it no difficult task to preserve their integrity inviolate, and their reputation unblemished; and to persevere in a course of uncorrupted and distinguished virtue to the end of their lives. "But let not him that

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girdeth on his harness, boast himself as he "that putteth it off."

Considering this proverbial maxim as an admonition which may be, with great propriety, addressed to young men, to guard them against that presumption and confidence to which they are peculiarly liable; I shall in this discourse endeavour to convince you my young brethren, of the great necessity and importance of caution and circumspection, at

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