Imatges de pàgina
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appetite: at this feafon the head-ftrong and tumultuous paffions rufh in upon, and overwhelm us, temptations on every fide allure, examples on every fide encourage; hope flatters us in the purfuit of folly, and health invigorates us in the practice of it. When our minds are moft fufceptible of plcafure, we are least aware of the confequences of it; and when reafon and religion, thofe beft of guides, could be of moft fervice, they are generally abfent from us; and both the heart and spirit are fo enflamed and corrupted, that we have no defire, no power, to caft away our tranfgreffions, or to make us a new heart and a new Spirit.

Pafs we on then to that calmer, fofter feafon, the Autumn of human life: that feafon when, if ever, we may hope for peace and tranquility; when the fruits of knowledge are arrived at their long wifhed-for maturity, and the feeds of induftry, if any have been fown, fhoot forth into a plenteous harveft. The fea is now fmooth and unruffled before us, the waves of fortune begin to fubfide, the ftorms of luft and ambition are almoft blown over, the affections of the foul, like the limbs of the body, are fettled into fuength and firmnefs: the voice of reafon calls out loudly unto us, the hand of judgment is ready to guide and direct us.

But if, with all thefe advantages of experience and maturity, we fill fuffer the follies of youth to enflave, and the influence of example to corrupt us; if to luft and ambition fucceed avarice and revenge; if we only dethrone one

tyrant

tyrant to fet up another, what have we to be proud of? or how fhall we call ourselves the fons of liberty, when all the freedom we can boast is but that we have changed our mafter?

If at this feafon we permit the old leaven of vice to remain; if we do not make us a new heart and a new fpirit, the greater doubtlefs will be our reproach, and the heavier our condemnation. Our errors have now no longer the fanction of youth to alleviate, or the plea of inexperience to excufe them: we cannot fay wrong without knowing that we fay it; we cannot do wrong without knowing that we do it: what before was but idle now becometh wicked, and what was venial becomes unpar donable.

Shall we proceed to the last gloomy and uncomfortable feafon, the Winter of human life, or fhall we throw a veil over the melancholy fcene? Here indeed the year of nature, and the year of man but too vifibly refemble each other. The verdure is gone, and the fun-fhine is departed from us. The fruit is withered, and the flowers are decayed: the chearful face of things which once delighted us, with the reprefentation of all that was fair and beautiful, is deformed by ftorm and tempeft, and rendered an image of barrenness and horror.

Dreadful indeed is the condition of thofe amongst us who have deferred till this late hour the neceffary work of repentance, who are grown old in fin, and have filled up the measure of their iniquity. As well might we

expect in the winter of nature to fee the earth cloath itself in fresh verdure, and the trees to be white with bloffoms, as in the winter of man to see the mind affuming new habits, or putting on the robes of innocence after it hath been long cloathed in fin, and worn iniquity as a garment: it is not to be expected at this feafon that the foul can recover her health and ftrength, or that a new heart and new fpirit can be established within us.

In this dark and diftrefsful period of our existence nothing can adminifter comfort or fatisfaction but a confcience void of offence towards God and towards man. Even in the depth of winter the fky, we know, doth not always lour, nor the form always blow. There is now and then a refreshing dew to fertilize the earth, and a ray of the fun to brighten the horizon. And fo it is with the winter of man: if he hath like a fkilful husbandman, layed in a ftore of useful knowledge; if integrity hath gained him friends; if virtue hath fanctified his name, and innocence fecured his peace, age will not four his difpofition, nor decay opprefs his heart: though he cannot flatter himself with the profpect of another fpring in this life, yet he will look forward to it in a better and more durable one; in a place where there will be no winters to chill, no ftorms to affright him; where one perpetual and unfading spring for ever flourishes, where a new heart and a new fpirit await to crown him with lafting glory, and reward him with eternal happiness.

Briefly

Briefly then to apply what hath been faid, and bring it home to our breafts: let not the year of nature pafs unobferved by us, but let the whole convey one ufeful and important leffon; and as we pass through the various feafons, let every one of them teach us to avoid the dangers incident to, and to practise the virtues that are required in them.

If ever there was a time when a new heart and a new spirit were more immediately neceffary, it is at prefent: it is in this venal, vicious, and degenerate age, when even infancy is corrupted by early and unfeafonable vice, when youth is blafted and destroyed by folly, fashion, and debauchery; when manhood and maturity are difgraced by follies which heedlefs youth would be ashamed of, and old age drains the cup of intemperance to the last dregs: at a time when, amidst dangers, diftrefs, and calamities abroad, murmurings, difcontent, and divifions at home; when, amidst all this, new pleasures are perpetually rifing up to allure, new tempations are perpetually thrown in to corrupt us, and we meet with fcarce any thing but univerfal profligacy, and univerfal diffipation; when the whole head is fick, and the whole heart faint, nothing, in fhort, but an univerfal reformation of manners, nothing but a new heart and a new fpirit, can fave us from inevitable deftruction.

Let us then, I befeech you, my brethren, lay these things ferioufly to heart. Let us from this moment caft away from us all our tranfgreffions, whereby we have tranfgreffed,

and

and make us a new heart and a new spirit. From this day let us count our reformation, from this ara, let us date our virtue: let the new year bring along with it new paffions, new delires, new hopes; the paffion of piety, the defire of God, and the hope of eternity: let us intreat the gracious Author of our being to fend down his divine grace to make a new heart and a new Spirit within us; fuch a heart, and fuch a fpirit, as alone can recommend us to his almighty favour and protection. So fhall we, from this day forth, inftead of indolence and luxury, meet with induftry, temperance, and fobriety: fo fhall every man, by his private virtues, enfure and promote public good, and public happinefs: fo fhall we exchange murmurings and difcontent for loyalty and affection, neglect for duty, and rebellion for obedience; war, danger, and difcord, for peace, fafety, and unanimity.

ON NUMBERING

OUR DAYS.

SER MON

PSALM. XC. 12.

XXIV.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

THERE is not any thing which morality can inculcate, or religion enjoin, that will more cafily perfuade men to a confidera

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