like thofe architects who prefer the ornaments and delicacy to the ftrength and usefulness of the building.

We are got into a foolish, frivolous way of fpending time; let us get out of it as fast as we can; he that defpifeth little things, fays the wife man, fhall fall by little and little let us then shake off the chains of that tyrant, cuftom, and think, and fee, and act for ourfelves; if we want a guide, let us follow reafon, and not a multitude; virtue, and not fashion; God, and not Satan,

Let us no longer be mifled by an idle, thoughtless crowd, who can only draw us into the paths of fin and forrow, but choose an able pilot who will conduct us to the regions peace and happiness.

of

There is, my brethren, one great example which we ought to follow, even the great standard of perfection, Jefus Christ the righteous; if we follow a multitude we must do evil, if we follow Chrift we must do good; here, and here only, to give up our own judgment, must be meritorious, to yield up our reafon will be an acceptable facrifice here we may part with our wifdom without fhame, and our knowledge without regret, because his wisdom is better able to guide, his knowledge more extenfive to direct us; let us intreat him therefore to enlift us under his ban. ner, to take us into the number of his faithful followers, to lead us into all truth here, and finally to conduct us to everlafting joy and happiness hereafter.

SERMON

Let us not fleep as do others, but let us watch and be Sober.

THERE cannot be an employment more worthy of a grateful and generous mind, than to trace the goodness and power of the Almighty continually displaying and exerting itfelf for the benefit of mankind; to obferve the fame active energy which created, ftill continuing to preferve and fuftain, the univerfe; to remark that the eye of God is always watchful over the works of his hands; and that all the powers of nature, in imitation of their divine Author, are perpetually performing the various parts affigned them, and contributing towards the fupport of the whole visible crea. tion. By that inftinct, with which God hath thought fit to endow the animal world, every creature knows how to guard and defend itself againft all that can diftrefs or annoy it; hath

an

an innate horror and averfion to every thing that can be prejudicial to it; is taught by nature to be upon its guard against every foe, and to be always anxious and vigilant for its own prefervation. As far therefore as intereft and nature go, that is to fay, as far as God, whofe inftruments these are, doth guide and direct, fo far all is right. The means are adequate to the end; order, harmony, and proportion are obferved: but no fooner doth God let go the reins of government, and man is left to act for himself, but all is diforder, anarchy, and confufion: though he is furnished with arms fuffici. ent to defend himself, yet doth he for the most part either lay down thofe arms and become a voluntary flave, or turns them with ill-judged and ill-directed ftrength and activity against himfelf; he is either not vigilant, or vigilant to a bad end, or vigilant to no end at all. He is industrious in procuring that which can only be pernicious to him, or he is totally idle and unpardonably remifs in the fearch of that on which alone his intereft and his happiness must depend.

When we feriously confider what variety of accidents, temptations, and misfortunes, we are all liable to, what fnares are laid for us, what foes we have to combat, and what dangers we are every hour expofed to, we shall doubtless be obliged to acknowledge, that the short but important advice of the Apoftle, in my text, cannot perhaps be too frequently repeated, or too warmly recommended to us.

In points of importance we can never be too cautious; danger we know is the daughter of

fecurity,

fecurity, and prefumption the parent of repentance; there is often the most danger where the least is apprehended, and the strongest demand for vigilance, where we allow the weak

eft exertion of it.

We are attacked with heat and violence on every fide, and fhould therefore be armed at all points; and we may reft affured, that if there is the leaft opening in our armour, the enemy will moft certainly point his arrows at it. The fortrefs which is not only invaded by foes from without, but hath alfo traitors and rebels within, can hardly efcape; and this is, unfortunately for us, the miferable condition of our own hearts, fin and Satan attacking, the world and our paffions betraying us; do we not then, in fo defperate a fituation, ftand in need of the utmoft vigilance to fecure and to defend us?

Every day and every hour convinces us how neceffary it is to be watchful in regard to all our temporal concerns; fraud and treachery are continually employed in finding out new methods of deceit, to amufe the indolent and unwary, infomuch that it is almost as difficult to preferve the good things of this life, as it is to acquire them; the harmleffness of the Dove is by no means fufficient to protect, unless the wifdom of the ferpent be called in to aid and defend us.

Without labour and exercife the health of the body cannot poffibly be preferved; it is this which gives firength and agility to our limbs, maintains the due balance in the powers

of

of nature, gives a glow, spirit, and beauty, to every feature; and, in fhort, animates and in. vigorates the whole frame; and in like manner vigilance is the excrcife of the mind, without which the knowledge it acquires will foon be extinct, and the ftores, which it hath laid in, will foon be exhaufted; its powers will gradually fink into inaction, and all its faculties infenfibly decay.

Whereas on the other hand, if conftantly and regularly employed, it grows ftronger by labour, and extended by exertion; the more danger it encounters, the more able is it to withstand them; fuccefs increafes, conqueft and confidence fecures victory; thus it continues to fubdue, whilst there is an enemy to oppofe, and never gives up the field whilft there are the least hopes to keep it.

Who is it that becomes learned?-He who is vigilant and induftrious; who is ready to embrace the precepts of the wife and fedulous, to procure the inftruction of the learned; who applies himself with diligence and affiduity to the works of thofe who have diftinguished themselves in paft times; who ftudies with care and attention the volumes of antiquity; who never throws away an hour on trifles, luxury, or extravagance, but is always bufied in knowledge, and employed in the gradual improvement of his underftanding.

To what then is the learned man indebted for his treasures alfo, but to his vigilance and affiduity in the acquifition of it?

Who is it that becomes rich?

The man

who is watchful after all the means of alu

ence;