*haft thou forsaken me !" who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, having been in all points tempted like as we are; who in that he himself hath fuffered, being tempted, is able to fuccour them that are tempted. He will fulfil his word. He will minister strength for the conflict. He will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear. it. Why is thy foul caft down: why is it fo difquieted within the? Hope thou in God: for thou shalt yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

Study to maintain a spirit of self-poffeffion and compofure. Beware of haraffing your mind by ill-timed or inordinate exertions in prayer, in reading, in meditation, or in any other devotional or intellectual employment. Let your religious exercises be fhort and frequent rather than of long duration: and be particularly on your guard against excess in them when the fpirits are agitated and the faculties wearied. Cautiously shun, whether in books or in advisers, whatever is metaphyfical or declamatory: and cleave to that instruction, which speaks in fimplicity the words of truth and soberness. Wait the time of the Lord. And if as yet there be no fymptoms which indicate that the burthen

VOL. II.

B B

then of defpondence is about to be lightened; be not impatient under its continuance, nor despair of its removal.

:

Finally; be active. Be fedulous to employ an ample portion of your time, so far as may be entirely compatible with a just regard to health, in the modes of practical usefulness, which belong to your ftation and in the vigilant discharge of the offices of domestic life. These are occupations which the desponding fometimes neglect through listlessnefs and forrow, fometimes avoid under an impreffion that fuch concerns ought not to engage their thoughts. But a zealous pursuit of practical usefulness, a vigilant performance of relative duties, while they obviously tend to the relief of your mental malady, rank very high among the good works by which you are to evince the fincerity of your faith, and to adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour. The manage ment of worldly concerns, when conducted in a worldly spirit, is fin. But when kept wholly fubordinate to the great purposes of existence, the glory of God and the falvation of the foul; when carried on from Christian motives, with Chriftian tempers, and for Chriftian ends; it is a branch of fervice to God, it is one of the fruits of religion.

SERMON XVIII.

On the Chriftian Characters of Youth.

2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. vii. 1.

Come out from among them, and be ye Jeparate, faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved; let us cleanfe ourselves from all of filthiness flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

WHEN

HEN a perfon converfant with the vegetable productions of the earth, obferves in the foreft a plant, whose properties he is defirous of improving; he removes it from its native wild into his garden. There, rooted in luxuriant foil, fheltered from inclement blafts, fecured against

BB 2

against immoderate humidity, duly watered in feasons of drought, defended from the encroachment of worthlefs herbs which even in that cultivated fpot are continually fpringing on every fide; it teftifies by a confpicuous transformation the fostering care of its protector. Its growth enlarges ; its juices are meliorated; its tints are heightened; its fragrance is exalted; its fruits are multiplied. It is no longer a barren weed: but the delight of him who has appropriated it to himself.

In correfpondence with the general outlines of this fimilitude, the God of mercy purifies unto Himfelf a peculiar people. By the miniftration of the Gofpel He separates them from the wicked; by his grace transforms their nature; fuftains them with his arm; nourishes them by his facred word; cheers them with the light of his countenance; and enables them to bring forth fruit unto perfection.

Between the objects of favour, however, in the two cafes, there exifts a very impor tant difference. The plant is unconscious, fenfelefs, paffive. It knows not its benefactor nor his purpofes. Choice has no concern in its improvement. Not fo the human being addreffed by the Gospel. Him God has created a moral agent. From

him God requires active concurrence; cooperation of the will manifefted by exertions of obedience. He does not hurry the man by arbitrary force from amidst the thorns and thiftles of iniquity. Come out from among them, he cries, and be feparate. Bestowing on the helplefs individual adequate powers by the influence of his Spirit: He commands him to exert them ,and come forth.

To remove an aged plant from the foreft, and to cause it to flourish in the gar den, might be a task level to the skill of the cultivator. But he gives the preference to a younger ftem, whofe fibres are lefs firmly riveted in the foil, and lefs closely interwoven with the roots of the contiguous thicket. To pluck up the veteran finner, however deeply he may have shot his roots downwards towards hell; and to enable him to flourish like a green olivetree in the courts of the houfe of his God; is an undertaking devoid of difficulty to the Omnipotent. But with fingular complacency he looks on thofe, who have received Him as the guide of their youth. Out of the mouth even of babes and fucklings He perfecteth praife. Advancing childhood receives new marks of his love. Come, ye children, he cries by his Holy Spirit, hearken BB 3

unto