DISCOURSE VI.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF KING SOLOMON'S LODGE IN CHARLESTOWN, JUNE 24, 1796, BEING THE FESTIVAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

MATTHEW x. 16.

BEHOLD I SEND YOU "FORTH AS SHEEP AMONG WOLVES: BEYE THEREFORE WISE as serpENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES.

IN thefe words our Saviour addreffed his apoftles, whom he fent forth into the world to teach and to recommend his religion by their inftruction and example. At the fame time he very frankly warned them of the dangers to which they would be expofed, and counselled them how to conduct fo as to fhun, or to bear, the oppofition they must expect. Making a strong and expreffive allufion to the known qualities of fome of the inferior animals, he bid them take a hint of the expediency of patience from the

sheep, a leffon of wisdom from the serpent, a recommendation of harmlessnefs from the dove. Such allufions to fenfible objects was one of the earliest, the eafieft, and most engaging methods of inftructing mankind in moral and divine truths. Affembling ima ges from nature, it fpeaks to the understanding by the fenfes. These pleafing illuftrations lead us, by an easy procefs, to form the most important, and often times the most fublime ideas, from things most familiar and intelligible. Hence the loftiness of style and fentiment, the rich imagery, the animated defcription, the enchanting grace, which pervade and embellish all the productions of the Eaft. And hence the admirable tifflue of allegory and metaphor with which they decorated wisdom and virtue. This method of imparting the moft fage and falutary leffons was, by our Lord, repeatedly used with the happiest efficacy. Our text is a pleasing inftance. The purport of the advice it contains is, that his difciples fhould act with prudence, caution, and mildness; and exhibit fuch traits of inoffensiveness, wisdom, and innocence, as to give no occafion for any thing to be alledged against them or their

doctrine, nor any handle for their being ill used. These admonitions, my hearers, are ftill important and falutary. No individual perfon, nor any body of men, can be beyond the neceffity of their fervice. And there is fcarcely a day but calls for their exercise and displays their utility. Let me affure myself, then, that this large and refpectable affembly will not be difpleafed if I dwell, a little, upon the important qualities enjoined and recommended in our text: while my beloved brethren of the FREE MASON SOCIETY acknowledge my obedience to their commif fion, in my public defence and illuftration of their primary and favorite principles.

Since he who is "the Mighty Counsellor" hath thought fit to set forth this instruction, to which I would lead you, under the expreffive emblems of the SHEEP, the SERPENT and the pove, it may be very proper for us to obferve what there is in thefe animals that affords matter for our imitation with reference to our conducting of ourselves in the world;

1. FROM the fheep we may learn PATIENCE and SILENCE. These are, on many occafions,

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very becoming, discreet, and laudable, but pre-eminently requifite in fituations expofed to difingenuous oppofition or taunting reproach. In fuch circumstances the bleffed Saviour gave thefe qualities the expreffive recommendation of his own example. "He was led as a lamb to the flaughter; and as a fheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo he opened not his mouth.'

II. OUR LORD, designing to join WISDOM and INNOCENCE together, proposes the ferpent for the one, and the dove for the other: to let his disciples know that he allows them fo much wisdom as is confiftent with innocence, and perfuades them to no more fimplicity than is consistent with wisdom. A reference is made to the commendable qualities of both; that what was wanting in one might be supplied from the other; and that from their conjunction might result a perfect wisdom free from all guile, and a well guarded innocence without the least mixture of indiscretion. This would produce a character at once fuperior to the iniquitous contrivance of fraud and the yielding timorous nefs of mental imbecility; too generous to