dying frame is wafted in one day as in another; but our computation and reckoning of revolving years, by the principal seasons, only helps us to mark the conftant, though filent paffage of time, which, like a flowing river, is bearing us all down into the ocean of eternity. Has any of us then a relation, friend, or child, to whose eternal interest he defires, or fees it to be his duty to contribute? let him be fpeedy and diligent, whether by inftruction, admonition, example, or even prayer: you know not how short a time the opportunity may laft. By and by all these relations fhall be diffolved. How many who were with us last year, are now fleeping in the duft; their ftate irrevocably fixed for eternity, either entered into reft, and happy in their Redeemer's prefence, or reserved in chains of darkness, and looking forward, with despair and terror, to the general judgment. No warning of the deceitfulness of fin there; they know it, and feel it, in inward reproach, and everlasting felf-condemnation. No preaching of the gofpel there; no hope of recovery, or place for repentance there: fo that we may juftly address every hearer of the gospel, in the words of the apostle Paul, 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2. "We then, as workers together "with him, befeech you alfo, that you receive not the "grace of God in vain. For he faith, I have heard thee "in a time accepted, and in the day of falvation have I "fuccored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; be"hold, now is the day of falvation."

I fhall only add, that the deceitfulness of fin, and the precariousness of time, are confiderations which ferve greatly to ftrengthen one another. As time wastes, the finner hardens; not only is the feafon paffing away, but the work is becoming ftill more difficult, and, at last, as I have shown before, in the courfe of nature, and by the ap pointment of God, totally impoffible. It is the danger of a hardened state, that the apoftle urges; particularly in this paffage, as the argument to diligence, But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. And, indeed, elsewhere, we are cautioned against delay, for the fame reason. Thus, in Pfal. xcv. 7, 8, which is cited a few

verfes after the text, "-To-day, if ye will hear his voice, "harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in "the day of temptation in the wildernefs."

3. Let us confider the manner in which this exhortation must be given, if we hope to do it with fuccefs. And, here, I must acknowledge, there is fo great a variety of cafes, that it would be extremely difficult, or almost impoffible, diftin&tly, to enumerate them all, and give the different directions that are fuited to each; there muft be a great difference in the manner, according to the end propofed. Superiors of all forts, magiftrates, minifters, and heads of families, may, and ought to reprove, both with authority and severity, because the end is not fingly the reformation of an individual, but the prefervation of others, and the general good: nay, even private Chriftians may often be called to reprove, in much the fame manner as a public teftimony of their abhorrence of fin: they may have it, chiefly, in view, to fave or edify the by-ftanders, by refuting the calumnies of an enemy, bearing down triumphant wickednefs, or difgracing an open factor for the devil.

But as I reckon the paffage of fcripture, which is the fubject of my difcourfe, has an eye, chiefly, to brotherly admonition, for the benefit of the perfon concerned, I fhall juft mention fome of the most important directions for doing it with fuccefs. Thefe fhall be both negative and pofitive.

Ift. You ought not to reprove at an uncertainty, upon bare rumor and fufpicion. This is what many people have done, and thereby have, in a great measure, loft all the pains they have bestowed. Where men are reproved in the wrong place, or for what they either are not guilty of, or are much less guilty than is fuppofed, it often puts them upon felf-juftification, and hardens them against all reproof for the time to come.

2dly. It ought not to be done when the offending perfon is in an ill temper to receive it. Though no time can to our neigh

ought to be loft in doing what good we bor, especially to the precious foul; yet it is worse than lofing time to attempt it, when he is in a difpofition to re

ject it for example, it is ufually improper prefently after the fin is committed, because then the heat is not over, nor the uproar of the pallions and affections appealed. Many a domeftic reproof is thrown away in this manner. Perhaps, a husband comes home difordered in liquor, and his wife meets him with a furly countenance, and reproachful language; the offence is too recently taken by her to speak with meekness, and the provocation too recently given by him to hear with patience: hence diffenfions and quarrels arife; and, perhaps, he is hardened in his sin, by thinking he hath greater cause to be displeafed with his wife for the frowardness of her temper, than the has to be difpleafed with him for his intemperance. On the other hand, it is not improbable, that, by waiting till the return of calmnefs and reflection, the fin may be fet in fuch a light, as to carry conviction to the confcience, and, by the bleffing of God, prove the means of reformation. Many are the admirable remarks of Solomon on this and the like fubjects; particularly, Prov. xv. 23. "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!"

3dly, We are not to reprove thofe whom we have reafon to believe to be fuch defperate wretches, that they would be but the more exafperated, and fin in the more daring manner, on account of the reproof. To thefe it would be no act of love and charity, as it would provoke them to dishonor God ftill more highly, and fo heap fill heavier loads of wrath and vengeance on their own heads. It is a faying of Auguftine, one of the fathers: If we there'fore abstain from admonifhing wicked men, because the 'feafon does not fuffer it, or, we fear, they may become worfe by it, that feems to be the counfel of charity.' And alas! how many are there, who, when they are reproved for their fins, though very juftly, are presently kindled into a rage, fall a blafpheming and railing at piety, and all that profefs it, and feem more confirmed than ever in their hatred and oppofition to it. Therefore we are exprefsly warned of the danger of this by Solomon, Prov. ix. 7. "He that proveth a fcorner, getteth to him"felf fhame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man, get"teth himself a blot." And, to the fame purpose, our bles

fed Saviour, Matt. vii. 6. "Give not that which is holy "unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, "left they trample them under their feet, and turn again "and rend you." On the other hand, pofitively, when reproof or exhortation are administered,

Ift, It fhould be made appear, as much as poffible, to flow from love and affection as its principle. It is plain that this ought to be its principle, in order to its being a duty acceptable to God; and there will be little hope of its fuccefs with men, unless this appear to their conviction. It would, indeed, be greater perfection to profit by the malicious invectives of enemies; but every body will allow, that is not ordinarily to be expected; for this reafon, all oftentation and vain glory is carefully to be avoided, and every thing that may look like only affecting fuperiority; for the fame reafon, it fhould, in all ordinary cafes, be done in as fecret a manner as circumstances will permit it. The cafe of public offences, to be fure, must be excepted; concerning which we are told, "Them "that fin, rebuke before all, that others alfo may fear." But, in other cafes, not only of private injury, but of private fins, the rule of our Saviour is to be observed, Matth. xviii. 15. "If thy brother fhall trefpafs against thee, go "and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if “he shall hear thee, thou haft gained thy brother." I cannot fay all that might be faid on this fubject; but nothing can be of greater importance, than, if poffible, to fhow that it flows from love: for, where the offender is truly convinced of this, even though he fhould not be reformed, it is very feldom that he is difpleased. Therefore,

2dly, As it ought to flow from love as the principle, fo it ought to be conducted with meeknefs in the fame manner. No railing or reviling expreffions, which will look like the wounds of an enemy, to destroy, and not the balm of a phyfician, to cure. Therefore the Apostle gives us advice, in the following terms, Gal. vi. 1. "Brethren, if a "man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are fpiritual, re"ftore fuch an one in the fpirit of meeknefs: confidering thyfelf, left thou alfo be tempted," This laft expreflion gives an inimitable beauty to the apoftolic counfel. Our

own fins fhould fill us with compaffion as much as refentment against finners, and fhould make us take the fame gentle methods with others that we would wish to be taken with ourselves, if we were in their condition. We are of the fame nature, liable to the fame temptations, and, if left of God, may eafily fall into the fame mifcarriages. Befides, as it is moft fuitable to our ftate and character, fo it is moft likely to have a proper effect. Meek and gentle admonitions will penetrate the heart, when rough and clamorous reproofs will be rejected and defpifed. Thus Solomon fays, Prov. xxv. 15, "By long forbearing is a "prince perfuaded, and a foft tongue breaketh the bone." And, Chap. xv. 1, "A foft anfwer turneth away wrath, "but grievous words ftir up anger."

I,

3dly, Reproof fhould be given with fome degree of zeal as well as meeknefs; we fhould avoid the extreme of remiffness as well as feverity. A flight careless reproof is often worse than none; for it is ready to make the offender think lightly of his own offence. There muft, therefore, be fuch evident weight and concern of fpirit, as may ferve to evidence as well his danger as your own love. For this reason, I beg leave to obferve, that speaking in a way of jest, and merriment, on fins of an atrocious nature is deeply criminal, and highly pernicious. Solomon tells us, "Fools make a mock at fin." Though a turn to raillery and pleasantness of temper is reckoned a very harmless as well as agreeable difpofition; yet great care ought to be taken of the fubjects on which it is exercised. It is only smaller weakneffes that ought to be treated in this manner. Sins against God fhould be treated with a gravity and ferioufnefs from the importance of their nature and effects. I fhall give an inftance of this. Swearing, and taking the name of God in vain, is fometimes. ridiculed, instead of being reproved. This feldom has a good effect. The crime is of fo atrocious a nature, and fo direct an affault upon the majesty of God, that it ought not to be treated lightly, as only a fmall indecorum, or breach of good manners. It ought, indeed, to be defpifed for its folly; but at the fame time it ought to be deeply abhorred for its guilt.