a screen between him and the worst.

And it is hard, if among the herd of miserable sinners, every man cannot find one, whose life he may think more wicked than his own. This was a kind of self-examination, you know, practised formerly by an old sinner, recorded for his presumption: God, I thank thee, he cried, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, and covetous; or even as this Publican. That is, he thought he had found a man more wicked than himself; and on the easy credit of another's sin, thought he had happily secured a balance in his own favour.-But in the book of God it was written otherwise. There it only heightened his guilt-for he that exalteth himself shall be abased but he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

In this great matter then between God, and your souls, trust not to this, or that, or any other deceitful plea; but be assured you have no way of recommending yourselves to God; but by comparing your lives with your duty. That is the only kind of comparison, in which you can trust. If you find the habit of any sin increasing upon you, you have nothing to do with the practice of other people. You have nothing to do with what is common in one state of life, or allowed in

another.

another. All you have to inquire about is, whether the thing is forbidden in the word of God: if it be, all pleas and excuses for transgression, and all the interpretations, which the wit of man can invent, are deceitful and wicked. You have nothing to trust to, but your own pious endeavours the grace of God which will assist those endeavours; and the merits of a holy Saviour, which will make atonement for your deficiencies.

LET me now give you a second rule to assist you. It is, frequently to renew the good resolutions you make, and to compare them with your endeavours to keep them. A good resolution, no doubt, is so far virtuous. It is the first step of reviving piety. But consider, that if it end here, it is nothing. If you have a journey to take, it is something to make yourself ready, and to set out; but, at the same time, it is of no consequence, if you only take the first stage and return. -Consider this point well. It is of infinite importance. Do not amuse yourselves with general notions. Go to particulars. There you come at the truth, which is lost in general comparisons. -You have had a custom of swearing, perhaps ; perhaps of drinking; or of lewdness; or of sabbath-breaking; or of some other wickedness.

Have you, in the first place, ever seriously considered in what a heinous offence to God, you are daily living? Have you ever considered what consequences you are drawing on yourself, if you should be cut off in the midst of your sins, before you have thoroughly forsaken them? Have you ever made a resolution against the particular sin you are addicted to? And how have you kept that resolution?--Do not be afraid. Search to the bottom of your heart. It is a necessary work. Has God Almighty seen, that you have been seriously in earnest to keep your resolution? Can you lay your hand upon your breast, and call God to witness that you have done your utmost to get the better of your darling sin, whatever it is ? that if you have ever been surprised again after your resolution, it gives you double distress-and rouses your resolution to exert itself still more ?If you are clear in all these points, there is hope, through God's assistance, that you may gain a complete victory.-If not, your resolutions signify nothing, unless indeed to increase your guilt. A man may put his hand, you know, to the plough; but he may also look back; and if he do, you remember what follows-he is not fit for the kingdom of God.

And now do not pretend to say, that you have

tried, and cannot get the better of a wicked habit. It is an untruth. Every habit may be conquered. Difficult I grant it is, if you have long suffered your bad habit to grow upon you. But with your own best endeavours, and God's assistance through Christ, every habit may be overcome. With men it may be impossible but with God all things are possible.

On a supposition that good resolution is taking firm root in you, I shall just suggest one rule more, which may assist you in the examination of yourselves; and keep you still more steady in your purposes. The rule is, to compare the sins you have at any time been guilty of, with the pleasure or pain, the advantage or disadvantage you may have received from them. By this you will get a just information of what you have already gained or lost by sin; and may judge what you have hereafter to expect. So that, on the whole, you may judge whether you are likely to be a gainer or a loser by the bargain.

Perhaps you have gotten a habit of drinking. The question is, What advantage have you gained by it? I suppose you will alledge the pleasure of drinking—and enjoying the mirth of a few riotous companions-perhaps, if you durst speak

out,

out, you may alledge the pleasure of getting drunk. This is all, however, you can alledge. But now, on the other hand, what have you lost by it? Not to mention the concern of your soul, you have lost perhaps your health-you are become bloated and diseased-you have lost your character probably as a punctual man of business-you have lost your friends and customers-you have brought your family perhaps to beggary. At least you have been injured in some of these things. Are you then a gainer upon the whole? If not, lay it down as a rule, that the pleasure of drinking costs more than it is worth; and that you will endeavour with all your might to break yourself of this vile habit and become a sober man *.

Perhaps you have gotten a habit of swearing. What advantage arises from this sin? Recollect all you have gained by it.-What! Can you recollect nothing? Does no advantage of any kind arise from it? What a fool then you are to risk damnation for nothing! By all means lay aside this sin, as above all others a losing bargain.

In this way, I would advise you, in all other

* In the hour of festivity, when the bounds of temperance are exceeded, there is little difference between the riotous mirth, and loose conversation of the higher and lower vulgar. Drunkenness is a great leveller.

instances,