vellings, and the promoting of vice, and scarcely one be found intended for the propagation of virtue? Be astonished, O heavens at this!

2. But this leads me to a fecond inference; namely, to warn perfons of the great danger thofe are in, who either by their fubfcriptions, prefence, or approbation, promote focieties of a quite oppofite nature to religion.

And here I would not be understood, to mean only those public meetings which are defigned manifeftly for nothing elfe but revellings and banquetings, for chambering and wan tonnefs, and at which a modeft heathen would blush to be prefent; but also thofe feemingly innocent entertainments and meetings, which the politer part of the world are so very fond of, and spend so much time in: but which, notwithstanding, keep as many perfons from a sense of true religion, as doth intemperance, debauchery, or any other crime whatever. Indeed, whilft we are in this world, we must have proper relaxations, to fit us both for the bufinefs of our profeffion, and religion. But then, for 'perfons who call themfelves chriftians, that have folemnly vowed at their baptifm, to renounce the vanities of this finful world; that are commanded in fcripture to abftain from all appearance of evil, and to have their converfation in heaven:" for fuch perfons as these to support meetings, which (to fay no worse of them) are vain and trifling, and have a natural tendency to draw off our minds from GOD, iş abfurd, ridiculous, and finful. Surely two are not better than one in this cafe: No; it is to be wifhed there was not one to be found concerned in it. The fooner we forfake the affembling ourselves together in such a manner, the better; and no matter how quickly the cord that holds fuch focieties (was it a thousand-fold) is broken.

66

But you, brethren, have not fo learned CHRIST: but, on the contrary, like true difciples of your Lord and Mafter, have by the bleffing of GOD (as this evening's folemnity abundantly teftifies) happily formed yourselves into fuch focieties, which, if duly attended on, and improved, cannot but ftrengthen you in your chriftian warfare, and “make you fruitful in every good word and work."

What remains for me, but, as was propofed, in the laft place, to clofe what has been faid, in a word or two, by way

of

of exhortation, and to befeech you, in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to go on in the way you have begun; and by a conftant confcientious attendance on your refpective focieties, to discountenance vice, encourage virtue, and build each other up in the knowledge and fear of GOD.

Only permit me to "ftir up your pure minds, by way of remembrance," and to exhort you, "if there be any confolation in CHRIST, any fellowship of the fpirit," again and again to confider, that as all chriftians in general, fo all members of religious focieties in particular, are in an especial manner, as houfes built upon an hill; and that therefore it highly concerns you to walk circumfpectly towards those that are without, and to take heed to yourselves, that your converfation, in common life, be as becometh fuch an open and peculiar profeffion of the gospel of CHRIST: knowing that the eyes of all men are upon you, narrowly to infpect every circumftance of your behaviour: and that every notorious wilful mifcarriage of any fingle member will, in fome measure, redound to the fcandal and difhonour of your whole fraternity.

Labour, therefore, my beloved brethren, to let your practice correspond to your profeffion: and think not that it will be fufficient for you to plead at the last day, LORD have we not affembled ourselves together in thy name, and enlivened each other, by finging pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs? For verily, I fay unto you, notwithstanding this, our blefied LORD will bid you depart from him; nay, you shall receive a greater damnation, if, in the midst of these great pretenfions, you are found to be workers of iniquity.

But God forbid that any fuch evil should befal you; that there should be ever a Judas, a traitor, amongst fuch distinguished followers of our common mafter. No, on the contrary, the excellency of your rules, the regularity of your meetings, and more especially your pious zeal in affembling in fuch a public and folemn manner fo frequently in the year, perfuade me to think, that you are willing, not barely to feem, but to be in reality, chriftians; and hope to be found at the last day, what you would be efteemed now, holy, fincere difciples of a crucified Redeemer.

Oh,

1

Oh, may you always continue thus minded! and make it your daily, conftant endeavour, both by precept and example, to turn all your converfe with, more especially those of your own focieties, into the fame moft bleffed fpirit and temper. Thus will you adorn the gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST in all things: Thus will you anticipate the happiness of a future ftate; and by attending on, and improving the communion of faints on earth, be made meet to join the communion and fellowship of the fpirits of just men made perfect, of the holy angels, nay, of the ever-blessed and eternal GOD in heaven.

Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, three perfons and one GOD, be afcribed, as is most due, all honour and praife, might, majesty and dominion, now and for ever. Amen.

SER

Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself over-wife : why shouldst thou destroy thyself?

OTHING is more frequent, than while people are

N a mare

living in a course of fin, and after the fashion and manner of the world, there is no notice taken of them; neither are their ways difpleafing to their companions and carnal relations but if they fet their faces Zion-ward, and begin to feel the power of God on their hearts; then they are furrounded with temptations from their friends, who thus act the devil's part. The enemies, the greatest enemies a young convert meets with, my dear brethren, are those of his own house. They that will be godly, muft fuffer perfecution; fo it was in CHRIST's time, and fo it was in the Apostles time too; for our LORD came not to fend peace, but a fword. Our relations would not have us fit in the fcorner's chair; they would not have us be prodigals, confuming our fubftance upon harlots; neither would they have us rakes or libertines, but they would have us be contented with an almoft christianity. To keep up our reputation by going to church, and adhering to the outward forms of religion, saying our prayers, reading the word of God, and taking the facraments; this, they imagine, is all that is neceffary for to be christians indeed; and when we go one step farther than this, their mouths are open against us, as Peter's was to CHRIST: Spare thyfelf, do thyself no harm,”

And

And of this nature are the words of the text. They are not the words of Solomon himself, but the words of an infidel fpeaking to him, whom he introduces in feveral parts of this book; for Solomon had been fhewing the misfortunes which attended the truly good, as in the verse before our text.

Upon this the infidel says, "Be not righteous over-much, neither be thou over-wife: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?" i. e. Why shouldst thou bring these misfortunes upon thyself, by being over-ftrict? Be not righteous over-much; eat, drink, and be merry, live as the world lives, and then you will avoid thofe misfortunes which may attend you, by being righteous over-much.

This text has another meaning; but take it which way you will, my brethren, it was fpoken by an unbeliever; therefore it was no credit for the perfon who lately preached upon this text, to take it for granted, that these were the words of Solomon: the words of an infidel was not a proper text to a chriftian congregation. But as David came out against Goliah, not armed as the champion was, with sword and fpear, but with a fling and ftone, and then cut off his head with his own fword; fo I come out against these letterlearned men, in the ftrength of the LORD JESUS CHRIST ; and, my dear brethren, I trust he will direct me to use my fling, fo that our enemies may not gainfay us; and by the fword of God's word, cut off the heads of our Redeemer's enemies.

But though they are not the words of Solomon, yet we will take them in the fame manner the late writer did; and, from the words, fhall,

First, Shew you what it is, not to be righteous over-much, that we may not deftroy ourselves.

Secondly, I fhall let you fee what it is to be righteous overmuch. And then,

Thirdly, Conclude with an exhortation to all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to come to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

First, The first thing propofed, is to fhew you what it is not to be righteous over-much. And here,

It