SERM." of my words, in this adulterous and sin

XXIII.

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"ful generation, of him, also, shall the Son

"of man be ashamed, when he cometh in

the glory of the Father, with the holy angels."

We will now proceed to consider the third sort of persons, described by our Saviour as having the word of God offered to them. Their reception of it is likened to ground overgrown with thorns, receiving good seed; as the thorns spring up with the seed, choke it in it its growth, and prevent it from coming to maturity, so the love of riches, of pleasures, of honours, predominate in the mind of these men, entirely outgrow the word of God, and suf fer it not to attain to any degree of perfection. This is certainly the case with greatly too many; they have received, perhaps, a pious education, and were once fully per suaded, that the care of their immortal souls is the one thing needful, or, perhaps even

now,

XXIII.

now, whenever they are brought to think SERM. seriously on the subject, they acknowledge in their hearts its reality and consequence; they believe firmly that there are such places as heaven and hell for the virtuous and for the wicked; they feel some faint aspirations after the happiness allotted to those who die in the Lord, and are more deeply sensible of the terrible circumstance of falling into the hands of an offended and avenging God. These are promising im pressions, if they would but remain,-fair seeds, if they could but be brought to maturity; but, alas! they are fallen among thorns; they have gained admittance into an heart, in which this world, its cares and its pleasures are uppermost, and by these they are early blasted in their rise, and immaturely destroyed. The things of this world, by being immediately present, and perpetually the objects of our senses, have an undue influence with us; this we cannot but

XXIII.

SERM. but acknowledge, when we compare them with the things of the next; but, perhaps, we enter into the comparison very seldom, or, perhaps, it makes but very slight impression, and is driven from our minds the very next moment by the first human care or pleasure which comes across us. However this be, there are multitudes apparently going on, as if there were no life after this, who yet do not pretend to deny there is one; but they must (they say) attend to raising their fortunes here, or, they are determined that they will enjoy their pleasures, and leave futurity to shift for itself. Is this wise, is this prudent? or rather, is it not the extremity of folly and madness? Shall I, when called up to take such steps as may secure to me the greatest happiness to all eternity, shall I allege that I must beg to be excused, that I am attending to my farm or my merchandise, by which I expect to be richer

or

or more prosperous for the next dozen or SERM. XXIII. score years, and that as to what comes after, I will take my chance?

7

I do not, myself, think that there are many unbelievers in the world; I am persuaded that the being of a God, a future state of rewards and punishments, are too deeply engraven on the human mind for many to be able to shake them off: but yet it is too evident that numbers live as if they did not believe in them;-why else do present cares and pleasures so greatly preponderate ?-why are there found men who will prefer almost any other engagement, however slight, to attending to the duties. of religion? why are there those who, living in the greatest affluence themselves, can scarce be prevailed on to part even with their superfluities to assist their distressed brethren, when they know that their blessed Redeemer has promised that he will reward all kindness done to the

needy,

SERM. needy, in the same manner as if it had XXIII. been done to himself? why are there those who are men-pleasers, rather than pleasers of God; who prefer the approbation of their fellow-creatures, to the approbation of their Creator; who will venture to incur the divine displeasure, rather than run the hazard of hurting their fortunes or their interest, or relinquishing some trifling amusement? why, lastly,

are there those who, still more impious, are continually affronting God, by taking his holy name in vain, in direct defiance of his express commands? Do not these

men act as if they did not believe? Would they not be more consistent, if this were really the case ?

If there be not another world, let us make the most of this; let us eat, drink, and be merry; let us follow the bent of inclination, wherever it lead us. If we were sure of this, I really do not see that

we .