our Influence is the weakeft, yet every one who appears in Earneft on the Side of God and Chrift and Virtue, muft add fome Strength to the Caufe, and fome Spirit to the Supporters of it. It is a common Warfare, in which we are engaged. If any one be allowed to defert his Station, every one must have the fame Allowance: and then, humanly fpeaking, what hinders, but all must be given up? The Patrons of Infidelity and Libertinism, who, as one should think, have many Reafons to be reserved, they declare themselves without the leaft Scruple. Only confider therefore, if we are to be fhame-faced and filent, while they are bold and boastful; how monftrous is the Impropriety, and how unhappy will be the Event!

But befides the general Confequences of holding faft the Profeffion of our Faith without wavering, or fhrinking from it; let us reflect also, what particular Effects it may have on our Friends, our Dependants, our Servants, our Families; on thofe who are united to us in the nearest Relations, and whofe Happiness conftitutes a great Part of our own. All who barely know us and think well of us, will of Course be in fome Degree, either the

* Heb. x. 23.

fteadier

fteadier in the Faith and Practice of Chriftianity for our public Adherence to it, or more unfettled for our feeming to flight it: and this one Difference in our Behaviour may very poibly have Weight enough with more than one amongst them, to determine his Conduct, and State for ever. But fuch as are intimate with us, will be more powerfully fwayed by what they fee in us. And they who live unnaturally learn almost

der our Roof, who

every Thing from us, who pride themfelves perhaps in being like us, there is no Hope that they will be religious, if they have any Ground to imagine, that we are not cordially fo. But taking due Care to fhew them that we are, will do much towards promoting their future Happiness at the fame Time with our own; and indeed the prefent Welfare too of both. For as Religion furnithes the strongest Motives to every Part of Virtue and Prudence; fo unless our Example instruct those around us to perform their Duty towards God, they will probably foon come to neglect it towards us, as well as towards others and themfelves: whereas giving Proof that we honour him, is the Way to be honoured in Thought, Word, and Deed, by them; by all the good, and even by most of the bad. Or

how

how unequally foever Efteem may be distributed now, all will be abundantly rectified in that decifive Hour, when they, that fleep in the Duft of the Earth, fhall awake; fome to everlasting Life, and fome to Shame and everlafting Contempt: when they, that be wife, fhall fhine as the Brightness of the Firmament ; and they, that turn many to Righteousness, as the Stars, for ever and ever.

y Dan. xii. 2, 3.

SER

SERMON XI.

LUKE xiii. 23, 24.

Then faid one unto him, Lord, are there few that be faved? And he faid unto them, Strive to enter in at the ftrait Gate: for many, I fay unto you, will feek to enter in, and shall not be able.

THERE is fearce any Thing which

proves both Wisdom and Rightness of Mind more fully, than proper Behaviour on fudden Occafions, and proper Answers to unforeseen Questions: for what a Man fhews himself to be at fuch Times, we have in general great Cause to believe he really is. Now to this Trial, our Saviour, living a public Life, in the Midst of Persons taking all Advantages to infnare him, was perpetually expofed; and his Character

2