duty which revelation, approved by our reafon, tells us is indifpenfible. Let us discharge it, not with that reluctance which will defeat every good effect upon our own temper and manners; but with that seriousness and energy which will speak peace to our minds while we fojourn here, and crown our perfeverance with pardon and acceptance at the throne of heaven. As the return of the prodigal fon made the father's heart leap for joy, fo let us improve our stock of rational and fubftantial happiness by rejoicing at each other's advancement in this good and neceffary work. Let us affift, and not impede, our fellow-travellers on the journey of life, and each endeavour to edify the other by his example; for "know ye," faith the apostle James, "whofoever bringeth back a finner "that hath wandered from his way, will "fave his own foul from death, and cover a multitude of fins *." 66 * James v. 20. SERMON SERMON XXIII. THE OCCASION FOR CIRCUMSPECTION. I CORINTHIANS X. 12. LET HIM THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH, TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL. In the course of the apostle Paul's general argument in this epiftle to the Corinthians against their partaking of meat which had been offered to idols, and thereby countenancing idolatry, he recites the prevailing defire after evil or forbidden things, the idolatries, the fornications, the speaking against God, the murmurs and discontents of their fathers, and alfo the high difpleafure fhewn by God against such their several offences. He then exhorts them to profit by fuch examples, and to avoid thofe fins which would incur the juft difpleasure and punishment of God; and adds, that they were were written in the books of Mofes for their admonition upon whom the last age, that is, the age of the gospel, had come. This part of his argument is illuftrated by this pertinent application, "let him that thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left he fall;" and he concludes it with the following confolation and advice. “There has no tempta"tion befallen you, but fuch as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not fuffer you to be tempted above what ye are able to bear, but, with the temptation, will alfo give you strength "to bear the effects of it. Wherefore," fays he, "my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry," or, "fhun this attention to "idols."* 86 66 66 The particular portion of the apostle's epistle, which constitutes our more immediate fubject, conveys very important and very useful advice, not only on the fubject upon which he was then writing to his corinthian converts, but on every other occafion, where prefumption is dangerous, and where diffidence is fecurity. With * Cor. x. 13, 14. Mr. Wakefield's Translation. With respect to the argument before him, the obfervation was most seasonably applied. The relapse of the early jews into idolatry deferved to be mentioned as an example and a warning to the converts at Corinth, not to be feduced by complying with any temptations to vice, which might endanger their faith, or enervate their fortitude ; which might lead them to think lightly of their obligations to God, who had done fuch great things for them, and who could not be more juftly offended by any thing, than by their "giving his glory to "another," or "his praise to graven "images;" or by their "worshipping and ferving the creature, and not the creator, "who is bleffed for ever."+ * These examples were probably recited by the apostle with good effect, and may be read with edification by chriftians of every description at this hour. For as the reafoning of the apoftle will confirm and ftrengthen the faith of thofe who believe in *Ifaiah xlii. 8. † Romans i. 25, Mr. Wakefield's Translation. and |