Perhaps we may expect to hear the drunkard and abandoned profligates bid defiance to heaven, and profane the name of God; but shall persons of refined manners, shall parents, shall magistrates be guilty of profane swearing? Then shall the land mourn, and the prospects of the rising generation be darkened. How foolish and wicked, how unbecoming and degrading to a rational accountable being, is the taking of the name of the Lord in vain. At the very mention of his dread, sacred name, the seraph's golden harp is silent; and Satan, who at times is proud on his throne, then stands appalled. And now shall man, a worm of the dust, shall vile man dare blaspheme the God of heaven?

6thly. They who would show themselves men, will be forbearing towards one another.

Who is there, that does not need the forbearance of his fellow men? Where is the man, who has never transgressed, or never injured any of his fellow mortals? Unless one can be presented, who is perfectly free from censure in all his ways, the duty is naturally and universally binding. But how does the world abound with offences from faults and failings, and how suitable the exhortation, "Be ye kind, forbearing one another in love." Without mutual forbearance, the sweets of social life would be greatly embittered and society'dissolved. How compassionate, forbearing, and long-suffering is the Lord towards a sinful world! Well, then, may frail, mortal man, both from interest and duty, be forbearing towards his fellow mortal.

7thly. Human beings should not consider it beneath their dignity to reverence and worship their Creator.

Shall beings, bound to the judgment-bar of God, cast off fear and restrain prayer before him! Shall holy angels fall prostrate and worship day and night in his presence? And shall mankind exclaim, "What is the Almighty, that we should serve

him; and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" Be astonished, O heavens! And tremble, O earth! Not only revelation, but the light of reason, and conscience, call upon all human beings to show themselves men, by reverencing and worshipping their Creator and final Judge.

To every man not lost to all sense of intellectual and moral worth, the gospel must be highly precious. Since all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. But, because salvation cannot flow to mankind as to holy beings who never fell, shall they not rejoice in the way of salvation by grace, and in the title of redeemed sinners! Rebels may well be ashamed of their crimes, which degrade their natures; but how unbecoming for criminals to spurn at the idea of repentance and pardon. The doctrines and duties of the gospel, are most reasonable; and how honourable must they be to make children of wrath, heirs of heaven. The crown is fallen from the head of man by reason of sin; and it is only through the gospel, that he can be crowned with glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life. The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ is worthy of rich and poor, bond and free, noble and ignoble. But shall we despise that, which is worthy of all acceptation? Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may, when I have no sins to wash away. Man's highest interest for time and eternity, the honour and glory of God, forbid that human beings should be ashamed to embrace and profess the gospel of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

INFERENCES.

How unwise for men not to conduct as becometh rational and accountable beings.

A contrary course is attended with vanity and vexation of spirit. Departures from the path of

rectitude and rationality are followed with disappointment, pain, and remorse. Human beings, who have reason, conscience, and the word of God, for their direction in the path of duty and of eternal life, must have a painful task, to bid them defiance and act irrationally. Surely it is a folly for any one to continue in sin, merely because he has transgressed. And if any feel the weight of aggravated guilt, why should they continue to increase their hardness, and still add to their treasure of wrath?

Religion is the ornament and perfection of human nature; and the man of true religion is the man of immortal honour. Pain, poverty, sickness, and death, may indeed veil, but they cannot destroy his moral dignity, which sometimes shines with more resplendent glory under all the clouds and storms of life. When the mind is animated with religious and holy affections, then a man appears truly noble, whether he be in distress, or even in the agonies of death. It is genuine religion, or heavenly wisdom, which spreads the greatest glory around any human character. It was this gracious and heavenly adorning, this glorious crown of precious jewels, that exalted Abraham, Solomon, and Paul above the wise men of the Pagan world.

2dly. This subject should excite alarm in the breasts of impenitent sinners.

All men are fallen beings, guilty in the sight of God; and the impenitent refuse to apply to the blood of Christ, which alone can cleanse from sin. They choose the road which is moral darkness and death; and reject the proffered salvation of the gospel, in which alone life and immortality are brought to light. Perhaps they are much delighted in animal gratifications, much engaged in the affairs of this world, or much interested for mental improvement, wherefore they strive to keep the solemn and awful realities of eternity from their minds. But, in the invisible and eternal world, their utmost en

deavours will be in vain as to the secluding such melancholy reflections. They will have constant and increasing displays of the divine perfections eternally rising to their view. They must be for ever increasing in knowledge; and how dreadful the thought, that, as their knowledge increases, so will their wickedness and misery increase. Who can endure the thought of lying down in sorrow and keen despair, and before him view sorrows eternally rising and increasing. In eternity the Lord will display the greatness, the majesty, and holiness of his character to all finite intelligent beings; and such displays will kindle the flames of hell in the souls of the damned. How dreadful to the impenitent reader or hearer must be these reflections!

3dly. What encouraging and goodly prospects to all those who are walking as becometh rational and accountable beings.

So far as any thus walk, so far they pursue the path of true happiness. They are pursuing their present peace and comfort, and future even everlasting blessedness. They have no reason to be weary in well doing, for shortly they will hear their Saviour's glorious plaudit, "Well done good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord:" What a glorious recompense of reward! "For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive of the joys which God hath prepared for those that love him." They will not only be for ever free from pain, and complete in bliss; but they will be for ever making nearer approaches to the fountain and source of moral excellence and blessedness. After millions of ages shall have rolled away, their knowledge and joys will rise higher and higher. Motives and prospects of infinite weight to induce mankind to conduct as becometh rational, accountable, and immortal beings. Amen.

SERMON VI.

ENVY, ONE OF THE BASEST PASSIONS OF THE HUMAN BREAST.

ESTHER V. 13.

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the king's gate

CHRISTIAN friends, what is the great end of divine revelation? The apostle Timothy responds, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousnes; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Hence we have this confession of Haman recorded as a reproof and warning to all mankind. The history concerning him and Mordecai is fraught with instruction, to show how sudden and how great may be the changes either of human exaltation, or human abasement. The one through envy, experienced a most degrading fall; the other, in consequence of his uprightness, was raised to very distinguished honours. Haman told his friends of the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. He said moreover, yea, "Esther, the queen, did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, but myself; and to-morrow, I am invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." What then? The