i a maxim of prudence, to give way to the prevailing humours of the times. Some sins, say they, have got such countenance, that it is dangerous to reprove them: they must be winked at; for were they to be roughly handled, they would either grow more headstrong and violent, or only be exchanged for other excesses, which might be fully as bad, or perhaps worse, than themselves. And though it betrays a disloyal, or at least a cowardly spirit, to be swayed by such crooked maxims; yet the currency they have got affords a pregnant proof, that contempt of divine authority is another unbappy characteristic which distinguisheth the present from former times. Further, we seem, in a great measure, to have lost any proper sense of our dependance upon God. “When bis hand is lifted up, we do not see.” We forget him in prosperity; and in adversity we look no higher than the creature. We trust for deliverance to the arm of flesh, but never think of turning to the Lord who smiteth us. Nay, have there not been repeated attempts to prove, that a nation may prosper, not only independent of God, but even, as it were, in defiance of him? that the public interest is promoted by the vices of individuals ? that utility is the measure of virtue, the only standard for determining what is right or wrong? I do not mention those schemes from any apprehension that the arguments by which they are supported are formidable in themselves; but whether men believe the principles or not, it is a certain truth, that the general practice doth unhappily correspond with them. One thing is obvious, that few consider a reformation of manners as any means of national prosperity; whereas, had we a just impression of our dependance upon God, that would readily occur to us, not only as one, but as the best, nay, the only effectual means, for securing the safety, and advancing the real honour and interest of our country. To all these I must add the Luxury and Sensuality wbich have been growing upon us for several years past, and have now spread their roots and branches so wide, that they may truly be said to fill the whole land. Pleasure is at length become a laborious study; and with many, I am afraid, it is their only study; for it leaves them no room to pursue any other. What new scenes of amusement are daily invented ? How artsully are they ranged, so as to stand clear of each other, without leaving any vacant space between them? It is trifing to plead, that they are not criminal in their own nature, and may therefore be consistent with the service of God: I must call this a mean, disingenuous evasion, till they who plead it shall be pleased to inform us, what portions of time are left unoccupied, wherein they can find leisure to serve God if they would. The truth is, the present system of pleasure and fashionable politeness, appears absolutely incompatible with piety and devotion; an artful contrivance to banish reflection altogether, and to put it out of the power of sinful, dying creatures to think of God and an eternal world. This unhappy distemper of the times in which we live, doth at present carry in its face some of the most alarming symptoms of danger. Instead of yielding to the most probable means of cure, it rather becomes more stubborn and infectious. Might it not have been expected, that the distress which hath prevailed in our nation for some months past, would at least have checked the growth of luxury? yet it seems to have produced the very opposite effect. While the poor are starving, while many who are willing to labour can find no employment, and not a few have abandoned their native country to seek that sustenance in foreign parts which they could not earn at home; still is pleasure pursued with increasing ardour, and no price is deemed extravagant that can purchase an addition to it. In short, men appear to be striving against God with their eyes open, and to have studied the design of his Providence on purpose to defeat it; for such an exact plan of contradiction discovers art and contrivance, and could hardly have been stumbled upon by mere accident. Judge then, upon the whole, whether there be not cause more than sufficient to sigh and to cry for the abominations that are done in the midst of our land. It still remains, in the Third place, That I lay before you a few of the genuine symptoms and proper effects of the gracious temper I mean to recommend. And, 1st. We can never be assured, that our grief for the sins of others is pure, and of the right kind, unless our hearts be duly affected with grief and sorrow for our own transgressions. It is this that distinguisheth the true mourners in Zion from censorious and ill-natured hypocrites, who are quick in discerning the smallest mote in their brother's eye, while they pay no attention at all to the great beam in their own. Godly sorrow is just and impartial; it always begins at home, and makes few visits abroad till domestic sins are first bewailed. Many, like the lapwing, are continually fluttering about, and, with artful screams, lament the vices of all around them, merely to draw off their attention from their own cage of unclean birds. Such pretended mourners are hateful to God; and every counterfeit tear becomes a drop of oil, which shall only serve to inflame the everlasting burnings : whereas the true mourner is more seTere against himself than against any other person in 2 M VOL. I. the world, the vilest not excepted; yea, he never sees nor hears of the wickedness of others, but conscience immediately stirs within him, and he is ready to say with Pharaoh's butler, “ I remember my own fault this day.” He considers the worst of men as exhibiting a true picture of his own natural condition; and bumbly acknowledgeth, that it was God only who made him to differ, and that he hath nothing but what he received from his bountiful hand. Rdly. Our grief is of the right kind, when it leads us to pray for transgressors; and when it hath not this effect, we have not only cause to suspect, but may conclude, without hesitation, that it is spurious and counterfeit. If, instead of the closet, it carry us abroad into company, to divulge our neighbour's faults, under the pretext of bewailing them; in that case we may assure ourselves, that our hearts are strangers to that godly sorrow whereof my text speaks. The true mourner de. sires, above all things, the reformation of his brother; and therefore he goes directly to God bimself, who bath the hearts of all men in his hand, and can turn them as the rivers of water. He lays the sinner's case before the compassionate Saviour, not by way of complaint, but to move bis pity, and to obtain his help. He uncovers the poor leper in the sight of the Physician who can heal him; and at the same time would be extremely well pleased, that his loathsomeness were hid from every other eye. True grief will restrain us from speaking evil of our neighbour, or detecting his secret faults, except in cases of absolute necessity, when the concealing them would either be hurtful to the innocent, or prejudicial to the public interest. Nay, it will be painful to us to hear of the miscarriages of our brethren; and we shall be very slow to believe any reports to their disadvan tage, without the strongest and most convincing evi- and genuine, will be accompanied with proper endeavours to reclaim them. Every true mourner will consider himself as “ his brother's keeper,” and will leave no means un. attempted to prevent bis ruin. He will not think it enough to plead with God for mercy to the sinner; he will likewise plead with the sinner to have mercy upon himself. He will set his guilt and danger before him in the most prudent and affecting manner he can; and though he meet with many repulses, nay, though his labour of love should be requited with scorn and hatred, yet he will repeat his application again and again, and take hold of every favourable opportunity that presents itself; remembering, that "he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins,” and may look for more distinguished honour in that day, “when they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many unto righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Once more, 4thly. If we are in truth possessed of this gracious temper, if our grief for abounding iniquity flows from the pure fountain of love to God, and zeal for bis glory, we shall own his cause in the most perilous times, and 1 |