Thus we are nice in grains and scruples, but knaves in matters of a pound weight; every day straining at gnats, yet swallowing camels; - miserably cheating ourselves, and torturing our reason to bring us in such a report of the sin as suits the present appetite and inclination.

Most of us are aware of and pretend to detest the barefaced instances of that hypocrisy by which men deceive others, but few of us are upon our guard, or see that more fatal hypocrisy by which we deceive and overreach our own hearts. It is a flattering and dangerous distemper, which has undone thousands;-we bring the seeds of it along with us into the world, they insensibly grow up with us from our childhood, they lie long concealed and undisturbed, and have generally got such deep root in our natures by the time we are come to years of understanding and reflection, that it requires all we have got to defend ourselves from their effects.

To make the case still worse on our sides, 'tis with this as with every grievous distemper of the body, the remedies are dangerous and doubtful, in proportion to our mistakes and ignorance of the cause: for in the instances of

self-deceit, though the head is sick, and the whole heart faint, the patient seldom knows what he ails of all the things we know and learn, this necessary knowledge comes to us the last.

Upon what principle it happens thus, I have endeavoured to lay open in the first part of this discourse; which I conclude with a serious exhortation to struggle against them: which we can only hope to do, by conversing more and oftener with ourselves, than the business and diversions of the world generally give us leave.

We have a chain of thoughts, desires, engagements, and idlenesses, which perpetually return upon us in their proper time and order— let us, I beseech you, assign and set apart some small portion of the day for this purpose, — of retiring into ourselves, and searching into the dark corners and recesses of the heart, and taking notice of what is passing there. If a man can bring himself to do this task with a curious and impartial eye, he will quickly find the fruits of it will more than recompense his time and labour. He will see several irregularities and unsuspected passions within him which he never was aware of:- he will discover in his

progress many secret turnings and windings in his heart to which he was a stranger, which now gradually open and disclose themselves to him upon a nearer view; in these labyrinths he will trace out such hidden springs and motives for many of his most applauded actions, as will make him rather sorry and ashamed of himself, than proud.

In a word, he will understand his errors, and then see the necessity, with David, of imploring God to cleanse him from his secret faults, -and with some hope and confidence to say, with this great man after his conviction, "Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart, prove me, and examine my thoughts, look well if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Now to God the Father, &c. &c.

SERMON V

THE CASE OF ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH CONSIDERED

A CHARITY SERMON

TO THE

VERY REVEREND RICHARD OSBALDISTON, D.D.,

SIR,

Dean of York

I have taken the liberty to inscribe this Discourse to you, in testimony of the great respect which I owe to your character in general; and from a sense of what is due to it in particular from every member of the Church of York.

I wish I had as good a reason for doing that, which has given me the opportunity of making so public and just an acknowledgment; being afraid there can be little left to be said upon the subject of Charity, which has not been often thought, and much better expressed by many who have gone before: and, indeed, it seems so beaten and common a path, that it is not an easy matter for a new-comer to distinguish himself in it, by anything except the novelty of his Vehicle.

I beg, however, Sir, your kind acceptance of it, and of the motives which have induced me to address it to you; one of which I cannot conceal in justice to myself,

because it has proceeded from the sense of many favours and civilities which I have received from you. I am, Reverend Sir, your most obliged, and faithful humble Servant,

LAURENCE STERNE.

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spake by the prophet Elijah.—1 KINGS xvii. 16.

HE words of the text are the record of a

TH

miracle wrought in behalf of the widow of Zarephath, who had charitably taken Elijah under her roof, and administered unto him in a time of great scarcity and distress. There is something very interesting and affectionate in the manner this story is related in Holy Writ: and, as it concludes with a second still more remarkable proof of GOD's favour to the same person, in the restoration of her dead son to life, one cannot but consider both miracles as rewards of that act of piety, wrought by Infinite Power, and left upon record in Scripture, not merely as testimonies of the Prophet's Divine Mission, but likewise as two encouraging instances of GOD Almighty's blessing upon works of charity and benevolence.

In this view I have made choice of this piece of sacred history, which I shall beg leave