are the life of society; we must exchange our gay amusements for the unsociable manners of the serious and the precise, and expect to be derided for our singularity and sanctity." But where, my brethren, have you ever learnt, that the great Author of our religion has forbidden any pleasures but such as are injurious to your highest interest? And in this he surely acts a friendly part. Why must religion be considered as unfavourable to cheerful enjoyment in the present life? If intellectual pleasures are real, and men of science find delight in investigating the beauties and wonders of nature, why should not a soul that is taught of God, find richer entertainment in contemplating the grand system of Gospel truth, and "account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord?" If the indulgence of vile affections and lusts affords a sensual delight, shall it be thought strange, that a much nobler satisfaction should arise from the exercise of divine and holy tempers? If there be a dreadful tribunal before which we must all appear, and if our everlasting state of happiness or woe must be there determined, according to the things done in the body, must not an accusing conscience embitter all the joys of life, and can we too highly prize the approving testimony of our own breast? If there be a reality in those exalted privileges which the Bible assigns to the people of God; if there be "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus;" if they are brought

nigh unto God, even into his covenant and into his family; if they are the special charge of his all gracious and indulgent providence; if they are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if they have the hope and the earnest of heaven here, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit are forming for it; can you possibly estimate the value of that divine pleasure they experience, in the sweet persuasion and the realizing view of such surpassing glory? And still further if God is pleased to manifest himself to his people as he does not unto the world; if they are admitted to intimate communion with him, and he indeed lifteth up the light of his countenance upon them, and sheds abroad his love in their hearts; must not reason itself pronounce them the happiest people in the world? And, blessed be God! we do not want for witnesses to prove that God does indeed deal familiarly with men: we can read it as a Divine truth in many precious promises; we can trace it as an unquestionable fact in the experience of many of God's people. What but this inspired the blessed martyrs with such magnanimity and unshaken constancy, such joy and triumph, in the presence of their persecutors, and in the extremity of their sufferings? And even in this day of small things, the more you are conversant with true Christians when under circumstances of trying affliction, and in the views of death, the more you will be convinced that there is something in them more than nature-that the Spirit of glory and

N

of God resteth upon them. The sweet peace which they possess, the world cannot give; and a stranger to vital godliness intermeddleth not with their joys. By such scenes as these, methinks, you might learn to pray, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest to thy people! Oh visit me with thy salvation, that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance!" Psalm cvi. 4, 5.

Again: there are too many who maintain their opposition to Christ, by determined ignorance and hardness of heart: they know nothing of religion, nothing of Christ and the Gospel, and they are determined to give themselves no concern about the

matter.

Some are so rich and great, they look upon the exercises and concerns of religion as beneath them: as if they were too high to stoop to the authority of God, or to need his mercy.

Others are so poor and mean, they are ready to think they have nothing to do with Christ and the Gospel, and are willing to leave the concerns of religion to those who have more time and better capacities. As if they as well as others had not precious souls, that must be everlastingly saved or lost!

Sometimes, the sinner cannot but see and acknowledge the propriety and the importance of attending to the concerns of the soul and eternity, but flatters himself that death is yet far off; that he may spend his

youthful days in pleasure, or his worldly business is now particularly urgent, and some circumstances in a future period of life will be more favourable to the practice of religion; while at the same time, the Judge standeth at the door, and every day will increase the heavy load of his guilt, confirm the hardness of his heart, and render his real conversion to God more difficult and more doubtful.

These, and many more, are the occasions of that direct opposition or cold neglect with which the adorable and the compassionate Saviour is treated by multitudes.

But I must repeat, and O that men would hear the solemn warning in our text! "For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven."

SERMON III.

HEB. Xii. 25.

See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh; for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.

(THIRD SERMON FROM THE TEXT.)

THE observation which we now proceed to consider, is,-III. That to refuse Him that speaketh from heaven, is to expose ourselves to the most certain and dreadful vengeance: "For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven."

We are told, they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth. This remark the Apostle had before made more than once in this same Epistle. Heb. ii. 2. "The word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward." chap. x. 28. "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses." Give me leave to refer you to a few passages in the Mosaic Law to this