to custom!

'ries of honour! What crowds are enflaved With what pertinacity do these multitudes cling to the principles which they have chofen; principles, the commodiousness of which they have fo frequently proved! Another confideration of prime importance is yet to be stated. While truth disclaims all alliance, all connection, with falfehood; errors confederate and co-operate with errors. The unwarranted principles of morality, which have been difcuffed, amicably unite each with the other; and frequently occupy the fame bofom in double or in triple part-` nership. The individuals, whose morality falls under this defcription, appear far to exceed in number the exclufive adherents of any one falfe principle. As each of the principles in question poffeffes its own attractions as in the mixed intercourfe of the world, each is daily presenting itself to the followers of another, and recommending its maxims by the aid of example; it naturally enfues that the majority of the perfons who are not religiously watchful to be stedfast in the pure morality of the Gofpel, fall under the influence of all the three. In the minds of fuch men, moral perceptions are commonly indiftinct and confufed. The flender catalogue of their conclufions is drawn from dif

ferent

ferent fources. In part it confifts of a few of the plainer moral precepts of Scripture. For fome other rules, if rules they are to be called, it ftands indebted to cuftom. These are followed by maxims of expediency. And the whole is completed by scraps borrowed from the laws of honour. This laft principle, be it the most or the leaft influential on their practice, is ufually named by them with particular respect, and with special tokens of selfcomplacency. Each individual is fecretly flattered by the hope, that to profess the adoption of a rule of conduct, high in estimation among the upper claffes of fociety, may remind or perfuade others that he belongs to that divifion of fociety; or at least that its opinions are familiar to him, and congenial with his own.

If from any one of the falfe principles, which have been brought under review, moral errors, so numerous and fo pernicious, are constantly originating; what must be the mass of error produced by the detached operations of the three, and by the allied exertions of all!

The close contemplation of danger endears the path of fafety. We turn with augmented gratitude to that antidote to false morality, that perfect standard of moral excellence, the word

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word of God. While the world is learning. delufion from its own imaginations; from that word let the Chriftian learn wisdom. To the law and to the teftimony! Be not ye deluded by any maxims, by whatever authority they may be upheld, by whatever numbers they may be adopted, which are after the rudiments of the world, and not after Chrift. Bewilder not yourself in a vain fearch after rules of moral duty, amidst calculations of endless confequences, immediate, collateral, and remote. Forfake not the plain path of Scripture, to wander through inextricable mazes. Grope not in darkness, when the light fhines before you. Labour not by fpeculations concerning expediency, to discover that which is right: know, that whatever is commanded is expedient. Count not that conduct to be neceffarily moral, which is deemed honourable among men. That which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the fight of God (c). Difclaim the technical terms of false morality. Let your language respecting any moral or immoral proceeding be fuch as unequivocally to prove that your reference is not to honour, but to confcience, not to the traditions of men, but to the law of the Moft High. Follow not a multitude to do (c) Luke xvi. 5.

evil

evil (d). It is not cuftom, but Scripture, that defines iniquity. Wo unto them that call evil good (e)! Be not partakers of their fins. Reflect that the corrupting influence of falfe principles in morals does not terminate in morality. Relaxed opinions, as to the duties to be discharged towards your neighbour, and as to the government to be exercised over your appetites and passions, are relaxed ideas of duty to God, who has commanded you to love your neighbour as yourfelf, and to keep under your body, and bring it into fubjection; and neceflarily conduce to relaxed ideas on the fubject of piety. If you remit your exertions to glorify God by keeping his moral commandments, your love for him is abated, your adoration of him is less reverential, your gratitude is lefs animated, your fupplication is lefs fervent. If religion be weakened in one point, it is weakened in all points, it is endangered in all.

If then you are anxious, in discharging the duties of morality, faithfully to follow the divine commandments, and to tread in the steps of your Lord; fearch the Scriptures. By them shall every moral deed be tried at last: by them let it be directed now. And, let not

(d) Exod. xxiii. 2.

(e) Is. v. 20.

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the criterion by which you judge be studioufly kept in the back-ground. Shall men of the world have their false principles constantly ready on their lips; and fhall you be ashamed modeftly to avow yours? Hold forth the word of life (f), by acting upon it, by acting confeffedly upon it. The world will look to your morality, rather than to your piety. In that branch then of your religion, on which even irreligious men will occafionally fix their eyes, be diligent to adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour (g). Let it be manifeft, that the grace of God which bringeth falvation has taught you to deny ungodliness and worldly lufts, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly, in this prefent world (h). Let the fuperiority of your conduct evince the fupèriority of your principle. As the confcientious integrity, the felf-denying labours, the enlarged kindness, the indefatigable charity, of the early Christians, excited the astonishment and drew forth the reluctant eulogiums of the Pagans: let the light of your Christian morality fo fhine before the followers of erroneous maxims of conduct, that may lead them to glorify your Father who is in heaven by a ftrict adherence to the moral rules recorded in his holy word. Let it

it

(ƒ) Philipp. ii. 16. (g) Tit. ii, 10.

(b) Ib. 11, 13.

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