and forward their access to the darling object of their affection, that they may more easily destroy themselves in making the fatal acquisition. Or, if we should not allow that he is able to take so active a part in the external affairs of men in general, his influence on their internal feelings, cannot, I think, be doubted; perhaps he has it in his power, if not originally to put in motion our evil passions, at least to administer fuel to them, when we have willingly permitted them to assail us; perhaps he is able to indispose us, to render us slothful and inactive towards any exertions of virtue and benevolence, or perhaps he has a certain influence on our reason, to make it see objects in false colours, and thus render it inadequate to the office of directing our conduct with that safety for which it was bestowed on us by God. I should suppose that by each of these ways our subtle and powerful enemy ensnares and destroys us; but of these, the last is the most dangerous, and consequently that against which we should be most on our guard. It is probable that the devil is at the bottom of those false ideas which many men entertain of the attributes of God; that, when we are about to fall into any crime, from which perhaps a thorough conviction of the presence and observation of the Almighty, and of his strict justice, would restrain us, the adversary of our souls instils into us doubts and hesitations, makes us parley and deliberate, represents to us the infinite greatness of God, and

that, removed as he is so far above us, and wrapt up in his transcendent majesty, it is not likely he should attend to the concerns of so insignificant a being as man; or, if this be too stale an argument, he causes us to reason on his goodness and mercy, and tries to persuade us that he will not be so extreme to mark what is done amiss, as the Scriptures describe him. If by reasoning of this kind he be able to argue a sinner out of his fear of divine punishment, he has other fallacies ready to bring forward to diminish his dread of the punishments of men; in the first place, if the nature of the crime will at all bear it, he flatters the hesitating sinner with the hope of the certainty of escaping detection; but if this be impossible, he persuades him that his being discovered will be attended with no ill consequences—that, though known to be a culprit, he shall yet, by some circumstance, escape the vengeance of the law, if the crime be not of so deep a die, or one which does not so materially affect the peace of societyif it be one from the commission of which the credit and character chiefly are endangered, our ́enemy points out the number of those who have been guilty, with impunity-bids us mark how they are still caressed and respected by their fellow-creatures, and insinuates that perhaps some of them have found the means of alluring this kindness by their very crimes.

Fraud and rapine are frequently the steps to wealth; and wealth, no matter how obtained, rarely

fails to procure to its possessor deference and respect: but let it be remembered, that this is only in appearance: in appearance, I must admit that it does too often happen, but never in reality,those who bow lowest to the grandeur of the prosperous villain cannot really honour him; but, though mean enough to pay outward homage to his possessions, they in their hearts, (sordid wretches as they are) despise and detest the man.

I will dismiss this subject, by observing, that the instances of successful wickedness are single, while in the common and usual course of worldly affairs it meets with its deserved punishment; here and there, a particular villain may be pointed out, who has escaped the punishment of the laws and the open contempt and detestation of his fellows, while there are numbers who are yearly falling sacrifices to public justice, and multitudes of less atrocious criminals, who are overwhelmed with justly merited infamy.

All the other arguments which the devil may bring forward to persuade us, when he is tempting us to sin, of the impunity of it with respect to our persons, fortunes, and characters, might be easily refuted, if we reasoned with unbiassed minds; but, while our passions are engaged on his side, he seldom fails to subdue us.

Let us then, whenever we find ourselves tempted to do what our conscience suggests to be wrong, be aware that we are not then in a proper state to argue on the innocence or guilt of it-let us stay

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till a cooler moment-and even then, let us recollect how much the devil is interested to deceive us;-let us be upon our guard against his wiles ;and let us, in addition, call in to our aid the fear of God-and so we shall be fully able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

SERMON XXXVIII.

DELAY OF PUNISHMENT THE CAUSE OF SIN.

ECCLESIASTES VIII. 11.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

WHEN the punishments which are denounced against impiety and vice are so alarmingly dreadful, it seems hard to conceive that any men should be found so inattentive to their own interest, as to venture to provoke them. The text informs us whence this arises; it tells us that this temerity and madness is owing to the delay of justice, it is because the exaction of the penalty does not immediately follow the commission of the crime, but that some uncertain space intervenes." Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

It is the purpose of this discourse to set before you some of the conclusions that men draw from this delay of punishment, by which they encou