sure.

There is another artifice sometimes used in the taking of fish, which cannot be so well done but in the drought of summer, when there is but little water running either in or out from a pool; and that is, by putting a certain combustible into the water, whereby the tenants of the stream become intoxicated, swim above, and submit to be taken at pleaAlas! doth not the adversary of mankind greatly use the artifice of intoxicating men through the immoderate use of spiritous liquors, and leadeth them on by little and little, from drinking at first merely to satisfy nature in quenching their thirst, to a real inclination for the bewitching juice; which desire he augmenteth in every opportunity where it may be indulged; and even to seek opportunities when no opportunities offer themselves, till at length they become habitual drunkards; which pernicious custom is not only a crime itself, but leadeth to the commission of all others.

He that seeth a drunkard, seeth every thing that is bad, for what crime is there that a drunkard is not capable of? He will almost undertake every thing, and do any thing to

which he is prompted by the devil, his own heart, and cup-companions. Have not the greatest of crimes been perpetrated by men in a state of intoxication? even good men themselves, when overcome by this vice, have been guilty of most attrocious crimes: witness Noah, who, by making too free with the juice of the grape, became intoxicated, and exposed his nakedness, Gen. ix. 20---22. And just Lot, the favourite of heaven, but a little before delivered from the destruction of Sodom, fell into the sin of drunkenness, and committed incest with his two daughters, Gen. xix. 33---36.

It is likewise supposed by some, which supposition is not improbable, if we compare Levit. x. 1. with 9. that Nadab and Abihu, through drinking, offered strange fire before the Lord, for which he destroyed them. An awful warning this to all in clerical orders who indulge this vice; for although they may not suffer the marks of divine vengeance in this life, as Nadab and Abihu did by external fire; yet, without repentance, such cannot expect to escape eternal fire.

This vice, however odious in other men, is doubly so in those who minister in holy things. Let such know, their Master, whose ambassadors they profess to be, is a jealous God; and, if grace prevent not, will visit that iniquity upon them, and rank such shepherds at last among the goats.

What noise is this? I am all in a surprise! a great concourse of people run this way from yonder village, screaming and making a clamorous noise, and one a little before the rest entirely naked.

I am all in a consternation! whether to stand or run, I am equally uncertain.---The crowd approaches rapidly. Ah! now I perceive the meaning of this phenomenon: it is a madman, who has broken from his cell, and is running directly towards the river. The screams which I hear are from the crowd, who are alarmed for his safety.

Now they seize him, and are bearing him back to his gloomy abode. Poor man! his case is very deplorable. How thankful ought all to be for nature's best gift, Reason, and the use thereof!

But what was I meditating on at the time of this alarm? It was drunkenness: And what else is a drunk man but a madman? made so, not by a sinless infirmity, but by his own inclination.

Unaccountable depravity this indeed! that man, who was created after the image of God, and endowed with reason in all its purity, should take pleasure in depriving himself of that little remains of it which the fall hath left, and making himself mad with his own hand!

Did I pity the poor man that is just now carried back to his cell? this man's case is much more deplorable: A drunkard is not only the grief of his family, the bane of society, the devil's drudge, and a destruction to himself, but the open enemy of God; and one, if grace prevent not, who will be made to drink of the cup of God's indignation at last, Psal. lxxv. 8. Rev. xiv. 10,

If the drunkards in Joel's time were called to awake, weep, and howl, because of the new wine's being cut off from their mouths, Joel i. 5., much more reason have they to

awake, and weep, and howl, when they hear from the word of inspiration, which is irrevocable, and more firm than the basis of hea ven and earth, that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven, 1 Cor. vi, 10.

This angler, who, a little ago, alarmed as well as myself, had left his amusement, is now returned to pursue his sport, but in a different manner; having taken off the bait, he fishes with a light coloured gaudy fly,

With a hook of this kind, even pride, the devil fished in paradise, whereby he caught our first parents, by holding out to our mo ther Eve the great endowments, all comprehensive knowledge and excellence to which she would attain by eating of the forbidden fruit. She, believing the serpent, ambitious to be thus ennobled, swallowed the hook, by eating the prohibited fruit, and thereby was not only caught herself, but also assisted Satan in catching her husband, by which an estate of sin and misery was entailed upon them and all their posterity.

And with this hook of pride, the old serpent hath been constantly fishing ever since