My defign in this difcourfe is to apply these words fo extensively as to evince the neceffity of universal piety; and the folly and danger of a partial obedience, by which men are too apt to fleep in fecurity, to the ruin of their own fouls.

The words naturally divide themfelves into three branches.

ift. An exhortation against self deceit; "Be not deceived."

2dly. The folly of fuch deceit on account of the infinite knowledge of God, who is able to detect our hypocrify, "God is not mocked." And

3dly. The certainty of future punishment for it, and that punish

ment

ment being proportioned to our difobedience, "For whatsoever a man foweth, that shall he also reap.”

:

ift. Any exhortation against self deceit, one would think would be entirely needlefs and in worldly matters we find there is no occafion for it. Men are generally fharp fighted enough to find out what makes most for their own intereft, and prudent enough to fecure it.

But what occafion there is for fuch kind advice in fpiritual concerns may be judged from St. Paul, who found it necessary to be given to the Galatians in the beginning of Chriftianity. And if we flatter ourselves, that we are both wifer in understand-"

ing and better in practising the precepts

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cepts of the gofpel, than they who. were but juft initiated into it, and have therefore less need of any fuch advice, we need not go far to undeceive ourselves. For whoever looks carefully into his own breaft, will find there many thoughts and actions vast-. ly inferior in purity and obedience. to those of the primitive times, and infinitely fhort of what is required by the gospel, and be amazed to find how fecurely and on what flender foundation he has rested in the hopes of an eternal reward.---If he looks abroad, and with the least attention confiders the conduct of the generality of chriftians, he will find small reason to justify their proceedings, much less to think they fland in need of no admonition, and none at all to pronounce the certainty of

their falvation. If we descend to particulars, and examine the circle of our acquaintance, it will give, no fmall concern to one of the least charity in his temper to obferve, that with all his care and caution to afsociate with none but men of virtue and sense, yet not one will be found without his faults., Abfolute, perfection indeed is not to be expected in this imperfect flate; and if a man were determined to converse with none but perfect men, then must he needs go out of the world: the cafe indeed is far otherwise, and this, if we have any honesty, we ought all of us to confefs and bewail with the deepest forrow and contrition, and fincere refolutions of amendment. But how widely different is the univerfal practice of the world! What pains

pains do finful mortals take by palliation, extenuation, or recrimination, to deceive themselves and others?

It is fcarce to be thought that any one can be fo abandoned as to commit fin merely for the fake of sinning, without endeavouring to reconcile it to his confcience, or to make it appear less finful than it really is. The contrary to this we

find to be true in fact.

Hence I am inclined to think that the plea of the drunkard may be true at firft; that he might be firft induced to frequent houses of public entertainment on account of the good company he expected to meet there ; but fill this fame plea can never be admitted when the rational pieasure

of