Page images
PDF
EPUB

and sensual pleasures impair our bodies, and drown the faculties of the foul---that chastity and conjugal affection are discountenanced by modifh gallantry---that charity itfelf is rendered fubfervient to our vices, that our time and wealth are diffipated in' gaming, and in a profufion of idle extravagant expences----that honour. is made to confift, not in the forgiving of injuries and being reconciled to an enemy; but in vindicating the wrongs done to another, and avenging ourselves by the death of a friend; and in one word, that "our converfa"tion" is not "fuch as becometh the

gospel of Chrift:" and for all these fins we cannot but acknowledge the wrath of God to be juftly due.----It were not possible, neither indeed would it be prudent, for me to extend

my

my voice to every corner of the kingdom; but you my brethren, as I am bound by particular duty and affection, "I fpare not," and earnestly exhort you to turn from them, that

[ocr errors]

26

iniquity may not be your ruin ;

knowing the terrors of the Lord,” I would perfuade you to relinquish your horrid and impious prophanenefs; earnestly to contend for the faith in oppofing infidelity; and as much as lieth in you, to live peaceably with all men :---to keep your bodies in temperance and chastity; and to imitate that perfect pattern of virtue and holiness; which that ye may all do, and be partakers of his glory, God, of his infinite mercy, grant, through the fame Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

1

SERMON II.

2 SAM. xxiv. 14.

And David faid unto Gad, I am in a great ftrait; let us fall now into the hand of the Lord (for his mercies are great) and let me not fall into the hand of man.

T is very remarkable in David,

IT

that whenever he had committed a fault, he made immediate atonement by his piety and repentance : a strong inftance of which his behaviour, is the affair of numbering the people, and as memorable an example of the mercy of God in putting an end to the punishment as foon as he saw his humiliation.

It

It would not be very edifying to spend much time in fearching out the nature and heinoufnefs of the crime which God fo feverely punished by the death of seventy thoufand men. That it was very great, may appear from the greatness of the punishment. The crime indeed feems not to consist in the act, so much as in the motive and intention: and the most probable account that can be given of it, seems to be this, that David, after a long fucceffion of victories over his enemies, prompted by vanity, or through a foolish defire of knowing his ftrength, which he efteemed to confift in the number of his men, and forgetting

[ocr errors]

that the

"Lord was his ftrength, and" that "the moft high was his redeemer,”

rafhly

rafhly proceeded to take an account of his armies, The motive was fufficiently provoking to the all-feeing God, who viewing the fecret pride of his heart, touched it in the most fenfible part, by a juft execution of his vengeance upon a finful people, and on those very armies whereon he fo foolishly depended.

In this action therefore David ftands condemned, and is accordingly punished for vanity and folly: and no one can vindicate his conduct. But his fubfequent behavi

our is most admirable.

No fooner had he received the account from his generals, but "David's heart fmote him, after that " he had numbered the people; and "David

D

« PreviousContinue »