but the turn or temper of the present age is peculiarly in favour of Infidelity. In much the same manner as in former ages men were violently attached to a persecuting superstition, they are now verging to the opposite extreme, and are in danger of throwing off all religion. Our temptations and those which will attend our posterity after us, are likely, therefore, to be widely different from what they have hitherto been. Hitherto, nominal Christianity has been no reproach; but reproach has attached itself to the other side. The case, in this respect, may soon be altered. Men grow bold in avowing their contempt of Christianity; and many among the dissipated part of the youth are following their example. Now, if characters of this description should spring up in sufficient numbers, not only to keep each other in countenance, but to turn the tide of reproach against Christians, as a company of wrongheaded enthusiasts, we shall soon see which side the mass of mankind will take. Their characters being loose and profligate, they have long felt themselves condemned by the gospel; and this is a matter that does not sit very easy upon them. Nothing has kept them from rejecting it before, but the disgrace that would follow upon their becoming open Infidels: whenever, therefore, this disgrace shall be removed, we may expect them to go off in great companies. The slightest observation of human nature must convince us, that the greater part of mankind, even in religious matters, are governed by fashion : they go with the course of this world. So great an influence has the tide of public opinion upon them, that even where it is not altogether agreeable to their own views and inclinations, they are, nevertheless, frequently carried away by it but if it be thus where public opinion and private inclination are at variance, it must of course, be much more so in those cases wherein they are agreed. This will be like a union of the wind and tide; and the vessel which is carried along by such a joint influence, can scarcely have any thing left to impede its

progress.

The great influence which a certain popular pamphlet has had upon men's minds, is not so much owing to the work itself, (though it possesses all the agreeableness to a depraved heart

which wit and malignity can give it,) as to the bias of the present generation in favour of the principles which it contains. Of this the author himself seems to have been sufficiently aware, by the title which he has thought proper to give his performance-The Age of Reason.

It is not unlikely, that almost all our religious controversies will soon be reduced to one, upon which the great body of men will divide. Is Christianity true or false? Is there a God? Is there a heaven and a hell? or is it all a fiction? Agitated by these important questions, the greater part of the inhabitants of Europe, and, perhaps, of America, including our own posterity, may rank either as real Christians, or as open Infidels.

What shall we say to these things? Ought they to depress us? We ought, undoubtedly, to feel for the welfare of men's souls, and cannot but feel for those who are more intimately connected with us: but, upon any other principle, I know not that they ought to have any such effect upon us. God is upon his throne: his church is upon a rock whatever hour of temptation may be coming upon the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth, those who hold fast the word of his patience will be kept through it.—All things work together for good to them that love God. With these views Christians may rejoice, and rejoice always.

While we rejoice, however, we must rejoice with trembling; and, while we confide in God, must be diffident of ourselves. Let us not presume on our own firmness, but put on the whole armour of God, that we may withstand in the evil day. The first thing required in this divine accoutrement is, that our loins be girt about with truth: but truth will not prove as a girdle to our loins in the day of battle, except we be deeply and intimately acquainted with it.

O ye sons and daughters of carelessness, who are called Christians, but have no root in yourselves, what aspect do these things wear towards you? The time seems drawing nigh that will prove you to be what you are! Hitherto there has been an outer-court for you, and you have worshipped in it. You have long had a form of godliness, but have been without the power. You have ranked with the friends of truth, but have never received it

in love, that you might be saved. You have kept up the profession of something that has been called Christianity, without feeling yourselves under any necessity to proceed farther: but now your outer-court will, probably, be taken away, and you will feel yourselves impelled, as it were, either to come in, and be Christians in reality, or to go out, and take your portion with the unbelieving and the abominable.

THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF REWARDS.

SERMON VI.

[Preached at the Circus, Edinburgh, Oct. 13, 1799.]

GAL. VI. 7, 8.

Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shalt of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

COMMON Subjects, my brethren, are the most important, and need to be most inculcated. We are apt to think we have heard enough of them, and can expect but little, if any farther improvement from them. But such imaginations are founded in mistake. Though, generally speaking, we assent to the important truth which is here suggested, yet there are but few of us who feel its force, or properly act under its influence.

The solemn warning here given, is not unnecessary. Perhaps, there is nothing to which depraved creatures are more addicted, though nothing be more dangerous than self deception. It is from this predilection in favour of something that shall prophesy good concerning them, that the truth is disrelished, and those doctrines