The world, and the iniquities of them that dwell therein, demand no small share of that inoffensive wisdom here enjoined, to be a grace to our actions, as well as a guide to our fteps. It was the caution delivered by St. Paul to the Ephefians, and in them to all, "See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wife," i. e. not as the Gentiles who know not God, but as those who are instructed by the heavenly doctrine of our Saviour "redeeming the time because the days are evil."

Indeed all times are not alike evil, and there were fome particular evils, fuch as herefies and perfecutions, more incident to that early age of Christianity, wherein the Apostle wrote: Yet as our Lord obferved, "Sufficient unto the day, (i. e. every day,) is the evil thereof,”. fo there are no times wherein there is not evil enough to excite the diligence,

and

and exercife the forefight, of every confidering perfon. Even the common concerns of life are not to be carried on to any good purpose without circumfpection; the want of which will ever be attended with indigence and diftrefs. So neceffary in this fallen ftate is the care of the mind, as well as the fweat of the brow, toward a comfortable and peaceful fubfiftence. For though all anxious difquietude and repining be indeed forbidden in the gospel, as inconfiftent with the belief of a wife and good Providence; yet is prudence on man's part the likelieft means to procure a blessing on God's,

But what more particularly requires a cautious and circumfpect behaviour, is the wretched craftinefs of those, who lie in wait to deceive others into vice and error, and who are never better pleased than when they accomplish their wicked purpose; first leading them into licentiousness,

licentiousness, and then into a contempt of Religion. Which is in truth the readiest way to do their business effectually; the transition from a habit of finning to a spirit of infidelity, being of all other the most easy and natural. They who go on ftill in their wickednefs cannot choose but wish there is no God, at least no fuch God as Revelation defcribes, because they cannot but dread the effects of his displeasure. And how far men's inclinations influence their belief is very obvious in ordinary cases; most persons being apt enough to believe those things true which they have a mind should be fo. But alas! this is but a miferable way of evading the force of reason, and remorce of conscience; and fhould therefore be a warning how we affociate with wicked company, or are led away by their devices, which must neceffarily bring us fo much unhappiness at the laft. For " with the froward thou fhalt learn frowardness,"

faith Holy David: And " can a man take fire into his bofom, and not be burnt ?" faith Solomon: No more can he liften to the temptations of ungodly perfons, and preserve himself innocent.

Moreover, laftly, much religious wifdom is abfolutely requifite, in order to fecure us from the malice and ftratagems of those evil and fubtle fpirits, who by inward impulfes and fecret suggestions, are continually prompting men to fin : And that, let me obferve, fometimes and in fome places when and where they are leaft fufpected. We read that " on a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also amongst them:"And we cannot queftion his ready endeavours to corrupt even our best services, with the leaven perhaps of vanity and lukewarmnefs, hypocrify or fuperftition. Now, to elude these fpiritual enemies of our peace and falvation, whatsoever

whatfoever good thing we fet about, it behoves us to do it with a proper caution and godly fincerity: "To keep our foot," i.e. to confider whither we are going and what affections we carry along with us, "when we go to the House of God;" to offer up our prayers with a becoming devotion, and a mind free from all uncharitablenefs-to liften to the word with an attentive and honeft heart-and to receive the Bleffed Sacrament in remembrance of what our Redeemer did and fuffered for us, with all pious gratitude, holy awe, and ferious refolution. By thus performing our facred exercifes, not with the outward man only, but with the understanding alfo, we may too depend upon an increafe of wifdom from that heavenly bleffing, which God in his mercy hath annexed to a due obfervance of the means ordained by Him.

Seeing then the nature and importance

of