conversation with natives,-owing to their fufpicion, or perhaps conviction, that there is no. thing to be extracted from the converfation of young itinerants, worth the trouble of their bad language,--or the interruption of their vifits. The pain on these occafions is usually reciprocal; the confequence of which is, that the disappointed youth seeks an easier fociety; and as bad company is always ready,—and ever lying in wait, the career is foon finished; and the poor prodigal returns the fame object of pity, with the prodigal in the gofpel. SERMON VI. DEUTERONOMY vi. 20, 21. And when thy fon afketh thee in time to come, faying, What mean the testimonies, and the ftatutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? then thou fhalt fay unto thy fon, We were Pharoah's bondjmen in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Τ HESE are the words which Mofes left as a ftanding anfwer for the children of Ifrael to give their pofterity, who in time to come might become ignorant or unmindful of the many and great mercies, which God had vouchfafed to their forefathers; all which had terminated in that one of their deliverance out of bondage. Though they were directed to speak in this manner, each man to his fon, yet one cannot fuppofe, that the direction fhould be necessary for the next generation,- for the children of those who had been eye-witneffes of God's Providences: it does not seem likely that any of them should arrive to that age of reafoning, which would put them upon asking the fuppofed question, and not be, long before hand, inftructed in the answer. Every parent would tell his child the hardships of his captivity, and the amazing particulars of his deliverance: the ftory was fo uncommon,-fo full of wonder,and withal, the recital of it would ever be a matter of such transport, it could not poffibly be kept a fecret:the piety and gratitude of one generation would anticipate the curiofity of another;- -their fons would learn the story with their language. This probably might be the cafe with the first or fecond race of people, but in process of time, things might take a different turn: a long and undisturbed poffeffion of their liberties might blunt the fenfe of thofe providences of God, which had procured them, and fet the rememberance of all his mercies, at too great a distance from their hearts. After they had for fome years been eafed of every real burden, an excess of freedom might make them restless |