"fake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of

their terror, neither be ye troubled; but "fanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts, "and be ready always to give an answer to

every man that afketh you a reafon of "the hope that is in you, with meekness and "fear, having a good confcience that, whereas they fpeak evil of you as of evil doers,

they may be ashamed who falfely accufe

your good converfation in CHRIST." Suppofing fevere trials and fufferings; the effect of the unyielding and eminent goodness of true Chriftians, is a third time exhibited by him in this exhortation, "Beloved, think "it not ftrange concerning the fiery trial "which is to try you, as though fome "ftrange thing happened unto you: but re

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joice in as much as ye are partakers of "CHRIST'S fufferings, that when his glory “shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of CHRIST happy are ye, for the fpirit of glory and of GOD refteth upon you on their part he is evil fpoken of, "but on your part he is glorified.--If any

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man fuffer as a Chriftian, let him not be "afhamed, but let him glorify GoD in this "behalf.

"behalf." St. Paul thus addreffes the fervants and flaves who believed in CHRIST, or rather directs Timothy to exhort them, "Let as many fervants as are under the yoke, "count their own mafters worthy of all ho

nour, that the name of GOD and his doc"trine be not blafphemed." Similar is his direction to Titus, "Exhort fervants to be. “obedient unto their own masters, and to. please them well in all things, not answering again; not purloining, but shewing "all good fidelity; that they may adorn the "doctrine of GOD our Saviour in all things.", I turn you again to the epiftle of St. Peter, and his commendation of female excellence, "Ye wives be in fubjection to your own

husbands, that if any obey not the word,

they also may without the word be won by "the converfation of the wives, while they "behold your chafte converfation, coupled "with fear :-adorned with the ornament of "a meek and quiet fpirit, which is in the 'fight of GOD of great price." In these paflages, you perceive that none are exempted from contributing to the counteracting of the influence of irreligion, and the forwarding of the interests of the Gospel. Slaves Dd 2 and

and fervants, and females, are directed and encouraged in promoting these objects, tho' their opportunities and talents, and exertions, are not generally the most favourable: You yourselves feel the inference and join with us, how much more are they required to exert themselves, whofe opportunities are more frequent and favourable, whofe talents are more confpicuous, whofe exertions therefore are more fuccefsful?

CONSIDER what we fay: And the LORD give you understanding in all things! Amen.

SER

SERMON VI.

INFIDELS AN UNTOWARD GENERATION.

[Preached December 1795.]

ACTS, ii. 14.

-Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

A SUPERFICIAL obferver of the works of GOD, and of the conduct of divine providence, finds nothing to excite his admiration, esteem and love, and fometimes he imagines that he meets with imperfection and irregularity, where another difcovers defign and goodness, and the highest reafon to magnify the omnipotent Creator and wife Governor of the world. From reading or hearing the word of God, also, men return with very different fentiments. Nature and Providence abound in great and fignal characters and manifeftations of Deity: fo does revelation: "he that “runs” to use a fcriptural phrase, 66 may "read." Some of the works of GoD, fome of the difpenfations of Providence, and fome portions

portions of the holy Scriptures, require a clofer and more accurate infpection and examination; but abundantly reward all our pains and ftudy, by the fatisfying and increasing evidences of a divine original. Of this fort the facred hiftories afford us many inftances. How artlefs and unadorned are the Gofpels, and the Acts of the Apoftles! Truth cannot exprefs herself in a more unfufpicious manner. No anxiety is expreffed by the Evangelifts, as to obtaining the belief of their hearers or readers: they do not select and record what is favourable to themfelves; they do not conceal, or palliate, or disguise, their own imperfections. The events published and recorded; the period in which they took place; the times and circumftances in which the apoftles declared them, openly, before friends and enemies; the reception of their preaching; the effects of it upon the world, -muft make a deep impreflion on an attentive reader. No reafonable or confiftent explanation of them can be given but this, "These men speak forth the words of truth "and fobernefs: they are the fervants of "the Moft High GOD." The most artful and deep fcheming politician, the most in

ventive