on a true christian principle, would be influenced by the fame principle to practise all other duties as he, who can knowingly, and with his eyes open, be guilty of one fin, would not fcruple any other. We have here therefore the whole duty of man sketched out, in few words, as it relates to himself-his Creator-and his fellow-creatures. Sobriety is fometimes oppofed in fcripture to pride, and other disorders of the mind *. And fometimes it is opposed to fenfuality t. So that we may confider it as refpecting the whole government of ourselves. The duties of prayer, and watchfulness, are frequently mentioned together. St. Peter in particular, could never forget the leffon which he himself once received on that fubject. What! could you not watch with me one hour? Watch, and pray, left ye enter into temptation. Watchfulness in prayer therefore fignifies, that collected fpirit, with which we should endeavour to overcome the infirmities of nature in our inter course with the Almighty. The man who can attain this, has made a great proficiency in heavenly affections. He who can pray well, will alfo live well. His affections are well-orTITUS, ii. 6. ROMANS, xii. 8.` dered. dered. But alas! the best of men have occafion to complain of languor, and inattention on this subject; and need often be reminded of the great duty of watching unto prayer. We are next exhorted, above all. things to have fervent charity among ourselves. I do not fuppofe that the apostle meant by the expreffion above all things, to exalt charity above piety unless he meant to lay an emphasis-upon it, as the great principle, which is to lead us on from earthly love to heavenly; according to that of St. John, He who loveth not his brother, whom he hath feen; how can he love God, whom he hath not feen?-Fervent is nei ther a good word, nor a good translation.-In the first place, fervent expreffes the paffion, rather than the affection. It has too much of carnality in it; and gives us a very different idea. from the original word, which fignifies properly extended, or univerfal. Here comes in then precifely the chriftian idea. Fervent charity fhould be univerfal benevolence. THE great conclufion arifing from the whole, is, that we have here that difpofition pointed out to us, under which every good chriftian ought to live. Let the children of this world. build houses, and plant vineyards-pull down their barns, and build greater and fay to their fouls, you have much goods laid up for many years: eat, drink, and be merry. But let those, who have jufter notions of religion, confider this world as paffing away. The end of all things is at hand. Let us then be moderate in all our defires after the enjoyments of life-let us excite in ourfelves heavenly-mindednefs; and a holy communion with the Father of fpirits endeavouring, while we continue in this earthly tabernacle, to exercise our affections towards our fellow-creatures; and fo prepare and qualify our minds for that divine love, which is to be the height of our enjoyment hereafter. XXI. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. THIS was a proverbial mode of speaking among the Jews; and is used fometimes in a good, and fometimes in a bad fenfe. It is here taken in a bad fenfe; the apostle fearing left the chriftian converts at Corinth might be infected with the manners of their country, which were very profligate. In a good sense it is taken, where our Saviour compares the growth of the gospel to leaven hid in a bufhel of meal. I shall make a practical ufe therefore of both senses; and take occafion from them to fhew you, the great obligation we are all under with regard to exactness in our words, and actions, merely as far as others are concerned; because a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. No man then can answer for the effect, which the lightest impropriety in his words, or actions, may have upon another. It It may touch fome ftring in unifon with it, which might never have ftruck ftruck a note, if it had not been for this vibration. You may yourself be a ferious man, and reverence the fcriptures: but you may perhaps have fuffered fome little light parody, or inadvertent interpretation to have escaped you; which may drop a feed of infidelity in a corrupt heart. This may take root: and from it again, by a still farther femination on the minds of others, a new crop of infidelity may fpring. If your inadvertent interpretation had not given a mind, yet unformed, a wrong turn, it might have been open to fome better impreffion. Whoever attends to his own thoughts, must be fenfible what trifles often give birth to a train of thinking. Now take the word leaven in a good fenfe. The juftnefs of fome religious thought, or the beauty of fome religious action, may make an indelible impreffion on a well-difpofed mind: and, it is poffible, may give a man's life, and converfation a new turn. So many instances of this kind have happened in the world; that fome enthusiastic people have perhaps taken from hence their ideas of miraculous converfion. Confidering therefore how very liable we are to catch contagion from each other, it should ever be, as much as poffible, prefent with us, to avoid 5 |