V. difciples, not in words and profeffions only, S.BR M. but in heart and in truth; taking upon us his yoke, as is added in the words immediately following the text and learning of bim who is meek and lowly in heart. Let thofe, who labour under the fenfe of remembered follies and crimes, come unto Christ with penitent difpofitions, and they fhall obtain pardon. Let those who labour under the fuffering of present, or the apprehenfion of future forrows, come unto Chrift, and they fhall receive confolation. All who are in any sense heavy laden, coming unto him, shall find rest to their fouls. BEFORE Concluding this difcourfe, there is another fet of men, not yet mentioned, to whom I muft alfo addrefs the exhortation in the text; thofe I mean who, labouring under none of the diftressful burdens of life, are furfeited of its pleasure; who labour under the burden only of languid cafe, and the load of infipid profperity. You drag, my friends, but a miferable existence. Oppreffed by no forrow, you feel vacuity and diffatisfaction within; you SER M. are often weary of life; and, in your V. fo litary hours, are difpofed to confess that all you have experienced is vanity. Wherefore fhould you any longer spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which fatisfieth not? Come to the waters which are now offered to you, and drink. Hear, and your fouls fall live, Retreat from the corrupting vanities of the world to Chrift, to religion, and to virtue. New fources of enjoyment fhall then be opened to you. A world yet untried fhall display itself to your view. You fhall be formed to a relifh for the quiet and innocent pleasures of piety and devotion; of friendship and good affections; of useful knowledge, and virtuous activity; of calm fociety, and feasonable retirement; pleasures of which at present you have no conception; but which, upon trial, you shall find fuperior to the trifling or turbulent amusements, in which you have hitherto paffed your days.-The true fatisfaction of the human mind is only to be found in religion and goodness; in a purified heart and a virtuous life. All other plans of happiness are fallacious, and pregnant with disappoint ment. V. ment. It is only by acquainting ourselves SERM. with God that we can find peace: And those, who are weary and beavy laden now, fhall be weary and beavy laden to the end, unless they come to him who only can give them reft. SERMON VI. On LUXURY and LICENTIOUSNESS. VI. ISAIAH, V. 12. The harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feafts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither confider the operation of his hands. SERM: T appears from many paffages in the writings of this prophet, that in his days great corruption of manners had begun to take place among the people of Ifrael. Originally a fober and a religious nation, accustomed to a fimple and paftoral life, after they had enlarged their territories by conqueft, and acquired wealth by commerce, they gradually con tracted VI. tracted habits of luxury; and luxury SERM. foon introduced its ufual train of attending evils. In the hiftory of all nations, the fame circulation of manners has been found; and the age in which we live refembles, in this refpect, the ages which have gone before it. Forms of iniquity may vary; but the corrupt propenfities of men remain at all times much the fame; and revolutions from primitive fimplicity to the refinements of criminal luxury have been often exhibited on the ftage of the world. The reproof directed in the text to the Jews of that antient age will be found equally applicable to the manners of many in modern times. In difcourfing from it, I fhall firft confider the character of those who are defcribed in the text, and fhew the guilt that is involved in it.. I fhall next confider the duties which perfons of that character are fupposed to have neglected; to regard the work of the Lord, and to confider the operation of his hands. 4 I. WHEN we take into view the character pointed at in the text, it is evident that |