IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TAPGET (MT-3) i.O If "^ N^ I.I 1.25 •a 1^ ||||_22 If m '""— ^ U& 12.0 u ^ 1.6 % r. >'^^5s»> "^'/W m /A Hiotograpnic Sciences Coiporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WItSTIR.NY 14580 (716) •7a-4SC3 4\ %:^ <> [V <^ . ' signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN". Maps, plataa, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one axpoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa required. The following diagrama illustrattt tha method: Laa cartaa. planchae. tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre I'mAs A dee taux de rMuction diffirents. Lorsque ie document est trop grand pour dtra reproduit en nn saul cliche, il est film* k partir da I'angia sup4rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bes. en prenant le i ombre d'Imagee nicassaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 % % [^ . s C>n ]? ;.v Reftc So( Pai Pli 1 H 1 S E R M O N, On the Duty of attending the Public , ,WorIhip of GOD. Preached at Digby ia Nova-Scotia|^ APRIL 19th, 1789. ^ ■I I' 1 '( By R O .G E R V I E T S, Reftorof Dtgby, and MifTionary from the venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gofpei in foreign Parts. HARTFORDf Piifltcd by HUDSON and G O O D W I !>% M.DCC.LXXXIX« T O THE RIGHT REVEREND^ ^JVUM.MJ SJf§£SJ. 0). 3). THE LEARNED, THE PIOUS, THE RESPECTED, " AND RESPECTABLE Jounoh off Jy ovci'C/cotici , ^c, ^c. Sec THESE DISCOURSES ARE, WITH ALL SUBMISSION, GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION, DEDICATED, BY HIS MOST DUTIFUL SON, ^n AND B X 54 \ *" MOST OBEDIENT, •1/5 HUMBLE SERVANT, ROGER VIETS. V I™ — '"--Justm ywHUW.'Ti'f* V iv4^ y't'R ^tti idM m>t 9!,»^ \j;« SUM ^«*- -tl^. ♦,•<. ^M* Si's »** a^t% X,4J« '5i; ' . P \ :s. H E B R E W S, X. 25. Notforfaking the affemhling of ourjehes together. —-^ THAT there is a God, the creator and preferver of all things, is a maxim fo evident that none but fools "can deny it. It is equally evident that God is to be worfliiped by all rational creatures. But this worfliip cannot be efFeftually fupported and perpetuated without particular times and places fet a- part and devoted to that purpofc. Of this point peo- ple of all ages and religions have been fo fully con- vinced, that all without exception have had their cer- tain times and places dedicated to the ufes of public v/orfhip. The doflrines, which nature and reafon have taught all nations on this fubjeft j the true God has taught in ancient times the jewb, and in latter times the chrif- tians in a more perfect and diftinft manner, by fpecial revelation. As chriftians are bound to 'this duty by uncommon obligations; fo is the path of their duty more plainly pointed out to them. God has appointed one day in feven to be kept holy, to be dedicated to himfelf: This feventh part of time is to be employed in meditation, in reading, in religious thoughts and conveifation, in examination of our own hearts j and efpeciall in public worship, in re- forting to the church of God, to offer our united prayers and thankfgivings to Heaven, to fing praifes, to hear God's word read and preached. All nations and governments, which call thcm- felves chriftians have eftabliflied times and places for cne puohc wonnip gi ugu, vviiai i«uiciii.iiuiv 1 1 1! it07e poured out upon his people for this very fin of not 'calling upon his name in a colleftive capacity. Thi church is the proper and peculiar place, where God has appointed to meet us, and gracioiidy pro* iniied to blefs us ; the place of God's fpecial prefence, beloved and adnciired by all good men ; the place where edification is to be expected, and the beauty of holiner* to be feen j where the bounty of Heaven is diftributed, our fpiritual enemies fubdued, our faith ftrcngthened, and our eternal felicity fecured. Are all thefe ble(T:ng» and privileges to be negleded upon the moft frivolous pretencesj or upon no pretence at all ? Are fuch un*. fpeakable advantages to be defpife ' or rejedted as worthlefs toys ? Is it no crime to trample them under foot ? Howjhallwe efcape if we negleSf Jo great Jdlvationf It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, for Tyre and Sidon, for Pagans, Jews and Mahometans, at the day of judgment, than fcr chnftians, within reach of all gofpel privileges, and yet making no ufeofthem* How aggravated and tremendous will be our punilh- ment, if we, who are exalted to Heaven by privileges, (hould be thruft down to Hell, by our negledt or abufc of them ? A CONSTANT and fincere attendance on public wor» ihip, preferves and promotes religious knowledge and pradice* All that is neceiTary to be known, believed and performed in order to falvation,is taught, inculcated and often repeated both in our devotions and fermons. But ignorance and vice alway have, alway will, and inevitably muft increafe in proportion to the negleft and contempt of God's inllituted worfliip. To convince us of this, we need but look into the hiftory ofchrillen^ dom. Nay we need look no further than the hillory of our own nation ; How much has ignorance of religion, how much have the various branches of wickedncfi incrcafed, with the increafing ncgled of divine wor- (hip ! In vifiting the fick how furprifingly deficient do wc find them In fpiritual fcience ! What number of fin» burden their confcience, which many of them confefs to have arifcn from a negledl of God's public fcrvicc ! What profound ignorance of religion isdifcovered in the greater part of male^adlors fentcnccd to death ! How many of thcfe, ac the place of execution, have confcflcj " III % t-f I (12 ) that a dlfrcgard to the public duties of God's church firft led them to the vices (6 fatal to them '.And no wonder j for a perfon abfcnting from worlhip, is on fatan*sground,and invites the evil one to meet him,nor is it furprifing that, in fuch a crifis, " the devil Ihould *« enter into him, and f.W him full of all iniquities, and « bring him to deftrudlion both of body and foul.'* If any Ihould inquire why the Greeks, Romans and fome other nations of old arrived to the utmoft height of national glory and profperity, in a ftate of religious ignorance and paganifm ? It may be anfwered that they had their national religion, to v\hich they feriouQy and ftriaiy adhered : Altho' this was not the true religion, yet it was fufficient to fupport their national grandeur and profperity. Had they paid as little regard to their relicrion as we pay to ours, their national fame as well as power would have foon been humbled to the duft. Their own poets and hiftorians take notice, that their learning, power, wealth and reputation, gradually ad- vanced or declined, according as they regarded ordif- icgarded their Gods, their temples and their facrifices. They poTeffed national virtues. They were not in general effeminate, luxurious, deceitful, treacherous, fclfilh,contentious,ltupid and ungrateful. Aschrhlians (fo called) muft be, before they can defpifeand rejedl the privileges of the gofpel. Had we even the fiime national, moral, heathen virtues, of wiiich the ancient Romans were poffeflcd : Thofe virtues would greatly conduce to our national peace and profperity. But 'its rot probable that he, who is fo depraved as to throw away fuperior chriftian virtues, will ever finccrely cfpoufe inferior heather virtues. He that caftsoff the caly yoke and light burden of Chrift, will hardly aflume a yoke lb much harder, a burtlen fo much heavier. *< But many, who are eftecmed fobrr, honeft people «« do not retort to the houfe of prayer,'* M ...ANl' i'Cl/piC, WiU; tiiivv IS5.J- JT ':g,-jii -XX. •.-.'."■.T.j t;--j fupport a go..d character in thir vorld for a few years by a plauHblc appearance, and may behave rhemfelves as good neighbours and wUDlefome members of faciciy. :hiirch ind no , is on , nor is ihould :s, and ns and height ligious at they Qy and :ligion, andeur their as well le duft, at their illy ad- i ordif- :rifices. ere not her^us, irlftiana ,d reie6t he fame ancient greatly But 'its :o throw Inccrely s off the r afl'ume ter. [t peoole ^= •' '= V ew years emfelvcs ffociciy. Self-intereft a'.one will induce a prudcnr. man to con- dudl himfelf with fobriety, juftice and kindneii, be- cauP^ fuch condud will gain the good opinion, con- fidence and benevolence of the world j but if a man had faith or confcience as a grain of muftard-iecd, it would impel him to the firit and mod obvious aft of duty, to pay homage to his maker, preferver, redeemer, fandifier. How can he be called a good man in the eye of an holy, heart-fearching God, who lives in the fteady, voluntiry negkifc of a great and plain duty ? The worlhip of God is fo great a duty, that no-^e can be efteemed greater, fo plain, that none can be eftccmed plainer. r i • • How glaring is the abfurdity of doing that, of which we exped hereafter bitterly to repent ! Who can har- bour the lead doubt that he will in fome future time moll fincerelv and deeply repent of his robbing God of the homa,^e due to him, and peremptorily required by him ? Look forward to tht interefting period of a death bed i let me ferioudy afk you whether you imagine that you '(hall in the extremity of ficknefs and the hour of death, rejoice that you have defpifed God's worlhip, contemptuoufly rejeaed the means of grace and the hopes of falvation, difdainfully trampled on divine in- ftitutions, fold your chriftian birthright for the divcr- fions, follies and vices of an idle, wicked world ? For brevity's fake I will omit thofc many places in . God's word, where this duty is mentioned with all the force of perluafion ; where the oppofitc tranfgreflion is rebuked with all figns of iheAlmighty's difplcafure ; and will adduce two or three familiar allufions, not foreign to my dcfign. Supposing a kind and gracious father (houk invite fnd command his numerous offspring to meet him at his houfe, once in I'even days to demonftrate their af- fedion and regard for him : One half the number meet according to the paternal injundion, tlic other half necr^lefsly and wantonly abfent themfelves. What would be thought of the abfent half ? would not tJicy 'b« eitccmcd filaringly deficient in point of filial duty? 1 ! Supposing a greac and good prince in a tour thro* his own dominions, (hould fend a melFage to a partis cular city appointing a time and place in that city, to meet all the citizens, with an earneftdefire and com- mand that ail the inhabitants would appear to fliew their homage and refpecSt io him. One quarter of them appear according to his appointment ; the other three quarters fpend the day in idlenefs or wickednefs ; fre- quent public houfes and vain company j fome faunter^ ing about the houfe, wherein the prince is giving a gracious audience; woulu noc all judicious people cry out that this delinquent part of the citizens were crimii- nally deficient in complaifance as well as loyalty ? Once more, fuppofing a gracious king had at the expence of his own life delivered his country from the greateft mifery and flavei y, and procured for them the moft perfea liberty and happinefs ; and defired them, as his laft and dying requeft, or rather injunction that they would once in feven days meet together to cele« brate the benefits purchafed; and three times in every year hold a feaft to commemorate his death. What would be thought of fuch as negledled and defpifed not only the feaft, but the weekly afTembly ? would they not be juftly deemed unworthy of all benefits t According to the common method of God's deal- ings ; a country, that falls into a general negleft of gofpel worfliip and facraments, muft cxpeft to be de- prived of the bleiTed gofpel itfclf j and to fall into pagan darknefs, or mahometan abfurdity. To fome people this may appear no great calamity ; But by vvreti h, cd experience they may find themfelves grofsly miftak* en, Altho* fomc nations, who never embraced chrif- tianity, have been great and happy in their national capacity, what nation, which was once chrillian, and afterwards rejeded chridianity, has long fupported her national dignity, knowlege or credit? The lofsof chriftianity always has been and probably, always will be attended with the lofs of arts and Ibienccs, good government, liberty, comn^rce, power and influence, I- 01 the molt^mplcjprogfofthi^ iUlegaiioni look in w - p iiiii itia ii i riir iif I f H ) the ancient and prefent (late of thofe people, who firft embraced the chriftian religion. There chrifVianity once flourifhed, in the utnnoft purity and fplendor : But with the lofs of gofpel privileges, they have loft almoft every other privilege worth the defire of a rational creature. Our obligations to wait upon God in his houfe, a**e as ftrong as thofe of the ancient Hebrews, our motives are much ftronger. We ^nd the moft pofitive injunc- tions laid on thttHy to attend on the times, places and ceremonies prefcribed to them j but in a more efpccial manner three great annual feftivals were appointed, and a command given in thcfe words, three times in the year all thy males Jfj all appear before the Lord God. And he that did not appear, even the fame foul Jhall be cut off from bis people. When tha: nation be- came very corrupt, they fell into anegledt of the pub* lie fervices due to Heaven j at which God declares hh juft indignation by his prophet Malachi. fFill a man rob God ? yet ye have robbed me : But ye fa^^ wherein have we robbed thee ? In tithes and offerings, Te ar€ cur/ed with a curfe^for ye have robbed me ^ even this wkok fiction. Yet in particular cafes there may be fufficient and reafonablc caufes for not attending on public worfhip. If our refidence be at a very great diftance from pub- lic worlhip,or from fuch public worfhip as we can with a fafe confcience partake of, or attend— If we are de- tained by ficknels, lamenefs, old age or other fimilar calamities — If we are unavoidably withholden by bufi- nefs of necefTity or charity — if the weather be extreme- ly fevere and we too old or feeble to endure it with comfort and fafety — Thofe circumftances and fome others may be admitted as fufficient excufcs. Every- one's confcience (if he be a man of confcience) is the beft judgey whether his excufe be fufficient. But he muft carefully examine whether the fame caufes would detain liim frnm /^w-f)/;*'/// hn finer*; of crreaf nrnfif ? AVh^- ther hr would not, under the fame difadvantages, travel as far and cake as much pains to gain fome great world- % I i i6 ) ly advantage, as would be requifite to attend on God in the public affembly of his faints ? When you are thus nccefl'irily deprived of the plea- fures and privileges of God's houfc ; let nnc bcfecch you to expend the Lord's day, in the moft fuitable, folemn, edifying employment poflible ; in reading, meditation, prayer, holy convcrfation, and initrudion of your fa- milies. Likewife I earneftly recommend and prefs upon you, the fame godly excrcifes to be performed before and after public divine fervice, upon fuch days as you can and do give public attendance. Prepara- tion is very needful and very expedient to the worlhip- pingGod acceptably in his houfc. And when we de- part from God's houfc very much inftrudedand edified, our good imprcnions will be loft or very much impair- ed by going dircdly from the houfc of God into vain, not to fay diflblute and profane company. But the abufe of the mornings, noons and evenings of Lord's days is in part obviated by the late excellent inftitutionof Sunday fchools, for theeltablilhment and fupport of which wc are very much indebted to the piety and aflfiduity of our worthy Prelate, who is never weary in well-doing. Thus have I with a pure and earneft zeal for the honor and worlhip of God,and with plainnefsof fpeech, without refpedt ofperfons or parties, reprefented as fully as the length of a common difcourfe would admit, the folly, fin and danger of defpifing and negleding the worlhipof the true and living God. If I have given ofrence to any one, I am fo.ry, it being far from my intention j having faid nothing more than was necefl^a- ry to the difcharge of my public duty. If 1 ftiall have reformed even one pcrfon, it will give me great joy in this life and I hope will add to my eternal felicity. If all that I have faid Ihould be ridiculed or dcfpifcd (which God forbid) ftill I meekly hope that I have evculnated m.yfelf to my great divine mafter, and Ihall (land acquitted ot the awful gtiilt of fouls loft by my rcmifsnels in warning them of their peril. In all that 1 have faid, 1 have kept an attentive eye upon that di* )n God le plea- rch you folemn, ication, rour fa- d prefs rformcd ch days *repara- srorlhip- we de- edified, impair- to vain, ivenings xccUent lent and :d to the I is never ,1 for the f fpeech, \ as fully nmit, the iVing the ^e given from my i neceflfa- lail have rat joy in :ity. ' dcfpifcd at I have and IhaU >ft by my i all that , chat di- ( '7 ) vine injunction : Son of Man, I have made thee a watch'" man unfo the houje ofljrael j therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me. fVhen I fay unto the wicked, thou floaltfurely die j and thou giveft him not ttarning, nor fpeakejl to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to fave his life-, the fame wicked man Jhall die in his iniquity j but his blood will I require at thine hand. Tet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickidrtfs, nor from his -ntncked way ; he fhall die in his iniquity, but thou haft delivered thyfouL Having faid fo much of the wickednefs and hazard of withholding the homage due to our heavenly father : It is proper to fay a few words by way of juftpraife and encouragement of thofe, who give conftant and devout attendance on divine fervice. Altho' the honor of God and the falvation of your fouls ought to be, and I hope are your primary motives in frequenting tlie houfe of prayer; yet many other benefits flow from this laudable, edifying duty. The church of God, the minifters of the gofpel and the civil government are indebted to you, as the prncipal means (under God) of their (lability and profperity. Your example will fliine as the fun in the firmament — Gene- rations yet unborn will arife up and call you blejfed^-^ When your bodies (hall be laid in the filent grave and mixed with their kindred clay, as they will fhortly be ; the influence of your example will do unfpeakable fervice to the caufe of religion. Thofe who are now expending their time in idlenefs or finfulnefs or ridicul- ing the worlhip and woi(hippers of God, will foon be taught by a death bed, or by future mifery to wi(h that they might die the death of the righteous, and their laft end might be like yours ! Atheists, deifts and abandoned finncrs reprefcnt all worOiip of God to be mere pretence and hypocrify : How abfurd as well as malevolent is this rcHedlion ! To judge a perfon's htart to be evil and deceitful, be- caufe his actions are good, if thole who feriouily pay due homage to God,are to be efteemed wicked hypocrites i si i i I ( 18 ) 5vhat fliall we think of thofe who caft off fear, and reftmin prayer before God. With a conftant view to the honor of God, and the command of God, proceed, perfeverc and profper in the bufinefa of holy worfhip, a buiinefs moft worthy of our nature, moft acceptable to our God and moft profitable to ourfclves. A bufinefs that will afford the unfpeak- ablc fatisfadion of a good confcience, to comfort you in your Ihort journey thro' this life, till you arrive at the place, where worftiip will be your whole employment, and the pleafures ofthis employment will be improved^, increafed and made perfed. Fear not little flofki for it is your father* s good pleafure to give you the kingdom, A fpiritual, invifiblc kingdom, confifting of an approving confcience in this life, and perfed felicity in the life to come j a kingdom infinitely more valuable than all the empires and dominions of this tranfitory world. Such as will not come to the houfe of God, to join in prayers with their fpiritual guide, to receive his in- ftruftions, orfubmitto his admonitions; fuch can re- ceive no advantage from him ; at leaft from his pub- lic adminiftrations, tho' he were a moft levirned, able, faithful and exemplary man of God. But of you my dear, fpiritual children, / am ferfuaded better things^ and things that accompany falvation. I hope at the laft dav to prefent you (wafhcd in the blood of Chrift) holy and without blemijh to the great Judge, not having fpot erwrinklCi •r any fuch thing. For what is our hope 3 or jofy or crown of rejoicing? /^re not even ye, in the pre^ fence of our Lord Jefus Chrift , at his coming ? \ P "H-^M 4* »> h*S *i£ V^ tlf "ii* "i^ "ii^ -*•■- ^ ^^ ^ M»X 5^K XtJ5 *fX »<»^ *'» "•« "** "♦« *'* * A SERMON, On Cenforioufn^fs and Evil Speaking. Preached at Digby, in Nova Scotia, O^ober 26, 178S» EXODUS, XX. 16. ^houjhalt not bear falfe witnefs againji thy neighbour. THESE words not only forbid giving falfc tcfti- mony, before a court of juftice, under the folem- nity of an oath; but all falfehood, evilfpeaking and flanderous accufations of our neighbour. We may be faid to bear falfe witnefs, tho' fuch witncfs is not ratified by an oath. Our text forbids the inventing and fprcading a falfe or degrading report-— encouraging and being pleafed with fuch report— liftcning to defainers and wilhing fuccefs to defamation. The command implies an injundion upon us to contradict all flandcr which we hear, to reprove every derogatory tale, whene- ver it can be done fafely, properly and to good purpofe. The general inclination to this malignant pradice j the common cuftom of blackening our neighbour's reputation, is fo plainly to be difcovered, and is fo univerfaiiy acknowleged, ihac it would be uielefs and ridiculous to undertake to prove fuch propcnfity. There is no vice fo generally practiced, by fuch as arccfteemed good people in the general courfc of tiieir conduft* as < I L\ '^ ( 20 ) this vice of calumny and backbiting. This, doubtlefs, arjfes from not confidering the deep guilt, the malignant nature, and the pernicious confequencesof the crime. ** But our neighbour labours under a grevious, *' dangerous error, and it is our duty to extricate him. *' He is fallen into a very wicked habit, and i: is our ** duty to reclaim him j how are thefe things to be <* done ?" Not by vilifying and reviling him in his ab- fence, or taking a malicious pleafure in illuftrating and magnifying every miftake and foible. On the con- trary, we ought in the moft tender and agreeable manner to fet his error and his Cm, in the plaineft light, before .him, for his inftru6lion and reformation. Were this ad- vice confcientiouQy followed, many errors would be re6lified, many vices would be reformed. But the greater part of fcandal and bad reports are not founded on real errors and vices — they are founded on envy and ill-will J originating from the invention offueh as arc wife to do evil j and propagated by the inftigations of a wicked heart, a cruel temper, the tongue of falfehood ; and a total reverie of that charity, which the gofpel injoins. Were it from any laudable motive, or with any good defign that people are fo very much addided to exclaim againft each other; were it with intention to confute error or deftroy vice ; their condud would be more tolerable, more excufable. Were backbiters and de- famers in general fearers of God, haters of fin, and lovers of the human race, were their motives lauda- ble, virtuous or innocent ; altho' they could not be juftified ; ftill their fin would be much paUiated. But the true caufes, the real motives of this fordid, pernicious VIC*, being confidered, will aggravate the crime, and give it a deeper colour of guilt. Thefe motives and caufes I will now proceed to confidcr. The firfl, which I fliall mention is careleflhefs and inconfiucraiion. There may beobferved in many peo- ple a dangerous habit of thinking little and fpeaking much, of indilcreet tattling, void of caution and circum- fpcdion. This indeed is the beft cxcufe that can be ■Il ibtlefs, ignanc ime. ivious, te him. is our 5 to be his ab- ng and ic con- Tianner before :his ad- uld be Jut the ounded ivy and 1 as are tions of 'ehood ; J gofpel ly good exclaim confute le more and de- in, and s> lauda- not be d. But rnicious ne, and ives and hefs and tiny pco- fpcaking circum- at can be made for (landeringjdifparagingand afperfing our neigh- bour. And I have fuch charity for mankind, that I muft think that this crime is often committed thouo:ht- lefsly and carelefsly, not confidering the malignity of its nature, nor the long train of ill confcqucnces procted- ing from it. Idleness is another great caufe of flander and revil- ing. The want of a lawful occupation, or want of diligence in our calling is the fource of more kinds of wickednefs than are eaCily defcribed — Idlencfs is the mother of vice — By doing nothing wc learn no ill — If we find no employment for ourklves, fatan will find employment- for us — An idle pcrfon cannot long re- main innocent. 'Tis not the dcfign of providence that either the mind or body of man Ihould be idle j ac- cordingly God has fo created both the mind and bodv, that they canno!: reft content in a ftate of inaftiv i; ; they have a conftant propenfuy to employment. Hence we find that when people are noL bufied infomeufeful occupation, they naturally fall into vice and wicked- nefs ; and efpecially into that mean and wanton vice, againft which I am now fpeaking. How much better wr Id it have been for the calum- niator, that he could have refted in a ftate of total in- adtivity, than to have been employed in murdering the reputation of his brethren 1 Idlenefs itfclf is pre- ferable to the trade of wounding ourneighbours fame to the ruin of our own fouls. " The devil tempts fome men, but an idle man «' tempts the devil" was a proverbial cxpreftion of our anceftors, meaning that whilft fatan is the feducer and firft inftigator of fome men^s fins ; an idle perfon in- vites the wicked one to put him intobufinelsi to find work and diverfion for him. Hence we may plainly difcover the reafon, that the ceconomv of the world'is fuch, that conftant labour ana employ [ncnt arc ncLci» y to- nn- jvj-^tii.- •>■.■.- -i mankind. 'Tic to preferre them from finful courfes. God could have fo formed the world that man might have been fupported without labour j but in that cal'e ) I.' ' '1 ( « ) people would have run into the praftlce of many v» ces for want of better employment ; and in particular th^ odious vice of llandering and vilifying each other : con- formable to this principle it may be obferved that the pradice of reproaching and difparaging prevails in any place, in proportion to the idlenefsand (loth of the inhabitants of that place. A THIRD fource of this cdious praftice is pride. It is one property of pride and fdf-conccit to exalt itfelf i the proud man defires to appear greater than all others. But how fhall he accomplifli this ? To accomplifli it by fuperior virtues and digniiy is too laborious and difagreeable a taftj, therefore it muft be done by dif- paraging and blackening others j by infeding the charaders of other people, with the venom of fiandcr, that his own charafter may,in comparifDn appear bright and fpotlefs. Upon charaders of high ftations, of facred profelTions, and of the delicate female fiix, their attacks are the moft frequent, the moft furious, and tho moft perfevering ; becaufe the higher a rharaders rifeth, the rather is it the objed of envy j the more tender and uelicate a charaders is (like that of ^.he fair fex) the more eafily is it fullied and blafted. But in this cafe, as in many other (inful courfes, the confequence is diametrically oppofite to the intention and expedation of the offender ; for inftead of deftroy- *ng the good name of the flandered perfon ; the force of the flander recoils with double violence on the flan- derer himfelf j and if his charader was before indif- ferent, it is now odious ; if he was before defpifed he is now detefted. We may take notice of many people, who are recommended by no very fliining qualities j who are confpicuous for no great virtues ; yet by a cuftom of fpeaking well of the greater part of mankind, and fpeaking ill of but few or none, they fupport a tolerable charader in the world, and obtain a ^eneral trary, many there are, who have no glaring vices, or heinous crimes, except an habit of evil-fpeaking, yet by this fmglc vice of evil-fpeaking they have gained ! the ill full/ fi fpeakiwj pernkic Ano! temper cfpecial humor wifh il fpirit ( which ( a brigh temper SiNC mouth heart, i verfatic nefs of baneful in the i Tot tural ai tion to to the foon 6 will fi but th let hitr tian be he wil anc* ex( Env ftreama genera! Some I others tivity fuperic cannot ' v» ces liar th* : con- that the ails in I of the PRIDE. : itlelf ; others, pliih it lus and by dif- ng the lander, bright >ns, of c, their and the 1 rifeth, ler and ^x) the :s, the tendon eftroy- e force le flan- : indif- fed he Dcople, ilities 1 ; by a nkind, )port a /neral ic con- ces> or g» yet gained ! ( 23 ) the ill will of the world. This obfervatlon alone is full/ fufHcient to convince us of the expediency of fpeaki.ig well of our neighbours — of the dangerous and pernicious tendency of reviling them. Another origin of this vice is fretfulness ; a temper of peeviftinefs and ill nature. Some people, cfpeciall/ at particular times, find tliemfeives in bsd humor towards the world, and feem to be angry or to wifh ill to all mankind. Th's morofe temper, this fpirit of contradiftion, is the reverfe of that temper, which our Savior recommends, and of which he has fee a bright eiau.ple; it is very repugnant to the gofpel temper of univerfal good will and perfed benevolence. Since it is out of the abundance of the heart, that the mouth fpeaketh : fo if there be this ill temper in the heart, it will manifefl- itfelf by the language and con- verfation ; the mouth will utter fome part of the bitter* nefs of the mind ; reproachful words will follow the baneful fountain of corruption and degeneracy lodged in the foul. To the fretful and uneafy mind, the whole world na- tural and moral appears to be difordered and in oppoli- tion to him. Whereas fuch perfon fbould look only to the difordered ftate of his own mind, there he will foon fii.d the center of this perverfe appearance. He will find, that it is not the mote in his brother's eye, but the beam in his own, thatfo much diftreflfes him ; let him firft reduce himfelf to a genuine fpirit of chril- tian benevolence, peace, tranquility ?nd patience, and he will foon find lefs need of blaming his neighbours, anc* exclaiming againft the world. Envy is another fountain, from, whence the bitter ftreams of flander tiow There is among inferiors a general temper of envy and grudge againft fuperiors. Some men by higii parentage j fome by natural abilities; others by the favor of the great -, others again by ac- tivity and induftry, are railed to fuperior ftations and C^^AW.^nr. nrU*. r\*rr»rklr fni« fuperiorityi it is irkfome and vexatious to them j they cannot bear it with patience. But it ilioiud be con- ^ij' I I ir fidered that God in his infinite wifdom has found necefTary, that there fliould be fuch fubordination a- mong men for the fdfety and profperity of the whole : That one Ihould rule, and anotherobey j that one fhould be rich, another poor ; that like the members of the human body, each member of a community fhouid be fixed in his proper place afTigned by providence, and Ihould cheartully fulfil his proper duty and fundhcn, without murmuring or repining. For in the great day of retribution, the queftion will not be Co pi^rticularly infilled on, wba( part we have adted on the ftage of life, !is bow we have aded our part. Neither wili any per- fon at that awful day be condemned for poverty or mean- nefs J but many of all ranks and conditions, for not ac- ting rightly, in their proper ftate and fphere. Such thoughts as thefe, well digefted, will go a great way towards curing us cf envy, and confcquently of the opprobrious language proceeding from envy, Wc fiiall not fo much envy men in high ftations, as pity them on account of the difficult ta(k ihey have toper- form in this world, and the weighcy account they have to render at the tremendous day of judgment ! Of all caufes and occafions of flander, malice is the greatell and \Vorft. Malice is the worft property that can poffefsthe wc»rft of hearts j 'tis the mod malignant difeafeof the mind j it deftroys all peace and tranquility of confcience ; it cuts offall our hope of I'alvation j 'tis a torment to the breaft tSat harbours it, a vexation to all that are concerned with the implacable, malicious perfon j 'tis a primary charadcriftic offatan j it leads diredly to hell, and is itlelf one of the chief torments of hell. Ihis temper of the mind, bearing lo deep a colour of guilt and clelpair, is often the fource, fronn whence How fuch plentiful ftreams of falfe, abufive re- proach. If the root be foevil, what can weexoedof the branches ? If the tree be fo evil, what fruit can we exped .? if th.e fountain be fo corrupt, what can wc expert of the rivulets Howing bom it ? If malice be fo detelbble a pio[)erty of the heart, what muft be the words and converfation, tliat cxprels that malice I s found ation a- : whole : e ihould rs of the louid be nee, and un6hcn, ;reat day cicularly : of life, my per- T niean- noc ac- > a great lently of y, Wc as pity : to par- ley have :e is the rrty that alignant nquiliry on i 'tis ation to lalicious it leads orments ) deep a iff, from I five re- xuc£l of can we can wc cc be fo \ be the ej . ( ^5 ) . The virtue oo wickedneib of a<5l!ons, confitls chiefly in the inrentiun oftheinind. If then, fpeaking evil of our neighbour arifes from fpice and malice; ifdefanfi- ing him is all the harm, wc can do him with impunity; if afperfing him is all the malice, that we can with fe- curity exercife upon him ; then what muft we think of the perfon whofe principal occupation is to revile his neighbour j whofe chief rtudy is to paint men, who arc better than himfelf, in the blacked colours i who feema to make calumny and falfehood his trade ? How con- temptible mud be the heart, how guilty the foul of him, whofe greatcfl; pleafuie confifts in giving deep wounds to his neiglibour's fame ! whofe chief diverfion is to trample into the dull the merited reputation of good men / What fad, what heavy account muft fuch per- fons at lad render to the fearcher of hearts, to the God, to whom vengeance belongech ! One very melancholy confideratlon, with regard to (lander is, that many perfons fall into the pradlice of it, who are not addid:ed toother vices -, fuch as would not murder, nor rob their neighbour, nor Ileal from him, nor defraud him of his property, will make no fcruple of robbing him of his good name, that is more valua- ble than riches : This muft needs arife from want of deliberate thoughtfulnefs i as a remedy for this care- icflhefs, let them well attend to the great value of a good name j and how eafily it is loll. It is of price almoft ineftimable i but how tender ! How brittle ! How eafily, yea oftentimes how undefcrvedly loft ! Thisob- lervation is more efpecially to be applied to the fair fc;:; the weaker but the more tender and beautiful part of the human race. Many of thefe have their principal dependance on a fpotlefsname, an unfuUied reputation. Buthoweafilv is that name daubed over, with the un- tempcred morterof falfe report ! How often is that re- putation fuUied, nay irrecoverably deftroyed by the It is almull needleis to mention, that there arc fome of the male len in iVih ilaiions and profcHlonSi that the V « i4 ( 16 ) greater part of their comfort, fatisfadion, iifefulnefs and hipporr, arifes from the good opinion of mankind, from a charafter unimpeached; unfufpedVed. Such as thefe muft fuffer material injury from the lead whifper of calumny or reproach. It is hard, it is cruel, it is inalicious, it is excremely wicked, to take away the chara6ter of him, whofe chief dependence in life is up- on his character : or to rob a virtuous woman of her only dowry, an untainted reputation j efpccially ifit be obferved that fuch abufe does not at all inrich the plunderer j but makes the plundered perfon poor in- deed ! robbed of the juft wages of a life well fpent, and of a confcience void of offence. If a man's life be attacked, he commonly has fome opportunity of defence : laws defend a perfon's pro- perty : The art of medicine aflifls in fecuring health. But, alaf': ! what fccurity is there againft tlie venom of the dctrading, malicious tongue ? the wounds there- of are infii6led in the dark ; its poifon isdiffufed in- vifibly i its wicked attacks are unperceived, oftentimtfs unfufpeded j it is a peftilence, that walketh in darknefs, againft which innocence is no defence ; wifdom is no fafcguard > benevolence is no protedion j the mod ciicumfpedt cannot forefee it ; the moft prudent cannot Ihun it ; nor can the molt pious be fecure froii it. Wherefore the pfalmift cries out to God, Hide me from tht Jecret counjtl of the wickedyfrom the infurreEiion of the workers of iniquity j who whet their tongue like a fwordi and bend their hows to fioootyeven bitter words. He rcprefents then> as taking private counfcl together, as holding fccret conruitation,how they could mcftef- fedually Ihoot the arrows of detra6tion at the innocent. Altho' flandcrers and calumniators are very often themfclves people of bad charadcrs ; yet how do they receive fuch trcarmcnt of iheir own names, as they of- fer to the names of otliers ? Do they not receive it with the umnoft impatience, with tlie moll violent refent- ment r Can rhey bear with chriflian patience to be re- proviched ? Can they with manly fortirudc fuflain dif- parngcmcnr, infult or even ridicilc ? By no uicans. nefs and lankind, Such as whifper Lie], it is ,way the fe is up- i of her ally if it rich the Door in- ent, and as fonne I's pro- ; health, enom of s there- ufed in- entimt'S ark nefs, m is no he mofl: prudent ire froii Hids me irre^fion le like a WORDS. Jgether, mod ef- inoccnt. ry often do they they of- : it with I refcnt- be re- lain dif- ineans. c . 27 ) . The good man by his innocence is fupported, in the heavicft ftorm of calumny and detradion, againft the darts of malice, and the arrows of falfehood : Whild the flanderer has no fuch guard, being confcious that he is but rewarded in his own trafEck of fcandal : The darts of reproach wound him with a double (harpnefs, whetted by his own confcious guilt. With this idea, David fpeaking ofdefamers, fays, Godpalljhoot at them with an af roWyfuddenly Jhall they be wounded ; Jo thty fiall make their own tongue to fall upon themjelves. The perfon who gives himfelf up to this vice will be feared by fome, defpifed by others, hated by many and fhunned by all. Each one cannot but forefee,that he will exercifehis talent of abufe, his trade of vilifying upon HIM in his abfence, therefore will fear him. i the man of bold integrity will defpifehimi the man who is confcious of blcmiflies in his own reputation, will hate him ; and all men will avoid him as an enemy, David fiiys of the detridor and calumniator, all that Jet them fljall flee away. Those, who deal in fcandal and evil fpeaking, are conftantly watching for the backflidings, the errors and the little inadvertences of their neighbours j they are fad and melancholy wlien they can find no fuch ; they are elated with joy at the difcovery of any fuch. This is the proper bufinefs and pleafure of evil fpirits, and refembles the father of wickednefs and falfehood. But they do not reft here, for if they can find no foun- dation in truth, they will have recourfe tofirtionj and will affill each other in framing an idle tale orafalfe report. One invents afmall part, another makes fome addition ; a third adds a little more j a fourth puts a finifhing hand to it; a fifth, fixth and fcvcnih, fprcad, publifh and proclaim it to the world. / have beard the dejaming of many j fear on every Jtde : Report, Jay they and we will report it -, all my familiars watched for i i.^).: . K -•// i- -. J . f^^.l..— ^. J..,.^i-.^* /- ^ -■•/ i. «» „_ Jiiji i-'it ii ifii^ \ J Uj i liV'y'V*! ii ii' yi'C Ti iHT S H'C 'iiiiSi f/'i Ctiiii^iifiifiii TUS Jhall prevail againji him, and wejhail take our rtvengi an him. Wh£N the defamer ferloufly coufidcrs his paft ac- i ( s8 ) tions and convcrfation — when he reflefls, how much precious tinnehehas expended indifparaging and back- biting his brethren j how unprovokedly and wantonly he has debafedj degraded and vilified thofe who have done him no injury, and who are h*^ "r than himfelf : What bitter remorfe, what dtap and ' -ig melancholy mud it leave upon his mind ! What excrueiating an- guilh and flinging refledions muft torment his con- fcicnce ! If he has taken pleafurc in his malicious em- ployment, it is the meer pleafure offm, the pleafureof devils. Some vicious pleafures may be called the plealures of men j fome the pleafures of brutes, but thole of malicious, envious flandcr, are properly the pleafures of fatan and his angels, and of fouls condemn- ed to eternal pain and defpair. But how pleating is the thought, how comfortable the refledion, that we have fpokcn well of our neigh- bour, as far as truth would permit j and have fpoken no evil of him ! That we have publidied his virtues, and have by our filence concealed his errors and infirmities. If we have gone to extremes in chara6lerizing a per- fon ; it is m jch better for us, that we have rcprefented him in too favorable, than too unfavorable light i the one is the effect of charity, the other of envy or ma- lice. It ii much better to be a little blind to the foibles of our n ighbour, than to view them with eagle eyed fharpnefs ; or with uncharitable fcrutinv. Many pco- pie think every thing is to be well accept-d from them- feives, all their faults to be eafily forgiven ; whillt they are Iteadily conltruing their neijihbours woitls and ac- tions in tlie word: meaning poll'' ble : They (bain at a gnat to find an accufation againll rheir neighboiu j but fwallow a rumel to excufe or juUify themfelves : \Vhar they efteem in tlu-mfelves a venial f.;u!r, not worth v of norice ; m anotiier perlbn they eilcm an unpardonable crime: Nay in fome cafes, v.'hat they reckon in them- felves a commenJable rutue i they deem a very re- prehenfible vice in others. Let every one find fome hrvfiil and commendable employment, for the btnefit of iiimfclf and hib country j IV much d back- antonly ho have iimlelf : ancholv :ing an- lis con- )us em- afureof led the es, but ?ily the idemn- fortablc neigh- rpoken les, and mities, ; a per- t fen ted Mi the or ma- foibles ;le eyed iy pto. lUhem- illtthey and uc- ain at a Ui but : What >rthy of ionable I tlieni- 'erv It- 'ndable lunrry j ( 29 ) in fuch bufinefs let him expend his talents, and he will find but little time to canvafs the charader and con- dud: of his neighbour. Let their leifure moments be improved in exaniining their own liearts and reforming their own condudt ; not in fabricating idle tales, or fpieading falfe reports of others. I AM very fenfible, that many flanderers have never, well confidered the odious nature and baneful efFeds of their fin. Otherwife they would Itart with horror at their own conduct. Let any fober, confiderate per- fon fedately and deliberately view the man, who makes reviling, his trade, whole chief joy is to expole the real or imaginary infirmities of his fellow-creatuies ; then let him pronounce whether it is a charadtcT, in which he would be willing to appear. There is fcarce- ly a charader, at once more defpicable and more odious, than ihat of the common defamer. It appears both mean and detellable in all people, who devote themfelves to it. But there are two forts of people in whom it ap- pears uncommonly odious and indecent, viz. in people of fupeiior (tations, and in the tender female fex. With regard to the fiift of thefe defcriptionSi men of diftinguiilied wealth, dignity or influence ; it is to be hoped that there are but few fuch, who make them- felves bufy in fuch degrading employment, fo much beneath their honor, and fo repugnant to what might be cxpeded of them. But when they dcfcend to take the leat of tiie fcorner, and the occupation of the bufy mocker, the guilt appears more heinous, the pra£ticc more odious, and the mifchicf falls with double weight on the injured or mifreprefeuted party. W'E might in reafon expedl that the fair fex, by the delicacy of their nature, and the tendernefs of their own ciiaratter, would be efFedtually retiraincd fiom this fordid vice, fo glaringly unh^coming a woman. Therefore when we fee it in them, it anuears uncom- monlv imprudent, indecent and offenfivci in w^« it appeals V'icked, wanton and cruel i in wow^w it has i h ( 30 ) all thefe properties j and in addition to ibe/e 'tis in- decent and indelicate. If you are tempted to liften with pleafure to the voice of fcandal j confkler that probably in other com- pany, other people are with as much pleafure, and per- haps more jullicc liftening to hear you flandered, ridi- culed, backbitten. Do you incourage or indulge the defamer ? Confider that he will fall upon your charadter as foon as your back is turned. Perhap" you have or imagine you have innocence and difcretion to fecurc you — But no innocence is a defence againft thevene- mous darts of malice ; no difcretion is a fecurity from the laughter, of fools or thefong of the drunkard : Nor can you depend on the brittle friendship of the reviler for fecurity j he will exercife his talent and his trade, on friend and foe ; he will caft firebrands, arrows and death, and fay, " am not I in fport ?" The holy fcriptures are very pregnant with rules and inftrudlions applicable to this doctrine. Sometimes giving out the moll pointed prohibitions againft the fin of reviling our neighbour, and againft even liftcn- ing patiently to an idle tale ; fometimes commanding us to exercife all charity towards him j fometimes de- nouncing vengeance againft the tale-bearer, the back- biter and the flanderer ; and fometimes commending people of the oppofite charader. Jn the i5thpfalm, David is defcribing the man, that fhall be found wor- thy to abide in God's tabernacle, and dwell in his holjr hill i among other tilings he is one, who backbiteth not with his tongucy nor taketh up a reproach againfl bis neighbour. Indeed the places in God's word to this * purpofe are too numerous to be quoted at prefent, and too plain to bedifputedor miftaken. Praisii and commendation, encomiums and exprcf- fions of refpedl, are the greateft encouragements and iniiucements, in this world, to virtue : fiandcr is the ,j;, URiilLI iiliiiiiiLC iXaiUiCrj that has become too faftjionable, confounds all virtue and vice, and mingles them in onepromifcuous, moral chaos. Many diflblutc pcrfoas hav; been reclaimed > 'tis in- to the r com- id per- d, ridi- Ige the taradter iave or ► fecurc e vene- ty from \ : Nor reviler s trade, ws and les and letimes inft the liftcn^ landing nes de- : back- lending pfalm, id wor- lis holy feih not inft his to this nt, and exprcf- nts and r is the 1 i_- virtue , moral laimcd . { 31 ) by iindelerved praife j many virtuous people have been ruined by unmerited afperfions. If kind, refpedlful language will not reform a man, there is no profpe(5l of his being reformed by rafh cenfures, or by malicious afperfions. Collect all the weak, childifli and trifling aflions, all the whims and caprices, all the defefts and faults, all the worft principles, expreflions and deeds of the beft man in life j fet all thefe in public view, keeping all his good qualities out of fight j he will appear x monfter rather than a man. VVhat then will he ap- pear when falfehood has doubled the number of his fins and follies, when ill nature has magnified, and (lan- der has publrflied them I Let us dwell upon encomium rather than accufation. There is no man, but has fOme commendable proper- ties ; let tliefe properties be the chief fubje6t of our converfation. Liften not tofuch as view all the inad- vertences, the foibles, and the irregularities of their neighbour with the eagle eye of malevolence and pro- claim them with the trumpet tongue of fcandal, and by fuch means form a character fit for averfion and contempt : For the eye of malice is very fharp to dif- ctJver and magnify blemiflies j the tongue of flander is very loud and diligent in publifliing them. If you fee a real fault in your neighbour, tell it him in a friendly, decent manner, not with infuJtor provo- cation, not with an afliiming, haughty air ; but in the fpirit of meeknefs and chriftian love: If you perceive any thing commendable in him, cherifh and encour- age it. Listen not with pleafure or content to the tongue of fcandal ; but frown upon every idle malicious furmife, and reject it with difdain. For he that gives heed or gives crcdi: to fuch a tongue, becomes in fome degree partaker of its guilt. Let every one attend to his own proper bufinef?, and ftudy to reform himfelf, and he will fijid but little inclination or leikite to ex- claim againll the foibles of others i to make or pro- pagate falfe reports. ^! i )' ( 3^ ) A GOOD word is as eafily fpoken as a bad. *Tis as cafy to commend our neighbour, as to difparage him. Then why fliould we not fay that which is as eafily, and more truly fpoken, and much better received, thaty whiciiis more rati.sfa6lory to our own confciences ? A GOOD name is the eafieit and chea[)eft bounty, that we can beftow on our neii^hbour — If we are poor and have nothing elfe to giveiiim, we can give him a good name — If we arejult and honell, we Ihall give him the credit of his virtues — If we are charitable v\c Ihall not pubiilh his real faults-^If we have integrity, we fliall not accufe him falfcly — If Vvc are covetous and niggardly; fpeaking in his praife will coft us nothing — Are you troubled by fianderers ? Juflify them not, encourage them not by fjllovving their example — is your fame clear and unfpotted ? Provoke not others to revile you by invading /^^ir character and reputation — Is your reputation low, and your influence but fmall ? Speaking well of your fellow-creatures, will mend your reputation, and inoieafe your influence — Are you very popular, and in high credit with the world ? The habit of eviirpeaking will fink your credit, and lelTen your popularity. A COMMON defamer declares war againft mankind ; he fets himfelf uj) a common enemy to his fellow- creatures ; and makes it the intereft of the world to be his adverfaries ; and he will find to his forrow, that the world v/ill never have fo much of a gofpel-fpirir, as to love, or even forgive its enemies. Wpient we ferioufly confider all thefe things, we fliall bitterly lament the general propenfity of maukind, and even of chriftians to this vice ; and fliall tremble. at our own offences of this kinJ. We fliall bewail -^c depravity of the world, which appears in tliis pra(5tice, more perhaps than in any other : xA-nd {"hall with molt unfeigned forrow, with the deepeft anguilh lament our own guilt in this cruel, fordid, heinous vice. To evince h'ow mifchievous, how ungovernable a member the tongue is, attend to the inf[)ired def- er iptiuii of St. James. '■The tcnguf u a little tmmber^ 'Tis as ge him. s eafily, d, tbaty rs? bounty, ire poor ive hi in all give able v\c jrit/jwe ous and nothing lem not, pie — is : others Dotation t imall ? nd your ou very le habic 'en your mkind ; fellow- Id to be that the r, as to ( 33 ) and hoajieth great things ; behold bow great a matter a Utile fire klndltth I Arid the tongue is a fin, a world of iniquity j Jo is the tongue amongft our members, that it defiLeth the zvhole body, and Jetteth on fire the courje of nature j and it is Jet on fire of Hell, tor every kind of heafts,and of birds, and ofjerpcnts, and of things in the fea^ is tamed, ayid hath been tamed of mankind : But the tongue can no man tame -, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poijon : therewith blejs we God, even the father ; and therewitb curfe we men^ which are made after the fimili^ ti:de of God, Out of the fame mouth procedeth blejfmg and curjmg. Let us confider tl»e pradice of flander and railing, as it really is, a fin of a very deep dye ; highly ofFenfive to God, and ftri<5tly forbidden by him j a crime dia- metrically oppofite to the gofpel of Jefus Chi ift j griev- ous to the Holy Ghoft ; fubverfive of the church of Chrift } repugnant to the precepts, example and doc- trines of all the Prophets, Apoftles, Saints and Martyrs of ancient times. Let us then purge our hearts of all malice, and keep our tongues from all evilfpeaking : let our fpeech be modcft, difcrcet, holy and edifying : let us encourage and commend whatever virtue we fee in our neighbour j covering his infirmities with thac charity, which God enjoins, and the gofpel re- commends i which pleafes our Saviour, and promotes our falvation. we Hi all nd, and mbleat wail -^c jradice, ith moll lent our ^f^r/rf^ ii"^ rnable a :d (\t(' member^ J 1 Ifl ""I.!*/!''|JI A SERMON, Preached at the Funeral of Mr, WILLIAM H U G G E F O R D, Son of Doftor PETER HUGGEFORD, at Diosy, Nova-Scotia^ January yth, A. D. 1789, 2 S A M Q E L, xii. 22, 23, While the child was yet alive, I fajied and wept j for I /aid who can tell whether God will be gracious to me^ that the child may live : But now he is dead^ where- fore Jhould 1 fafi ^ Can 1 bring him back again f Ifkall go to him, but hefiall not return to me, THI are the word^ of David, upon the death of the cUild, which Bat'ilheba bare unto him : And they arc introduced, as afTigning a good reafon why he made fuch grievous lannentation for the child, whilft he was yet living, but finiilied his mourning at the child's death. Of all the eminent faints mentioned in the old tef- tauient, none appear more compaflionate, none ff em to have an heart more fufceptible of benevolence and de- votion, than king David j for which reafon he is (not- withftanding all his faults and infirmities) called the MAN AFTER God's OWN HEART ; His bitter lamenta- tion over Abfalom, and his deep anxiety at the fick- nefs of Bathlheba's child clearly demonfirate his bene» volence and tcndernefs for his children^ It •>■ \\ ^ i # ( is ) But amidft all his tendernefs and fondnefs for his children, he endeavors to confine his lamentations to the finne period with the child's life : This he does ffono a confideration that all his tears and lamentations could not in the leaft avail towards refloring the deceaf- ed infant to his natural life — that the child had but gone before him to his final home— that the deceafed could not return, but thi father mulV follow him, to the place a43pointel forall living — muftfoon enter that war, from which there is no difcharge. Since David,the illuftrious faint and fervantofGod, made this maxim, an argument for preventing violent grief and lamentation, it is "ery proper that we fhould give attention to it, and fuffer it lo have great weight with us, when we find ourfelves inclined to defpair, to difcouragement, or to extravagant grief under the chaf* tifcments of our heavenly father's hand. Mankind cannot abfolutely and univerfally rule their pafllons, fuch dS hope, fear, joy, gri'^f and the like J bui/ome controul and command of thele pafllons lies within our power, yea much more than is general- • Iv imagined. We find upon trial, that it is (to acon- fiderable degree) in our power to incrcafe or diminifh, our ' ^lief or difbelief of a propofition ; to magnify or to leflen our hope of a benefit, or fear of an evil : In like manner we find ourfelves able (beyond what is com- monly fuppofed) to increafe our joy upon profperity, and our grief under adverfity. Upon this principle I^avid undertook to regulate his mourning, to mode- rate his grief at the lofs of his fon. Heconfidered the impofllbility of bringing back his fon from the dark and filent grave : and he endeavored to let reafon pre- dominate over his pafiion, to regulate his condud by the principles of a found underlUnding : He argues with Irimfelf like a rational creature, and like a true child of God. If we under the fame affliction, imitate the bright pattern of king David, we fhall perform our duty to our God and to ourfelves -; we fn all efcape much needlefs diftrefs and unavailing vexation ; we Ihall a(5l more confident with our own reafon, more a- I s for his ations ta he does fntations e deceaf- had but deceafed him, to ^ter that t of God, g violent /e fhould It weight Hpair, to the chaf- ally rule f and the ' pafllons general- * to a con - iiminifh, ignify or evil : In t is com- rofperity, principle :o mode- iered the the dark afon pre- >nduil by le argues ke a true n, imitate •form our 11 efcape tion ; we , more a- greeable to our condition, and the dignity of ourna- ture. t 1 r f Still further to moderate our griefupon the lolsot childien ; let us be advifcd conttantly to habituate our- felves to a lerious, realizing confideration that we muft fin.lly be Operated from them— that they muft leave us, or thai wc muft leave them. The laws of nature and rtafonj the laws of ere ai ion and providence ; the lavs of fcriiture and of Heaven; all forbid that we fliould dwellin this world /revcr with our children — both parent;; and children are born to die—death is the common lot, the inevitable portion of all the human race. Death is of all things moll certain j the time WHEN is moft uncertain. If parents would duly and fteadily confider thefe truths, ihcy would be better pre- pared to refign their children to God, whenever he fends his grim mefTenger death to demand them. It not only behoves us to confider that we muft he- feperatcd from our children : but that thii feperation muft be in a fhort time at furtheft. Few and evil are the days of the longeft pilgrimage that human life can expeft. How foon do three fcoie and ten or foir fcore years pafs away 1 h(/w foon are they gone, forever gone I how qui.kly are they to be numbered among "the *' years before the flood." Should we, and the children,whic!i God hath given xjs, have our lives continued to the full extent of Me- thufelah's ^ge ; even that portion of time, compared to eternity, would be but as the fmall drop of the buck- et, as the light duft of the balance ; it would be m.ore eafily fwallowed up by eternity, than the fmalieft drop of water by the greaieft ocean. But as the cafe really is, as we find the life of man in fad to be ; the longeft time, which we can expefl to fojourn with our ti iends and children is but like a flia- dow, a vapor and a dream : let anv perfon look back thro' forty or fifty years of paft time i how faorr, vain - J ^.. -..".ll r..^U .^^^',^A rt.^rso^r ' 117 *» rp a vr \A, irli irrt^sr anu ClUULV Wiii lUi^u pcii-o?j cp^vMl » \t^,$.^^t ..i-!. j^.,nt propriety fav-— of fuih a Ipace of time, what the pro- phet fays J the glory oi Ephraim and the piofpericy of I , h ( 38 ) Ifralel j It is as the morning cloud, and as the tarly dew, that fajfith away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwma out of the floor, and as the Jmoke out of thi chimney. '' As another alleviation of our grief; let us confider that in all probability it is better for perfons, in many inltances, to be taken out of this world of fin and ♦■rou- bie in their earlier years, than to be continued in the prefent life to extreme old age. Youth has com- monly more innocence and lefs trouble than old aoe, or even the middle itage of life. . In addition to what we have already mentioned, it would be very prudent in us to obferve, that the longer our children are fpared, the more difficult will it be for ustorefign them into the hands of him. whogavethem. It is mucheufier to part from one with whom we have had but afiiort and (lender acquaintance, than from a- nother that has been a long time conneaed with us, bv the dearelt ties of friendfhip, nature and religion. The longer our own lives are fpared, the more unwilling are we to die: thelonaerour children remain in life the more bitter and affltaive is our taflc of following them to the dreary manfions of the dead. Suppofing the Itf A your deceafed fon (hofld (for your gratifica. tion) nave been lengthened thirty or forty years, yet when ihat number of years Hiouldhave expired, do vou iinagme that it would then be cafier to refign him, than vow ? would It not be much harder ? God knows J eft at what time to call us and our children to our eternal home— Our duty and our bufincfs is to fubmit to his will and his time j to be ready to obey his call j to be prepared to meet tlie awful llroke of death, whenever our great creator fends ir, and to refign our lives and all our enjoymen.. into his hands, at fuch time and in fuch merhod as he fees fit ; fully perfu ad ed that God knows What 13 beft, and that he will do, what is bcft. We may repofe pcrfr^ confidence in him, whofewif. dom and jufticcarc infinite, and whofcmercv is eaual 10 iuswiiuomand hisjufticc. FuKTHiRMOKE wt iiiay turn our attention to the / ( 39 ) almoft innumerable, weighty calamities, which a deceaf- ed child efcapes by an early death. If we fum up the forrows, the temptations, the difappointments, the pains and the afflidtions, which the happieft perfon in the world fuffers, during his pilgrimage thro* this life; we fhall find the diflrefs vaftly to outweigh the felicity ; we Ihall find unfpeakably more pain than pleafure! But let us take a view of the life of the mod unhappy part of mankind—The idea of their diftreffcs, will ftnke our minds with horror— will almoft make us fick of human life and human nature. This will caufe us to cry out that « the day of our death is preferable " to the day of our birth"— That the houfe of mourn- « ing IS belter than the houfe of feafting." Could the happieft of us forefee all the future happinefs, and mifery of this life, the mifery would fo much overba- lance the happinefs, that we fhould be driven to dif- couragemenc and defpair. Whcefore our creator has wifely concealed from us the future fcenes of life; has concealed them from us, for our own benefit and contentment. Let any one ferioufiy review his paft life, with alj. Its joys and all its miferies; and then pronounce, we- ther he would choofe to live thro the fume life a Iccond time. Many people have thought, that there is not one perfon on earth, who would be defirous of fuch a repetition of his former life. Our great defire of long life originates from the moft abfurd notion, that can be imagined, fuch defire is founded on the vain opinion that fiiould we live longer, we fhould live happier than we have done in time paft— Hope, never failing hope, that dear beguiler, that conftant attendant and unfail- ing fupport of all our vain and ridiculous expeftations, accompanies us thro' our whole journey of life : and tho| we have a thouf.:nd times difcovcrcd her deceit j tho* we have ten thouland times been deceived and difappointed by her fair promifcs ; yet wc arc ftill captivated by fome new promife, we ftill are in eager purrrnt oi iomc new, fpecious phantom, which The holds up before us, always within our view, but never withr aa6tMiaawafa5a.,v iiaWf- ■—a HMfeMft*' 'iBIiAlilMkWMMyMiifaBJftwaMf ■ J -k f^ * in ( 40 ) our reach j till in our race (to fieze the airy vifion) fall Lhe into tne grave. Th^: abfurdity ofexpeding that happinels amiJft the infirmities of old age, which neither youth nor middle age could afford ; is plainly demonftraied by common lenfe and univerfal experi- ence. But notwithftanding the great troubles of this life, and the fuppofed happinels of ah early deceafe j yet both God and reafon have implanted in our nature a great defire of lifej and the muft eager wilh to preferve the iivesof our children. This inaindl and propenfity are neceffary to preferve the human race, and to prevent the depopulation of the world. Nay God has not only made it our inclination, but our llrongeft duty to do our utmoll, to preferve our own lives and the lives of our fcllow-creatures,efpecially the lives of our offspring; for they are in a fpecial manner committed to ou^- charge,and will be required at our hands. I WILL finifii my fermon by a more particular ad- drefs to thofe, who are peculiarly interefted in the lofs, under which v,t are now mourning. Permit me, wlio have more than once felt a fim- ilar ftrokc of tribulation j who have repeatedly drank of the fame bitter cup of anguilh, who therefore very well know how to inourn with you and/or you ; per- mit me to take a zealous part in your grief, to enter warmly into a fympathetic partnerlbip of your forrow ; luffcr me to mourn, with thofe that mourn. There i^ i remarkable fympathy o'Dfervable among thofe, who are interefted in the fame kind of dllrcfs ; from this fvmpathy there proceeds fume fmall degree of confolation ; this fmall confolation, with all willing- nefs, wc otfer to the affliaed, &t melan( holy parents and fi iendii of the deceafed ; to the refpcaable father, to the tender mother, who are, with the utmoft bitter- nrfs of foul, mourning for a fon, defended from reputable and fublUntial ancef^ors, a f()n beloved and ».tA.,^,,]aj^ U,, »ll ...K^ U»*Mt kirvt vuhoiip rr*niiratlOn 1*1 ununpcached, whofc memory is precious ; a faithful iind loyal fervant to his king i a true friend to his coun- << -.■»3-: vifion) pe6ling , which plainly experi- his life, fe i yet luture a preferve jpenfity prevent lot only y to do lives of 'spring; , to o uv- ular ad- the lols, t a fim- ly drank JVC very Li ; per- to enter forrow ; 5 among d.llrcfs : 1 degree willing- parents c father, ft bitter- td from wed and iration is I faithful lis coun- ( 41 ) ti*y-*-A dutiful fon to his worthy parems — ^a tender, affeftionate brother — ah agreeable companion— ^a good and wholefome member of fbcicty — who with exem- plary patience, bore a lengthy, tedious fickncfs — and ^ith uncommon fortitude met the king of terrors. It is to be hoped that this fpedtacie of mortality, will in a fpecial manner afFedl the minds of fuch as arc in the bloom and vigor of life} it may teath them the greati important lefTon " that young perfons are not ex- «* empt from the ftroke of death." Let the amiable brethren and fifters of the deceafed confider this operation of God's hand, to be a loud and near call to themj to be prepared to follow him. Let the members of the ancient, humane and bene- nevoient community to Which he belonged, confider this blow of mortality as a peculiar warning to the fra- ternity to confider themfclves as mortal j that none of their virtues, labours, improvemei. , or deeds of benevo- lence (for which they are fo noted throughout the world) can fecure them from the fatal dart of death ; that however lading the community, as fuch, may be ; yet that each individual member, is like other men of few, very few days, and ihofe days full of trouble i like an empty (hadow, or an idle dream. But the parents, the forrowful parents are the deep- ed, the fincered mourners. To them let me princi- pally addrefs my confolatory advice. Nature compels us, and God gives us leave to mourn for thofe, who were precious to us whilft living whofe death falls with the mod diftreiring agony up! on us. The death of fuch, it is natural, it is decent, ic IS even our duty to lament. It is innocent, it is lauda- ble to pay a due tribute of forrow to the memory of our dear children. But reafon tells us that all our mourning will not avail to bring them back from the filent grave : and revelation tells us not to mourn is thole, who mourn without hope. Let us then lift up the hands that hang down in dclpair, and ftrengihen the kneas, that are (ecble with F 1 w^ iJ . r 42 ) long forrow and bitter woe. We may contemplate th« bleffing which our faviourhas pronounced upon mourn-» crs, that they fhall be comforted. When we confider death in Its beneftcial part j fo far only, as it is a deljvc^ ranee from the troubles and temptations of life, we have reafon to rejoice at the death of thofe, whom we love and efteem. Such is doubtlefs the meaning of thatcxprefTion in the burial office *' we give the hearty *' thanks for that it hath pleafed thee to deliver this " our brother out of the miferies of this finful world,'' Thefc words thus underllood arc very properly, wifply and pioudy infer ted. We fliall do well to confider the numerous perils ancj miferies, the variety of pains and troubles j the (Irang temptations, the long train of evils, infirmities ^nd difeafes, which they muft have expeded in life, and from which nothing but death could exempt them ; fhen fhall we rather thank the kind hand of our heavenly father, which hath refcued them from all this com- plication of evils, dangers and temptat'ons, than dcf- pair or murmur at the dealings of God's providence. Mourning parents will find great alleviation of their diftrefs, by meditating on the bleflings ftill in their pof- fciTion, rather than upon thofe taken from them. Have you loft a wordiy fon and an amiable daughter ? yet have you not ftill remaining that capital boon of life, an agreeable confort ? Have you not a number of fons remaining, of whom, we have the greateft aflfurance, that they will fupport the dignity of your family, and do honor to your memory ? Have you not a number of daughters endued with every female virtue j reputably fupporting the cliarafler both of the maiden and con- jugal ftare? Have you not health and peace of confcicnce. and the definable, midway flation, between poverty and riches ? If we have all thcfe bleffings, let us not mur- niur at a finglelofs. ---//%' yZ;ow/t/ n living mnn complain ? After all, what can we fee in death, either fo llrange ;nr:ii =, -11.. r, ^r».j . ^-*»j iutvU as 15 g,cuvi auy iUppw Viv-a-^tt ssa ^ K n r\ nr J 'D^' or lb pa that we daily fee among our fellow-creatures ; a change, which all mankind, yea, all things living mull fufFer -, late thf Tiourn-* onfider deljvc^ ife, wc lom we ning of hearty vcr this ^orld,'* , wifply rils an4 ; ftrang es and i(j from 1 ; then eavenly s com- lan dcf- lence. of their leir pof- Have IV \ yet i of life, of fons ice, that and do nbcr of 'putably ind con- ifcicnce. erty and lot mur- mplain ? ) ll range 1 ^ K n r\ rv ** change, t fuffer i ^ ( 43 ) a change, which we always expe6t, and for which we ought always to be prepared. Death is an inftan- taneoLis paffion, as foon as he arrives, he is gone, and is fuppofed hy fome of the principal philofophers to be much greater in apprehenfion than in experience. *»BuT the fupreme coniblation of mourning parents, is the promife that their children Ihall be raifed from the grave, to life and immortality. We have a firm confidence, a fure and certain hope that God will raife this mortal part to immortality : that by his almighty power he will make our bodies, as durable as our fpirits. To the childlefs, who keep God's Sabbaths, and choofe the things that pleafe him, and take hold of his covenant, God has promifed in his houfe, and within his wails, a place and a name better than of fons and of daughters, that he will give them an everlafting name> that Ihall not be cut off. F I N J S. .|>, ■«