to countenance or join in any act of religion which his conscience condemns.

But after this, leaving all judgement of others to him to whom alone it belongs, and allowing every conscientious person that differs from us to be in as safe a way for heaven's happiness as ourselves, our constant aim and endeavour should be, to lead our lives in conformity to the precepts of Christ, of which we cannot be ignorant, and about which there can be no strife.

Let us, then, each ask ourselves, if we employ our precious time, chiefly afforded us for this great end, to acquaint ourselves with and to attend to what is of so much importance to us; and also, as far as we are able, to bring all others acquainted with them, and to live under their influence; to which a real christian benevolence would lead us.

For in the last closing scene of life which is hastening upon us all, and no one knows who shall first be summoned away, the only retrospect on our past life which will yield comfort and satisfaction, will be, that we have sincerely endeavoured to improve our respective lights, and moral and spiritual advantages, to assist and light ourselves and others in the way

way to life eternal; to do the will of our Father which is in heaven!

PRAYER.

Unto thee do we again lift up our eyes, thou that dwellest in the heavens !

We approach thee, O heavenly Father, under a full assurance of thy kindness and be nignity towards us; and that thou wouldest not enjoin us to make our requests unto thee and to ask thine assistance, unless thou didst intend to grant us every thing we ask that may be suitable and good for us.

Give us, therefore, an abiding conviction, that if we fall short of that purity and obedience which thou requirest of us, it is by our own fault; for that thou failest not any of thy creatures; but we are wanting to ourselves in our neglect of due application to thee, and of the means and powers thou vouchsafest to us.

We are bound to thank thee for that plain and clear rule of life which thou hast given us by Christ our Lord, and for laying before us such powerful and affecting motives, from our own interest and thine everlasting favour towards us, as are abundantly sufficient to set

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all

all our powers to work to fulfill thy will, and to keep us in thy holy ways.

Assist us, therefore, in this our day of preparation and trial, to lay in the seeds of those holy, benevolent, and pious dispositions, which can alone recommend us to thee, and which are to be the basis and ground-work of our future happiness and virtuous improvements throughout all time.

Raise our thoughts, we beseech thee, to nobler objects than those that are suited to the gross animal nature.

And let us not be captivated with those vanities, or the idle pomp and pageantry which a fond mistaken world admires; but teach us to love and to prefer truth and virtue, however slighted and disesteemed by others, and to value and seek after the happiness that springs from a sense of thy favour and approbation, above all earthly delights.

If difficulties and dangers arise (and difficulties and dangers will arise) in the narrow and rugged path to life through which we are to pass; shield and fortify us against them by presenting full to our minds that immortal life and glory to which they lead.

And suffer us not to entangle ourselves with

anxious

anxious unnecessary cares about the morrow, which may never come, or in making provision for it, which we may not want; but to attend to the calls of present duty, and repose ourselves on thee, our heavenly Father, for the

rest.

Finally, O Lord our God, help us to attend to the words which Jesus our great Master taught from thee; and especially to beware of going away from his sacred lessons, contented merely with our admiration and approbation of them, lest we deceive ourselves thereby; but to be earnest and diligent in copying after them, and transcribing them into our own lives, that we may be in the end approved by thee, and gain our admittance into thy heavenly and eternal kingdom, which of thine infinite undeserved goodness thou hast promised us by him!

Now unto thee, O Father, &c.

May the God of all

grace,

&c.

December 12, 1784.

SERMON