maketh a lie." Rev. xxi. 27. "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly, are his delight." Prov. xii. 22.

There is yet another sort of falsehood, often full as bad as affirming what we do not think : I mean, promising what we do not intend; or what we neglect afterwards to perform, so soon or so fully, as we ought. Whoever hath promised, hath made himself a debtor: and, unless he be punctual in his payment, commits an injustice; which in many cases may be of very pernicious consequence.

Now in order to secure this great point of speaking truth: besides considering carefully and frequently the before-mentioned evils of departing from it, we should be attentive also to moderate the quantity of our discourse, lest we fall into falsehood unawares. "For in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips, is wise." Prov. x. 19. Persons, who suffer themselves to run on heedlessly in talk, just as their present humour disposes them, or the present company will be best pleased; or who will say almost any thing, rather than say nothing, must be perpetually transgressing some of the duties comprehended under this commandment; which yet it is of the utmost importance not to transgress. For, with respect to the concerns of this world, "He that loveth life, and would see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil; and his lips, that they speak no guile." Psalm xxxiv. 12, 13. And F

as

as to our eternal state in the next, "If any man seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, that man's religion is vain." James i. 26.

SERMON IX.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF EVIL COMPANY.

1 COR. XV. 33.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

WERE there any inclined to question this observation, which was proverbial even before the days of the Apostle, the unhappy circle, which appears around me, would too surely confirm its truth. Society, which offers happiness to thousands by a mutual intercourse of good offices, abounds also with innumerable dangers to those who know not, or are not willing, properly to apply its gifts. All the sweet comforts of social life, the charms of friendship, and even of domestic bliss itself, instead of working together for good, produce, by an improper application of them, a dangerous and deadly evil. Thus from the sweetest flowers and fairest fruit, is extracted the most subtle and penetrating poison.

Were

Were I to apply separately to each of this audience and enquire-What was the first cause of their departure from virtue?—I doubt not but Ishould be informed, that it arose from too great a fondness for society, and the influence of bad companions. Shrink not, my brethren, when I call to your remembrance those tempters, that have seduced you to sin, that lured you by false promises from your peaceful homes, and have left you to sigh out many a melancholy hour, either under the pangs of punishment, or in the gloomy confinement of a prison. Such recollections, though they cannot be made without horror, are yet salutary and proper. They trace the stream of evil back to its source, and restore the powers of the mind which were enervated by drinking these bitter waters.

Some of you perhaps can recollect the time, when you lived soberly in your father's house, when your fond parents gave you daily lessons of virtue, and with tears intreated you to be "faithful unto death." You may remember too the hour, the fatal hour, when you withdrew yourselves from your kind instructors, when you went into a far country, like the prodigal in the parable, [Luke xv.] and with seducing companions consumed your little means "in riotous living." Others of you may remember, not perhaps your first inclination to sin, for you may have been early trained in those deceitful paths; but your memories doubtless will supply you with this observation, that company of the basest sort hath often led you to crimes, which you would

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would not otherwise have committed. So true is it, that "evil communications" not only corrupt good manners," but prevent those, that would reform, from "bringing forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness."

Your present situation is calculated to correct these bad consequences of evil society. Probably no other opportunity, certainly no better, will present itself to you, for setting your souls in order, and turning to the Lord with all your hearts. I shall therefore, in compliance with my duty and your necessities, make some observations on those vices of society, which have removed you from comfort to distress, from tranquillity to despair.

Need I mention as the first of these, and the root of numerous evils, the vice of drunkenness ? Seduced into the commission of this vice, by society, too many continue to practise it, till inevitable ruin pursues all their footsteps. Your families-how shall I mention them ?-without being partakers of your crimes, are partakers of your misfortunes. Drowned by the repetition of intemperance, is every feeling of your nature. You are neither sensible of the silent sorrow of the innocent partner of your cares, nor the more clamorous grief of your imploring offspring. All are involved in one common ruin. Your daily occupations no longer interest you. Their failure cuts off the supply of your intemperance, and in one fatal moment you commit a crime, which for ever involves you

in

misery.

misery. Too just a representation is this picture of many of your lives. Look upon it, and shrink at its deformity. Think not, as too many do, to excuse your faults by pleading tha they were committed in a state of intoxication. The law of God, as well as man, considers this as an aggravation of the offence: and a celebrated lawgiver once enacted, that "he who committed a crime, when drunk, should receive a double punishment, one for the crime itself, and the other for the drunkenness which prompted him to commit it."

Surely, in this assembly there must be some, I would to God I could not add, many, who have too much occasion to grieve at the recollection of having so freely indulged themselves in the practice of this vice. Was the enjoyment of good company your intention? Miserably have you been deceived. For, "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine,"[Prov. xxiii. 29, 30.]with the companions of their intemperance. Health, too, departs from the poisoned cup, and a mind as degenerate as the body is feeble, crowns the banquet of the drunkard. In such a course of living, how can any of the duties of a reasonable nature be performed with propriety? How can the Maker of Man, and Author of the Universe, be adored as he ought? How can we comfort and assist our neighbour? How can we respect