that fome perfons may be led, at least, to give it a trial, who have hitherto entirely neglected it. And, this I purpose, through God's affistance, to fhew, in the prefent difcourfe, that thus I may be innocent of the blood of those fouls which perifh, if they will perfift against conviction, in following the rugged, thorny, and flippery paths of fin, whofe certain end is death.

"Enter ye in (faid our Redeemer) at "the ftraight gate; for, wide is the gate, and "broad is the way, which leadeth to deftruction, "and many there be which go in thereat: Becaufe

ftraight is the gate, and narrow is the way which "leadeth unto life, and few there be which find ❝ it." The gate into eternal life is, indeed, ftraight, and the way is narrow; but, when we have entered the gate, we fhall find the way fufficiently broad for the few pilgrims who are found walking in it; and, if they ftray neither to the right hand, nor to the left, it is full of pleafantnefs and peace: Unlike the high road of fin, crowded with travellers, all whofe rofes conceal the moft fharp-pointed thorns; whofe moft tempting fruits are poifons, amidft whofe verdant and tempting paths lurks many a fnake unfeen, where many a quagmire, overgrown with flowers, deceives the unwary paffenger to his destruction.

"Is it not (afks a truly pious author) much pleasanter travelling, even on a rough pavement, than on a quickfand*?" But let me quit the ftyle of

* See Henry's Pleasantness of a Religious Life, 12mo' page 156.

of figure and allufion. On a fubject of fo much importance, I would not willingly permit the hearer to fay of me, with reafon, "Doth he not "speak parables?" I would wifh to point out to the finner, both the evil and the folly of his ways, in fo plain a manner, that he who runs may "read;" and, having held up to him one direction, faying, "This is the painful road to deftruc"tion," I would alfo extend to him another faying, "This narrow path conducts through peace"ful chearful fcenes, to the Chriftian Canaan; "the heavenly Jerufalem; the blissful prefence of "the everliving God."

And, that it does lead through peaceful and chearful fcenes, I may, I doubt not, fafely appeal to fome perfons who now hear me. Have they not found religion's paths, which are the only paths of true wifdom, to be alfo the paths of pleafantnefs and peace? Even though many fources of worldly comfort may have been denied them, yet, have they not poffeffed that within, which has amply made them amends? Would reclaimed finners, for the whole world, or for thousands of worlds, return to " those things whereof they are "now afhamed?" Oh! let mankind but once feriously afk themselves, what pleasure they have in finful gratifications, and they will foon fee them in their true light; that they are generally difficult in the acquifition, unfatisfactory in the enjoyment, and most painful on reflection. It may serve to throw light upon this truth, if we proceed to confider various worldly characters, which may be all

A 2

found

found, in a greater or leffer degree, in
and fituation of life.

every rank

1. Let the covetous man bufy himself perpetually in heaping up wealth, in adding houfe to houfe, and field to field, what pleafure (let us afk) has he in thefe things? Do not his riches tend rather to increafe than to allay his craving? and, can there be comfort with the appetite ftill unfatisfied? It was the faying of a Heathen poet*, “The de"fire of wealth increafes with our wealth itself." Let us confider, befides, the many cares and anxieties which will neceffarily attend this paffion, all incompatible with peace and tranquillity of mind; alfo the frequent and various difappointments which it will have to encounter, from what are erroneously called the accidents of human life, and ftill more from the jarring interefts of other men, whofe purfuits will fo frequently clash with, and oppofe, his own. And, let us remember, that each difappointment in our darling paffion is bitter indeed, while every gratification of it is almoft immediately forgotten in the defire of ftill further indulgence. Let us alfo bear in mind, that the affection of our family, and the good-will of thofe among whom we live, is always fweet and pleafing to our nature; and thefe the avaricious man will generally forfeit. Mankind are up in arms against the monopolifer of that, which, if properly difperfed, would afford them numerous comforts, whilft it becomes only the torment of its wretched owner.

• Juvenal.

For,

For, it will be found, that, to the covetous man, the poffeffion of his dear-bought treasure is equally painful with the acquifition; that it is attended with equal cares and anxieties through fear of its lofs, while neither bars, nor bolts, nor bonds will fuffer his mind to be free from apprehenfion and miftruft. He will dread a fire to confume, or a thief to plunder, in every wind that blows; a betrayer in every friend. Not only his days will be filled with uneafinefs, but his nights will be troubled with watchfulnefs.. Plundered treasures ----deceitful friends----threatened loffes----hazardous adventures will all hover round his pillow, and not suffer him to close his eyes in forgetfulness. While the fleep of a labouring man is fweet, "whether he eat little or much: the abundance of "the rich will not fuffer him to fleep*."

.

He will find, alfo, that his very wealth brings a number of unavoidable expences along with it; like those fruits which harbour the infects that deftroy them. So true " is it, that, when goods in"crease, they are increased that eat them; and "what good is there to the owners thereof, faving "the beholding of them with their eyes +?" Or, perhaps, a prodigal child will be sent to diffipate the wealth too anxiously obtained." He begetteth "a fon, and there is nothing in his hand." deed, if we confider the ten thousand ways which riches make to themfelves wings," and fly away, that man will appear to have a moft

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+

In

in

wretched

Eccl. v. 12. + Eccl. v. 11. Eccl. v. 142

wretched dependence, who looketh to them for his comfort; who faith to his gold " thou art my truft," and to his filver," thou art my confi"dence;" and we fhall be led to confefs that there is no fpecies of idolatry "more foolish, as well as more finful, than covetoufnefs."

But, let us imagine that the covetous man has been fuccefsful in all his purfuits; that he has been permitted to heap together, and to retain in his chefts, his ftorehouses, and his barns, what might have been as "eyes to the blind, and feet to "the lame;" and fhall "fay to his foul, Soul, "thou haft much goods laid up for many years; "take thine cafe; eat, drink, and be merry :" Will not the fmall, ftill voice of confcience continually fuggeft to him, how foon, how very foon, "his foul may be required of him; and, then, "whofe fhall thofe things be, which he hath pro"vided?" As he is about to leave the earth(fuch is this fenfelefs paffion) he will cling to it the clofer, and the more dread a separation. Every trifling illnefs, every flight pain will menace him. with the lofs of his darling treafure! And, when death at length approaches, to whom will he go for comfort? To his God? He will reject him with fcorn, and fend him back to the glittering idol, for whofe fake He has been fo long fet at nought. He will, perhaps, promise the Lord to bequeath his wealth in alms, and charitable funds, at his decease. But, God will anfwer him, "Thou fool, thinkeft thou to facrifice to the Lord

Luke xii, 19, 20.