drudgery. They are the slaves of Satan, and the servants of sin.

Paul declares, that those who oppose themselves to the gospel are led captive by the devil at his will. And whither are you likely to be conducted by such a leader? What reward can you expect to receive from such a master? He will draw you on, by little and little, into his snares and fetters, till you are as fast bound as if girt with chains of brass. He will promise many sweets, and give you the apples of Sodom; he will shew you the glories of the world, and plunge you into the horrors of despair.

The apostle Peter speaks of some who boast of their liberty, and yet are the servants of corruption. Such persons yield up all their powers and members, as instruments of unrighteousness to sin. Rom. vi. 13. And, O, what a wretched state is this! Yet every impenitent man is tied down by the base customs of an evil world, and given up to serve divers lusts and pleasures, those cruel task-masters, which are never satisfied.

Let it never be forgotten, that sorrow follows sin, as the shadow does the substance. Peter joins together the bond of iniquity and the gall of bitterness. Solomon says, "The way of transgressors is hard; and truly such as travel in that way, not only forsake their own mercies, but multiply their miseries at every step. Be not deceived with appearances. While men are so jovial in their revels, how often, even when the face is gay, is the heart sad! Colonel Gardiner, while he was eagerly pursuing the vanities and follies of the world, appeared always so full of life and spirit, that he got the name of the "happy rake;" but, after he became a new man, he declared, that, at the very time, when he seemed so merry that others envied his pleasures, he was often so miserable in his own mind, as to wish himself a dog! It was a saying of Augustine, "The pleasures of sin are momentary; but its punishments are eternal." These pleasures, even while they last, are mixed with bitters.

I grant that there are some, who seem so completely stupified, as not in the least to feel their wretchedness. But a time is coming, that will awake them from sleep, and put all their dreams to fight. Hear the prosperous worldling saying to himself, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry." Luke xii. 19. But hold, vain boaster! those goods are not thy own. He, who lent them, has neither given up his right, nor forgotten his claim. Those many years set down in thy reckoning are not written in the book of God's decrees. Hark! a messenger knocks at the door. "This night thy soul is required of thee!" Instead of taking thy ease, now go take thy trial. Amidst all the stores prepared for the perishing body, what provision hast thou for the immortal soul ? Alas, poor wretch! thou hast had no shelter for it, but a refuge of lies; no clothing, but filthy rags; no food, but empty husks (Boston's Fourfold State). O miserable condition, for the soul to be hurried unpardoned, unpurified, and unprepared, into the presence of a righteous and all-seeing Judge !

II. Let what has been said be applied to promote self-examination and humility.

1. If such, as hath just been described, is the state of the impenitent, let me entreat you, reader, to examine whether it be your present condition

"If we say, that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John i. 8. And, believe me, there is no kind of deception, into which you are so likely to fall, and which is so dangerous, as self-deception. When you are warned against it, do not imagine the caution is unnecessary. A well-known writer has justly observed, "That it is as easy to deceive ourselves without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without being perceived." Consider what Christ says to the church at Laodicea; "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev. iii. 17. Do you desire to know how it is that men deceive themselves, as to their own state?

1st. They call things by false names, and dress them in false colours.

Sin, though in itself black as hell, is whitened over with fine words and fair pleas. The most extravagant and mischievous outrages are softly termed the frolics of youth. Vain conversation, bubbling into frothy levity, or breaking out into filthy lewdness, is called harmless mirth. A compliance with idle fashions and dangerous amusements, is called seeing and knowing the world. Drinking, gaming, swearing, and sabbath breaking, are a gay life. On the other hand, pious men are named sour bigots, or sly hypocrites. Religion is termed a melancholy thing; and a strict regard to it, madness. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,

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and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa. v. 20. Beware you do not fall under this woe. Let every disguise be torn away. Be willing to know the worst of yourself, that you may avoid delusion. I dare say you do not wholly deny your sin; but do not you spare it, and half excuse it ? Perhaps your confession runs in such language as this : I have been rather thoughtless, a little too wild; but I always intended to reform." Or, it may be, you compare yourself with others, and begin to sound the pharisee's trumpet, saying, "I am no extortioner, adulterer, or drunkard: I have never gone the lengths that many have done: I do no one any harm; and if I be not safe, what will become of thousands?"-Now, be persuaded to examine yourself by the light of God's holy law. Do not talk of what other men are, but of what you ought to be. Labour to gain a full view of the holiness and majesty of God; and then you will clearly perceive the infinite evil of sin, and your own depravity as a sinner. While a garment is kept in the dark, its filthiness is not seen; but bring it to the light, and every spot becomes visible.

2d. Many are deceived as to their own state, because they are strangers to the heart.

If they keep free from gross vices and shocking crimes; if they are sober in their appetites, and honest in their dealing; if they behave decently towards their superiors, and attend constantly on public worship; they think themselves very good characters. They are whole, and need not a physician; safe, and look not for a Saviour. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?" Jer. xvii. 9. Does not the experience of every day confirm these words of the prophet? What maze has such windings, what cavern has such dark retreats, what whirlpool has such dangerous deeps and violent motions, as the human heart? It is bad to have an enemy any where, it is worse to have one preparing schemes of mischief in your own house; but it is the worst of all, to have a secret plotting and active-working foe, within your own bosom. Though you may not be a base liar, a bold blasphemer, a beastly drunkard, or an impious scoffer; if the heart be not right with God, all must be wrong. Now look within, and see. Do not take this matter upon trust, but upon trial. I venture to declare, you will find every dark chamber of the heart full of idols and abominations. Take the word of God as your light, and pray for the Holy Spirit as your guide, that you may examine those regions of the world within, to which you have been a stranger. Look into the imagination, and see what swarms of vain and sinful thoughts are there. Look into the understanding, and see what errors, prejudices, and delusions are there. Look into the conscience, and see what records of long-forgotten sins, which must soon be read against you, are preserved there. Look into the affections, and see what storms of anger, fumes of pride, and flames of lust, rise there. A little time spent in close self-examination may do you more good than reading a thousand books. Sometimes an instance, or a fact drawn from life, may not only bring with it great evidence, but also fix the attention and fasten on the memory. "A few years ago, two pious weavers were conversing together, and complaining of the trouble