SERMON XII.

ON EVIL COMMUNICATION.

1 CORINTHIANS, xv. 33.

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

THERE is no prospect more painful to a thoughtful mind, than that of the first commencement of vice or folly in the human character. It is pleasing to us to look upon the openings of human nature; amid the years of infancy, to see the gradual expansion of the youthful mind in benevolence and knowledge; and to

anticipate that future state of maturity, when all these promises shall be accomplished, and the character terminate in virtue and in usefulness. How painful, on the contrary, is it, (even to the unconnected spectators), to see all these hopes disappointed,-to see the spring of life untimely blasted by some malignant power which withers all the blossoms of virtue, and closes all the expectations we had formed of their opening being! Even of the feeblest characters we still lament to see the degradation. If we had formed no hopes of their fame, we at least entertained hopes of their goodness ;-if they had not been distinguished, we think, they might yet have been innocent. In the obscurity of private virtue, they might have "led the life of the righteous," full of peace and hope, and "their latter end" might at last "have been like his.

On this subject, I shall at present sub

It is a sub

mit to you some reflections. ject at all times important to the young; and even to us, my brethren, of more advanced years, there are considerations that render it interesting, and show us how important is the share which we have in forming the character and the happiness of those that are to succeed us. There is something also in the time, not unsuited to your reflections. We have all been engaged in the most important solemnity of our religion; and many of the young among us have visited the table of their Lord, and taken upon themselves the vows of the Gospel, and entered into that communion, which I trust is to be to them all the gate of Heaven. At such a time, it is wise in us all to " call our ways

to remembrance, "-in the young to remember the journey upon which they are going, in the elder to remember the example they are affording.

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1. In almost every case the young be gin well. They come out of the hand of nature pure and uncorrupted; disposed to kindness, to generosity, and to gratitude; ardent in the acquisition of knowledge, and anxious to deserve the love and the esteem of those who are about them. Such is the character of humanity in its earlier years, until the sure and of passion arrives.

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of plea

At that eventful age, a new set of opinions and emotions begin to arise in their minds;-the wish for distinction expands;-desires of pleasure awaken temptations surround them on every side, while experience has not yet acquired the power of resistance, and thus the road opens upon them which leads to folly or to vice. For all this, however, the wisdom of Him who made them hath bountifully prepared, by the timidity and modesty which he hath added to the cha

racter of youth. While they are thus tempted to enjoyment, they are, at the same time, beyond any other period of life, fearful of doing wrong; they are fearful of entering upon scenes where their consciousness of ignorance tells them they are as yet unfit to appear; they are fearful of losing the esteem and love of their early friends; and still more, if they have been virtuously brought up, they are fearful of losing the favour of God, and his protection upon their future years. By these wise and simple means, the Almighty hath provided for the weakness of the young; and, even in the hours of ignorance, hath given them a guardian in their own breasts, superior to all the wisdom of man, to save them from the dangers of passion and inexperience.

If, accordingly, the young were left only to nature and themselves, it is reasonable to think that they might pass this