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and reflect upon the plaineft duties of morality, and the certain issue of the course they are pursuing, (not to mention the prefent effects of it) would not dare to go on in their trefpaffes.

Thirdly, Avoid those who fit in the feat of the fcorner. They make a mock at fin, affront the good fenfe of all mankind, and defy the Almighty. They are loft to fear and fhame. The most folemn truths, and the most folemn of all fcenes, a judgment day, are felected for ridicule. "Where is the promise of his

coming? Pride compaffeth them about as a chain; "violence covereth them as a garment. They speak ' loftily. They fet their mouth against the heavens; " and their tongue walketh through the earth. They "fay, How doth God know?" The moft fuccessful propagators of infidelity have been the greatest corrupters of the morals of mankind, and men of abandoned morals themfelves. For proof of this, we need not recur to former times, nor bring examples from old and long corrupted kingdoms. But our own times and nation fupply examples in abundance. In very many circles, religion and morals are introduced with no other view than to be ridiculed. Daring and unfounded affertions, accompanied with every fpecies of indelicacy and mockery, are employed to prove revelation an imposture, and found morals an abridgment of the rights of man,

To withstand all this arrogance and derifion, requires great firmness-greater than young perfons efpecially can command, unless they have learnt to love the truth; have some principles well fixed; and, by exemplary morals, are able to put to filence the ignorance and folly of fuch fcoffers. They must bear to be reproached for hypocrify and affected gravity, by the many scorners of the prefent day. If a contemptuous fneer, the finger of fcorn, a fally of wit, an impudent falfehood, can put them to fhame, or make them wayer in religion, their fouls will be perverted, nor is

there any pollution in which they may not be overwhelmed. They are coming forward on the stage at a period when every artifice will be used to delude and demoralize them-a period in which fcepticism and degeneracy are fashionable and prevalent beyond what has been heretofore known in this country. In every place there are to be found defpifers of God, of his fuperintendency, of man's accountability, of the duties of morality-despisers of the Redeemer and his friends; of the Lord's day, its worship and ordinances. In every place there may be found those who rejoice in iniquity inftead of the truth; who fow dif cord, and triumph in the divifions, blemishes and declenfions of profeffors-in any advantages which these things may furnish them-in any means of embarras fing and oppreffing them. I certainly do not wish to exaggerate. I fubmit to perfons of observation and reflection, whether any past period has endangered the faith and morals of youth comparably with the prefent. Happy those who may escape the fnares and allurements before them.

Among various dissuasives against walking in the coun fel of the ungodly, standing in the way of finners, and fitting in the feat of the fcorner, we observe, first, an intimacy with fuch characters muft exprefs your approbation of them. You implicitly with fuccefs to impiety and profligacy: You caft in your lot with them, that infidelity and pollution may have free course-that truth and virtue may be depreffed and vilified. I hope better things of our young people, or fhould think it fruitless to addrefs them. The object of my addrefs on this fubject is to prevent their being enfnared, by affociating with perfons of this defcription. Be not deceived. There is much danger of being deJuded by their fophiftry, and polluted by their example. You cannot be in an house or city infected with the plague, without danger to your life or health.Nor can you keep company with fuch characters, and

not endanger your principles or morals. The friends of truth and virtue walk not in the counfel of the ungodly, nor ftand in the way of finners, nor fit in the feat of the fcornful; because (as it immediately follows) their "delight is in the law of the Lord." They abhor the principles and the way of life, which the ungodly, finners and scorners maintain and purfue. They behold fuch, and are grieved; and have therefore no difpofition to embolden and strengthen them by any familiarity. "Two cannot walk together, "except they are agreed. Righteousness hath no fel"lowship with unrighteoufnefs; nor he that believ"eth, any part with an infidel. Come out from

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among them, faith the Lord; touch not the un"clean thing; and I will receive you." A lover of truth and virtue can no more be delighted with the company of the profane, the immoral and scorners, than Lot with the Sodomites, or Michael with the devil. The world very juftly form an opinion of men's characters from their chofen companions. Human laws involve affociates in the crimes and punishment of the principals. A companion of fools defervedly brings on himself their infamy and mifery. In the eyes of every fearer of God, a vile, unprincipled perfon is contemned; and if contemned, furely not cherished as an affociate. Abftain from all appearance of evil. Keep not company with any, through whom the way of truth is evil spoken of. They wish to pervert your fouls to make you think and fpeak lightly of the way of truth and holiness.

Suppose your principles are at prefent uncontaminated, they cannot continue fo, if you keep company with the immoral and unprincipled. Therefore enter not into their path; go not in their way; unite not to their counfel. Do you imagine that your virtue is impregnable? would you call temptation to yourfelves? Then be feated with fcorners. The effect will foon fhew your temerity. Perhaps the mischief may

be irretrievable. When the pious David refolved to keep the commandments of God, he faid to evil doers, Depart from me-implying that he could not keep God's commandments, unless he avoided such company. If you refolve to ferve God, fuch company will leave you, as Satan, when all his temptations were withftood, left our Saviour. Refift them as you fhould him. Be not within hearing of their counfel, their profane, filthy converfation. For evil communications corrupt good manners.

The vicious feek the company of the virtuous, with no other view than to involve them in their own difhonour, to obtain fupporters in vice, and triumph in the spoil of those whom they have deluded. “ They "fleep not, except they have caufed fome to fall. They "eat the bread of wickednefs, and drink the wine of “violence. Their way is as darkness. They lurk pri"vily for the innocent. My fon, walk not thou in "the way with them: Refrain thy foot from their "path. Can one take fire in his bofom, and his "clothes not be burnt ?"

From these things it appears to be highly important that you endeavour, among other marks of integrity, to have this: "Lord, I have not fat with vain per"fons, nor gone in with diffemblers. I have hated "the congregation of evil doers: and will not fit "with the wicked. They turn the night into day. "The harp, and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and "wine are in their feafts; But they regard not the "work of the Lord, neither confider the operation "of his hands." They raise not their thoughts fo high. They neither review the paft, nor attend to the future; but pursue the impulfe of their appetites, wafting life in a mad career of vanity and diffipation. The thief cometh not but to fteal, to kill, and to deftroy.This character well applies to the ungodly, the immoral and the fcorner. They come to fteal your good name, your treafure, your peace to deftroy

your immortal interefts, to kill the foul. They envy the virtuous their efteem and confidence, influence and improvement among men; feeling that they themselves are diftrufted, avoided and abhorred. Their wish is to wipe off the infamy from vice and profanenefs-to make piety and virtue ridiculous to encourage fraud, peculation, gambling, feduction and scepticifm. Many, who, but for their example and inftigation, would have grown. up in virtuous and useful courses, have been enfnared by them-forfaken the guide of their youth, (parents and teachers) and broken the covenant of their God. What deftructive, irretrievable confequences have followed? Such characters as the text mentions are as Achan in the hoft of Ifrael.

You afk, May we have no company with such characters? I anfwer, As little as pòfible-and certainly no intercourse which would imply that you caft in your lot with them-none which muft put at hazard your integrity, your fear of God.

But would you abfolutely have no intercourse with fuch characters, you must needs go out of the world. Neither the state of fociety, nor of families, admits of a total feparation. You may not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor follow the way of finners, nor join with fcorners. You may not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor caft pearls before fwine. You may have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. You may yet be placed in a family or neighbourhood, where you cannot avoid an intercourse with the vicious and impious. As much as lieth in you, you are bound to endeavour their converfion. The Author of our religion came to call finners to repentance. With this view he was a guest with publicans and finners; tho' he knew no fin. In reproving fin, he kept the prejudices of the reproved out of view; fo that in the iffue they were compelled to condemn themselves. Our treatment of the vicious must be calculated to strip them of their prejudices. Afperity and affectation are

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