How can you say, “Lead us not into temptation,” when you are resolved to lead yourselves into it, by running into the occasions of sins. You are commanded to keep from the appearance of evil; and do you do that, by running into the place and company where it is like to be committed? No, this is so far from avoiding, and shunning it, that it is a plain proof to the contrary; therefore, if you are for observing this time, this festival of our church, let it not be done by running to excess; for you plainly see, that those who are guilty thereof, cannot be said properly to celebrate it.
_Thirdly_, Nor can they, my brethren, be said to keep, or rightly observe the commemoration of the birth of our Redeemer, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who neglect their worldly callings to follow pleasures and diversions.
Alas! many, instead of keeping this time as it ought to be, run into sin with greediness; instead of devoting their time to the LORD, it is only devoted to the devil and their own lusts. How many who thus mispend their time, at this season, lay by the work of their callings for a considerable time, with no other view, but to follow earthly, sensual, and devilish pleasures. If they should go to hear a sermon, or to a society, my brethren, the mouths of all the _Pharisees_ at once are open against them, that they are not only a going to be ruined themselves, but are going to ruin their families too; they think it needless to make so much ado; this is being _righteous over-much_; but you may be as wicked as you please, and they will not cry out; however, when you are _wicked over-much_, by serving the devil and your own pleasures for a week or a month together, then, my brethren, with them you are only taking a little recreation, spending your time in innocent diversions; no one cries out against you, there is no outcry that you are going to be ruined. Again, if you give never so small a matter among the poor people of GOD, for their relief, then you are robbing your families, then you are going to turn madmen, and in a few days will be so methodistically mad, that you are not fit for a polite gentleman’s conversation; but if you spend one hundred times the money in playhouses, &c. on your lusts and pleasures, then you are liked and esteemed as a good friend and companion; but, my dear brethren, these good companions in the world’s account, are never so in the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s. You cannot serve GOD and mammon; you must either lose your lusts, your pleasures, and your delights, or you cannot expect to find favour with GOD; for indeed, and indeed, the ways that too many follow at this time, are sinful, yea, they are exceeding sinful. You see they cannot be said to celebrate this holy time, who thus mispend their precious time to the neglect of their families; such are destroying themselves with a witness.
Thus, my dear brethren, I have shewn you who they are who do not rightly observe this holy festival.
II. I come now, in the second place, to shew you, who they are who do rightly observe, and truly celebrate the birth of our Redeemer.
And I shall shew you who they are in two particulars, directly opposite to the others; and then, my brethren, take your choice: you must choose the one or the other, there is no medium, you must either serve the LORD or Baal; and, therefore, my dear brethren, let me beg of you to consider,
_First_, That those spend their time aright, and truly observe this festival, who spend their hours in reading, praying, and religious conversation.