be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy1." Here is the test of true wisdom ; here is the evidence of a sound understanding. The man that is destitute of these gracious tempers, is in darkness even until now : but the man who from love to Christ is enabled to live in the habitual exercise of them, has surely an understanding- heart, and is made wise unto salvation.]
1 Jam. iii. 13 — 17.
Ps. cxix. 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
THE depths of the human heart are never more plainly disclosed, than when a man comes into the presence of his Maker. Then he opens all his wants, and supplicates relief for all his necessities. The godly man at a throne of grace knows no dissimu- lation, no concealment, no false humility. What he speaks, (if he be in a right state) he feels. Let us then draw nigh, and listen to the breathings of holy David. He felt the ensnaring influence of worldly things, and the lamentable tendency of fallen man to relax his efforts in the service of his God : hence he poured out his soul in this humble supplication ; " Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ; and quicken thou me in thy way."
That we may all be stirred up to implore similar blessings at the hands of God, we propose to shew,
I. The fascinating power of earthly vanities —
By the word " vanity," we understand all those things which are apt to engross the affections of car- nal men. The Apostle classes them all under " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life :" and they all justly deserve the name assigned them in the text, because they are sure to disappoint the desires and expectations of all, who look to them for any solid or permanent satisfaction.
These things altogether captivate and enslave the minds of the generality —