shall come out from among tlicm, and be separate'';" and not have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them •-' " ]
2. It will keep us from the snares also of ungodly
women —
[It is lamentable to think how degraded human nature is, and how assimilated to the very beasts multitudes are, who were originally formed in the image of their God. Females, married, as well as unmarried, "forsaking the guide of their youth and the covenant of their God," will abandon them- selves to the most vicious courses, soliciting the embrace of men to whom they are utter " strangers," and practising every species of artifice, to ensnare and vitiate all who come m their way
And such is their influence over those whom they have once ensnared, that it is a miracle almost if even one is recovered to a sense of his duty, and is brought back again in penitential sorrow to his God^. Truly their ways lead down to death and to hell^: for not only do they draw men from all thoughtfulness about their souls, but they bring them into extravagances and crimes, which not unfrequently issue in suicide, or death by the hands of the public executioner.
But from these also will vital piety preserve us. It will lead us to use all the precautions against them, that a prudent government employs against the infection of the plague. We shall have no communication with persons, whose very pre- sence will endanger the life of our souls. We shall not go near their houses, or the places of their resort '\ We shall not parley with temptation when it comes in our way ; but shall flee from it, as Joseph did, saying, " How shall I do this great wickedness, and sin against God^?" ]
3. It will guide us in the paths of righteousness and peace —
[When once true religion enters into the soul, we shall take the Scriptures for our guide, and endeavour to walk in the paths which all the holy men of old have trod before us''. We shall not be satisfied with following the customs of those around us, or with conforming to the standard of duty which the world approves ; we shall desire to be " holy, as God is holy;" and shall determine through grace to " perfect holiness in the fear of God " ]
Such being the effects of true wisdom, I will pro- ceed to point out to you,
1 2 Cor. vi. 17. ^ Eph. v. 11. ^ ver. 19.
s Prov. v, ti — 5. and vii. 26, 27. '> Prov. v. 8.
^ Gen. xxxix. 9. ^^ ver. 20.