affords some lamentable proof of the influence of unsubdued lusts. A religious person first conceives a thought ; and that thought is suffered to dwell upon his mind. The mind inflamed, yields to the impulse of desire so far as to court familiarity with the alluring object: conscience reproves; but the deceitful heart suggests, that, as no positive act of sin is intended, no evil will arise. Corruption now begins to work more strongly; and every renewed familiarity with temptation increases its power over us ; so that we scarcely know how to keep from the place or person whom we ought to shun. Conscience remonstrates, but in vain ; till at last the devil takes us in his snare, and we bring disgrace on our holy profession, and cause the name of God to be blasphemed^. This is the history of many a religious character. Would we avoid this melancholy end? let us avoid the means. Let us " keep our hearts with all diligence^:" let us live nigh to God, and beg of him to keep us. Let us beware how we " grieve his Spirit," by tam- pering with sin, or parleying with temptation. Let us " walk in the Spirit ; and then we shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh s." Let us often ask ourselves. What we shall think of such things in a dying hour? Little dost thou think, whoever thou art that art yielding to the tempter, how thou art filling thy dying pillow with thorns ; and wilt most probably bring on thjself a condemnation far heavier than that of Sodom and Gomorrha. O may God take you out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set your feet upon a rock, and establish your goings^!" But concerning this evil we may say, as our Lord said concerning a deaf and dumb spirit whom his disciples could not cast out, " This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting*."]
3. The conscientious Christian —
[Blessed art thou, who art enabled to maintain "a conscience void of offence towards God and man." Thou art blessed, and shalt be blessed. If tJiou dost not see so much of God as thou wouldst, thou hast far different views of him from what they have who give way to sin. And the time is fast approaching, when thou shalt no more complain of darkness and distance from God, but shalt " behold his face in righteousness, and be satisfied with it'^."
Yet even to thee must I say, Watch against the assaults of sin and Satan. It is not past experience that will keep thee : for Solomon fell " after God had appeared to him twice'." Nor is it high attainments that will preserve thee : for the man after
e See Jam.!. 14, 15. f Prov. iv. 23. s Gal. v. 16.
h Ps. xl. 2. i Matt. xvii. 21. ^ Ps. xvii. 15.
• 1 Kings xi. 9.