But if this be not allowed, it must furely be granted, that enough has been said to prove it to be doubtful. In this cafe it will follow, fecondly, that it can answer no good end to advance it.A good end it cannot answer, for it certainly cannot make a man fafer than he was before. He will not pretend to fay, he fhall be judged by his own opinion. It was more at least than St. Paul would venture to affirm.

On the whole, it seems to be a doctrine only calculated to fwell a man with pride and felfconfequence to put him off his guard, and to ftop all his farther purfuits of improvement. If he really believe he cannot fin, what need he require more? A careless life is just as effectual as the most attentive one.

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IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES.

IF

F we take this precept literally, it plainly leads into abfurdity. He who feels he endeavours to live a confcientious life, cannot but think himself better than he whom he fees living in an openly irreligious manner. The precept there. fore must be limited. It was given by the apostle to his Philippian converts-that is, to people whom we may suppose to have been well-disposed Chriftians, and all equally, at leaft in appearance, regular in their lives. Still however, notwithftanding this outward appearance of equality, there might be great difference in their hearts; and as the heart is the feat of religion, there was ftill room for one man to be more religious than another.

But,

But, as no man knows the heart of another fo well as he knows his own, in which he cannot but be acquainted with many things amifs, humility will naturally incline him to fuppofe the hearts of others are better than his own, and of course to esteem his neighbour better than himself.The apoftle's injunction therefore is given, we see, to people nearly of the fame condition, and chiefly indeed refpects the heart.

It may, however, in part, have a reference to actions. An action, evidently vicious, is out of the queftion; but as all actions take their colour from the motives which produce them, no man can judge truly of the motives of others. Of course he can know as little of their actions. But as he knows his own motives, it is humble in him to think better of the actions of others, which are not palpably wrong, than of his own.

XXIII.

MA TT. Xxiii. 23.

THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT

TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE.

UR Saviour applies thefe words to the Scribes and Pharifees, who neglected the precepts of religion through an attachment to its ceremonies. But the rebuke is equally applicable to all who neglect matters of confequence for the fake of trifles.-In the following difcourfe, therefore, I shall not apply it in a religious sense, but merely as relating to the two points of employment and amusement.

Every man has, or ought to have, some employment in life; and if he be born exempt from the necessity of it, ftill he ought, in some shape,

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to

to find it for himself-that is, he should fill up, in some useful manner, his station in society, and not be what the very heathen thought an abominable character-a mere confumer of the fruits of the earth. This employment, whatever it is, fhould be.confidered among the things that ought to be done.

But befides the employment, most people have alfo their amusement, which may be reckoned among the things which need not be left undone, on a supposition it is innocent, and not carried to excess. It has been obferved, that however busy our lives may be, we always find some time for a favourite amusement. But the mischief is, the amusement often ufurps the upper hand. Thus, a clergyman may be fond of mufic or painting. Both are liberal and innocent amufements, and may be properly indulged. But he ought always to have in his mind the ufeful caution of the text. His parochial duties are the things that ought to be done, though he need not leave the other undone. The employment is the object, the amusement the relaxation: but in proportion as the amufement gains too much ground, the employment is neglected. Even science is only an amusement, when it ftands in competi

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