And here I must address a few words to those, who thus urge, and almost compel, their companions or their guests, to drink-in direct opposition to the precept of Solomon-for drunkenness and not for strength". Ought you not to shudder at the idea of urging a fellow creature to do that, which of all things is most hurtful to him-TO SIN AGAINST GOD? Ought you not to tremble at the idea, of taking upon yourself the office of the devil, at the idea of becoming a TEMPTER, of making yourself the devil's minister and servant in doing his work of ruining men's souls ? Woe unto him, says the prophet, that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also.—Thou art filled with shame for glory“. If this is done from trusting to the superior strength of your own head, there is another woe still reserved for you; Woe unto them, says Isaiah, who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.

Let me then intreat you, to be ever on your guard against this shameful and destructive sin of drunkenness. If you have in any degree given way to it, lament your weakness with shame and deep humility, and resolve and pray for God's grace that you may be guilty of it no more. The time past of your life may well suffice you to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, wherein ye walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries &. And, for the time to come, endeavour to do works meet for repentance, and to pursue such a line of conduct as Isaiah v. 22. d 1 Pet. iv. 3.

a Eccles. x. 17. b Hab. ii. 15.

naturally springs from a real and lively faith in Jesus Christ. Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness. Recollect that drunkenness is one of the works of darkness, one of the works of the flesh, which are utterly inconsistent with the Christian character. Recollect that it degrades and sinks a man to the level-indeed below the level-of a brute. Recollect that drunkenness may occasion, not only all kinds of calamity in this life, but transgressions and crimes, at the bare idea of which you would in your sober senses shudder; and that it exposes you to eternal perdition in the world to come;-for we are assured that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God". Watch and pray, therefore, against this dangerous, this disgraceful sin. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devours. Let us who are of the day be sober. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.

a Luke xxi. 34.

1 Thess. v. 6.

b Gal. v. 21. and 1 Cor. vi. 10. c 1 Peter v. 8. e Rom. xiii. 14.

Prayer.

For Temperance.

O Almighty God and gracious Father of men and angels, who openest thy hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness, teach me to use thy creatures soberly and temperately, that I may not by excess make the temptations of the enemy to prevail against me, or my spirit unapt for the performance of my duty, or my body unhealthy, or my affections sensual and unholy. O my God, never suffer that the blessings which thou givest me, may either minister to sin or sickness, but to health and holiness and thanksgiving, that I may cheerfully and diligently serve thee, and be accounted worthy through thy grace to be admitted to thy table hereafter at the marriage supper of the Lamb, thy Son Jesus Christ, in whose name we beseech thee to hear our prayers.

Texts to be committed to memory.

Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness. Rom. xiii. 13.

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Eph. v. 18.

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? they that tarry long at the wine. Prov. xxiii. 29.

Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and so that day come upon you unawares. Luke xxi. 34.

Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 10.

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also. Thou art filled with shame for glory. Hab. ii.

15.

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink. Isa. v. 22.

The time past of your life may well suffice you to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, wherein ye walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banqueting, and abominable idolatries. 1 Pet iv. 3.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. v. 8.

SERMON VI.

CHASTITY.

1 PET. ii. 11.

Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

THERE is hardly any sin against which young men more require to be warned, than the very dangerous-the deadly-sin of fornication. At the same time it is difficult to write or to speak of this sin, or indeed even to name it, without some offence, some violation of purity. It is a shame, says St. Paul, even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret".

Still, where the evil is so great and so prevalent, some attempt must be made to check it. The admonition, the warning against it must be given. Young men must not be suffered to be guilty of this sin, without being told, of the sad consequences which it entails both in this world and the next, of the awful danger to which it exposes them.

Young people are strongly urged to the commission of this sin by their natural appetites and

a Ephes. v. 12.