VIIL Charity hall cover a multitude of fins.-1 Pet. iv. 8. THE meaning of this paffage is rather ob fcure. Some contend, that charity covers, or blots out, our own fins; others, that it covers, or conceals, the fins of our neighbours. At prefent however, I mean not to enter into the obfcurities of the text; but only to take occasion from it to point out the various covers for fin, which men are commonly accustomed to plead. The hardened profligate rushes headlong into wickedness; and though he must know, that hell and deftruction follow hard behind, he goes madly on, without endeavouring to procure the leaft cover for his fins. There are others, again, who have fome little remains of confcience left-who would wish to go to heaven; but they are wary unwilling to pay too great a price. all the pleasures of the world, and A A 4. traders, and To give up lead a ftrict, religious religious life; is too much: but they are very ready to barter with God Almighty. Some of them will afk, what almsgiving to the poor will do for them? They are willing to cover their fins by great bounty in this way; but thefe traders must be informed, that, as far as themselves are concerned, they might as well keep their alms in their pockets. Theirs is just the old popish practice of indulgences. In both cafes, money is paid for a liberty to commit fin. In the fame manner, others endeavour to cover their fins with what they call their virtues. Their honefty-their temperance-their veracity, or fome other virtue which they think they poffefs, they fet in oppofition to fome favourite fins; and hope, under fuch cover, to escape.But these men must not be surprised to hear, that virtues arifing from fuch motives are no virtues at all; and, inftead of atoning for fins, are in fact themselves only fins in disguise, Others again will endeavour to cover their fins, by pleading the bounty of heaven. The earth is full of good things; why may I not use them? What were they given me for?—You may use them; with gratitude to God, you may use them; but in gratitude to God, be content with the ufe. All beyond is finful abuse, .18 Another Another cover for fin is fometimes drawn from the infirmities of human nature: they are fuch that fin is unavoidable, and therefore excufeable. That fin is unavoidable, is certain; and hence arifes the neceffity of a Saviour. But how far we are to make this a cover for fuch fins as we wilfully continue in, is a point which, it is to be feared, will be settled at the last day much to our confufion. Their circumstances, and fituation in life, are confidered with many as making a good cover for fin. While we liye in the world, they cry, we must in some degree follow the ways of the world. The ways of the world are not always confonant with ftrict duty; but we must now and then temporize, or we are nothing.—But perhaps our fituation in life is not so commonly feductive as we are apt to fuppofe. No honest profeffion, I believe, has any thing in it opposite to the duties of religion. If however we have unhappily chosen a profeffion which avowedly leads us into fin, we have our option: we may take either the broad or narrow way; and ferve either God; or mammon. There are others again, who feek to cover their fins under the mercies of God; which they fay fay are infinite, and cannot be exhausted. But these people feem to forget, that the attributes of the Deity muft not be conftrued fo as to contradict each other. The mercy of God, it is true, is infinite; but his juftice is infinite alfo: they both univerfally extend to all people. There is still one more cover for fin, which fome people plead; and indeed the only one they can plead-humble confeffion, and fincere repentance; with truft in the mercy of God through the merits of Chrift, IX. Is any Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. THE text feems intended rather to regulate our gloomy, and cheerful hours, than as a piece of literal advice. The life of man is a chequered fhade light and darkness are continually reciprocating. The former often twinkles on the very spot, which had immediately before been occupied by the latter.-Man therefore, thus fubject to fuch oppofite paroxyfms, should poffefs fomething to fecure him from the pernicious effects of both. Now a sense of religion is the only fecurity he can have; and this may have its full effect in all circumstances, if the mind be fully and serioufly impreffed with it. If the inftrument there fore is well-tuned, the mufic may be good, whether it play a dirge or a fonnet.-Something like it is the apostle's advice: If you are afflicted, pray; if you are merry, fing pfalms. Not that, when |