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thus levels the noblest distinction between men and brutes; it is an ungrateful waste of the Creator's bounty; it is disobedi ence: our Lord our Lord having expressly commanded his disciples to take heed, lest at any times their hearts should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness t it is a practice of which the natural effect is to stupify conscience; then vice rushes in like a flood, confidence is betrayed, anger storms, the defiled heart meditates fornication and adultery, the robber is wrought up to the ruffian pitch, duty and danger are equally despised. Go to the drunkard's residence: what injustice, what barbarity, what wretchedness, are exemplified there! Imagine the offender to be poor, and you complete the picture. He who should be the counsellor, the comfort, the ornament, of that family, is its tempter, its trouble, its reproach. His wife and children, when alone, enjoy a respite, and begin to brighten up; he returns, they tremble, and are again distracted. He has spent their money, he has quarrelled, he has met with mischief: sometimes he forgets it and then he only disgusts them with buffoonery and nonsense; more fres quently he remembers it--and then he wreaks upon them the spite and fury col

lected and inflamed amidst a drunken crew; and they must bear it; they must be stunned by his stupid roar; they must weather the tempest of blasphemy; they must be sickened by the approach of his loathsome person; they, for his prodigality, must appear half-naked, and live halfstarved t

Excessive. Drinking is a habit soon formed, rapid in its growth, and hard to root up. At first a man drinks for refreshment, he then takes a larger draught for pleasure, he still, adds a little and a little, till he can never leave his cups without taking a little too. much. His appetite increases as it is indulged; the quantity which once intoxicated, now does but just cheer him; he feels a craving, he removes it by excess; he craves again, and becomes miserable, if he does not again receive an extravagant supply. Thus he degenerates into the finished sot; and then, whatever intervals of remorse disturb him, whatever tears flow, whatever promises and vows are uttered, he generally relapses, grows worse and worse, and-dies. It may be easy, O young man, to refrain in these thy sober days; but intemperance, when perfected into a habit, defies the powers of a warning voice, and would in every instance

lead us to withdraw our counsels in despair, but that we recollect, a dying thief has been converted, God is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, with God all things are possible!

We shall be well rewarded, if, by means of this paper, one person, hitherto igno rant and insensible, be led to the Saviour. He will blush and mourn for the past; but his prospects will open into a glorious immortality. Disgusted with the pollutions of the world, and with the excess of riot to which he himself may have run, he will henceforth keep under his body, and bring it into subjection, he will abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; in one word, he will live under the influence of this apostolic and most important exhortation:

"Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

FINIS.

No. 2.

CHRIST'S

Invitation to his Bride.

An Important and Interesting Sermon.

Preached at Ettrick, on a Communion occasion, on the 15th July, 1716.

BY THE REV. THOMAS BOSTON, AUTHOR OF THE BODY OF DIVINITY, FOURFOLD STATE, &c.

LIBRARY

Christ's Invitation to his Bride.

SONG iv. 8.

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions dens, from the mountains of the leopards."

THIS

IIS world was never designed to be the fixed abode of the children of men, and therefore there was a restraint laid upon our first parents in paradise, as to the forbidden tree, shewing that they behoved to look to another world for their happiness. Man was once set fair on the way to the land where glory dwells, but he lost his way, and now poor sinners are found wandering on the mountains of vanity The first Adam managed ill, and brought us into this condition. But behold the second Adam came to gather the dispersed of Israel, and to lead them on their way to the better country. Hear his voice in the text, calling his people to leave the weary world and go homeward with himself.