devotes himself, with soul and body, to fulfil the desires of the flesh and of the mind. He submits to this bondage of corruption as one that is sold under sin, and wants power to cease from the base servitude. Nor does a single lust or a single pleasure suffice for his occasions; to complete his bondage, divers lusts are called in to lord it over him with more effectual power. The lust of the flesh demands sensual indulgence, and will not be denied; the lust of the eye calls for bravery and vain show; the pride of life disdains mediocrity in things, and demands its appropriate distinctions of wealth, and pre-eminency of station, or celebrity of fame, above other men. To each of these in turn-for their name is

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legion" they are many in their modifications, is the natural man servile, and on these is he dependent for pleasure. Do we say pleasure, and under such task-masters ? Miserable pleasures, indeed-pleasures on which reason and conscience cannot look but to condemn them-pleasures that wound the peace, and waste the means of life, and lay up a treasure of wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. To have pleasure is the desire of every creature, but to make pleasure—

the pleasures of sense too-the great object in life; to sacrifice the good of time and eternity for such pleasures as the world af fords; to relinquish truth, religion, and God himself, for pleasure, is base, ignoble, and impious. To serve divers lusts and pleasures, is, in truth, the worst slavery. In vain does such a slave to passion and pleasure boast of liberty and independence; he is the very servant of sin. Its pleasures are poor wages; and "because of these things," excusable as they seem at worst to the carnal mind, "cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

But having viewed unregenerate man in his individual character, we are next shown how such do act and feel in their social relations. Bring together and place in society a number of men, of whom each is "foolish, disobedient, and serving divers lusts and pleasures;" from such elements we cannot expect a laudable community. The restraints of law and public opinion may moderate the excesses of passion and selfishness, and confine them within certain apparent bounds; but no coercion will bind closely and cordially together such crooked and discordant materials. Hence, to finish the picture he is drawing of unregenerate men, the

apostle applies these concluding touches

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Living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." Their folly is malicious, and their pleasures harden the heart. Their follies come in contact in the career of sin, and miserable collisions take place. While each pursues his own pleasures, regardless of others, he hates those who obstruct and disappoint him in his aims; he envies those who have been more successful than himself. Sensuality and lust deaden the finer sensibilities and sympathies of nature, and render men selfish, cruel, and inhumane. In proportion as a man falls under the dominion of lust, every generous feeling is quenched, and hateful selfishness domineers over him. The unregenerate man is hateful in himself; and in proportion as he is known, he is hated by other men. Indeed, there is nothing in sin to gain the esteem of reason; and no result is more common than the mutual hatred of fellowworkers in iniquity. The glow of passion colours evil for a while, and hides its deformity; but sin has nothing amiable in itself to secure affection. The unrenewed sinner is a hateful object in the eye of reason; and even those who resemble him, hate in him the likeness of their own unsightliness.

Now, let an impartial observer of life take notice of what passes in the world around him; let him listen to the uncharitable constructions, the envious censures, and the malicious reports which it is the delight of many to circulate against others; let him mark the operation of retaliating passionthe vindictive feelings which are cherished -the rancorous tempers kept alive-and the malevolent actions so frequently done by man to man; and the life of malice will be obvious. Some are benevolent occasionally, but habitually the reverse; and if others refrain from positive hostility, they also withdraw kindness. In fact, men in the bitterness of unforgiven and unmortified sins, never want an object of dislike on whom to expend the malice that dwelleth in him. It is a restless principle, which may transfer its action from one object to another, but can never be still; it will fix on the excellent of the earth, and on all that is blessed in heaven, rather than suspend its exercise in the natural man: while among his fellows in vice, his own offensive and unamiable character is repaid with equal detestation. "Hateful, and hating one another;" we see it in national quarrels, written in

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characters of blood; we see it in the feuds and factious contentions that agitate whole communities, without a patriotic cause; we sometimes see it in the domestic broils and unlovely demeanour of kindred and friends -kindred held together by no kindly ties –friends by condition, not by affection and cordiality. Hateful, and hating one another;" what a contrast this affords to "the wisdom from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, and full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." « Hateful, and hating one another," this finishes the sad display. Could any thing more be added? More would have seemed the character of lost spirits in hell. With such characters before us, how can we but press upon them the necessity of conversion? And will not genuine philanthropy constrain us to testify to them, that to come to heaven, verily, they must be born again.

Such is the retrospect of an enlightened mind, reviewing the former condition of an unregenerate state. There was a time when the Apostle thought otherwise of himself; and in those days of self-esteem, he would