is fin. This is the plain meaning of that affertion of our Lord's, Matth. vii. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Hence it is that not only the thoughts of the.wicked, but his plowing, and his very facrifice is fin, Prov. xxi. 27. (2.) Whatever refpects, not the glory of God as its end, is fin, 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (3.) Whatever has no refpect to Jefus Chrift, as the only one in whom our perfons or performances can be accepted, is fin, Col. iii. 17. Whatever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jefus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. All the particulars we shall name, will be found crofs to one or all of these three, and therefore finful: though we shall not always particularly infift in proving the finfulness of every one of them, or in naming the particular commands of the decalogue of which they are a breach.

In the 7th and laft place, we premise, that thofe of a middle age and of old age are equally concerned in these fins which we are to lay to the charge of children, with the children themselves, because they were once fuch. Young men and old men were once children, and therefore guilty of the fins of childhood. Old men were once youths, and therefore guilty of the fins of youthhood: and therefore ye are all, the oldeft of you, obliged to take heed what we fay to one or another, because those who are old have been young, and those who are young may be old.

The way being thus cleared, I fhall now proceed to fpeak particularly to, and endeavour the

con,

conviction of the children of the congregation which are now prefent.

Children and young ones, who are this day hearing me, take heed, I have a meffage from God to you. That God who made the heavens and the earth, who made you, and who feeds you daily, has fent me this day to you, to every one of you, as particularly as if I did name you, name and firname, to tell you fad and doleful news. The youngest of you all has finned and come short of the glory of God, that is, ye have done that for which God will certainly caft you, foul and body, into hell fire, if ye get not your peace made with God through Jefus Chrift. You have done that for which God is fo angry at you, that his heart will not pity you, his eye will not fpare you, unless you get Chrift; but as foon as ever your breath goes out, and none of you can tell how foon that may be, he will without mercy turn you into hell, there to be tormented for ever and ever. If ye were not foolish, ye would never play more, nor be merry, till ye got your peace made with God. Now to let you fee that it is true that I tell you, I fhall fhew you what fins ye are guilty of before God.

1. Ye were born finners, Pfal. li. 5. Your parents were all finners; and as your fathers were, fo are ye finners: For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one, fays God by the mouth of Job xiv. 4. When ye came into the world, God might then have fent every one of you to hell, becaufe ye were then all finners: and though God did not then fend you into hell, yet he may do it, and ye cannot tell how foon. If ye take heed, ye may every day hear of fome one or other dying, that was not long before as likely

to

to live as you are, as young as healthy as you are; and if God fhall now come, and call you away by death, what think you will become of you that are not yet reconciled to God? ye will all be fent into hell. But,

2. Tell me, I fay, did you ever refuse to do what your parents, your fathers or your mothers, have commanded you to do? Do you never remember that either your fathers, or your mothers, or your mafter, or it may be the minifter from the pulpit, has told you that you should do fome things, read, pray, be good fcholars, do what your father and mother enjoined you? Well, and have not ye for all that refufed to do it? This is a fin against God; and believe it, dear children, there are fome juft fuch as yourselves burning in hell, for difobeying their parents; and tho' they weep and cry, yet God will never let them out thence.

3. Did never any body reprove you for any thing that ye have done? Did never your father or your mother tell you that some thing, it may be, fwearing, or lying, or forgetting your prayers, was a fin, and would bring you to hell, if ye did not amend? Well, if they did, was not you angry at them? Would you not have been glad to get away from them that told you fuch things? And did not your heart rife against them? Well, this alfo is a great fin. And if this be.not pardoned, God will be fure to turn you into hell for it, Prov. XV. 19. Correction is grievous to him that forfaketh the way, and he that hateth reproof fhall die.

4. Tell me, were you ever defirous to be avenged, or in your own language, to have amends of fome that you thought had done you ill? Were not you vexed, thinking how to get even with them, and would not ye have found in

your

your hearts to have killed them, or to have done them fome mifchief? Well, this is a grievous fin; for God has forbid us to avenge ourselves, Rom.

ii. 19.

5. Tell me, did ye never give any body ill language? Did ye never mifcal your comrades? when you were angry with your neighbour or companion, did ye not ufe opprobrious or reproaching names? I fear moft of you cannot deny it: Well, this again is another fin. Our Lord has faid, that whofoever shall call his brother a fool fhall be in danger of hell fire, Matth. v. 22.

6. Were you never glad when you could get out under your father, or mother, or master's eyes, that ye might take your will, and do thefe things that ye durft not do before them? Now, this is downright atheifm: you did not believe that God is every where, otherwife you would not have prefumed to do that before him, which ye durft not do before your parents, See Pfal. xiv. 1. compared with Rom. iii. 10 and 23.

7. Have not you been glad, when the Lord's day was over; or at leaft, when the preaching was done, that ye might get your liberty? Has it not been a burden to you, to fit fo long in the church? Well, this is a great fin, which was one of the grounds of God's controverfy with his own people, Mal. i. 13. Ifa. xliii. 22. Amos viii. 5. It is to be weary of well-doing against the express command of God, Gal. vi. 9.

8. Tell me, have you not been thinking of other things when ye have been in church hearing fermon? have ye not been thinking of your fport and paftime? or it may be fpeaking to one another in the time of worship? This is another fin whereof you have been guilty; and God counts them

mockers

mockers of him, who draw near with their lips, when their hearts are far away from him, Ifa. xxix. 13.

9. Do you pray to God morning and evening? I fear there fhall many be found who neglect this: and tell me, dear children, what do you think will become of these who pray not? God counts them forgetters of him; and he fays, that the wicked fhall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Pfal. ix. 17.

10. Do ye lie or fwear, and fo take God's name in vain? Did you ever swear by the name of God in your ordinary talk? Or did ye ever make a lie to excufe or hide a fault? These alfo are fins; and God has faid, that liars and fwearers shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimftone, Rev. xxi. 8.

1. I will only put this one question more to you. Did you never go to your play, when ye fhould have been at your prayers? Now take heed; ye know ye have done fo. Well, what think ye will be the end of these who do fo? Because ye will not feek God, he will not fave you; he will reject you, when ye have most need of help.,

Now, dear children, I have a great refpect to you: fain would I have you faved from hell. It is because I defire your good, that I have been telling you your fins. I fhall therefore, before I leave you, (1.) Put fome few queftions to you for your awakening. (2.) I fhall give you a counsel or two. (3.) I fhall give you some encouragements to follow the advices given you.

First then, I would ask you some few questi-· ons; and I beg it of you to take heed how you hear them: And, (1.) tell me, Did ye ever think of death? if you look at a grave when it is open

ed,