principles and privileges: that if you ask its advice, you can follow your own opinion; and that if you profess to please it, you are not afraid to offend it. Would you marry an enemy of your own, before you believed there was a change of disposition wrought in him? And why? Because you love yourselves this would prevent it. And if the love of God prevailed in your hearts, would you marry an enemy to God before you discerned in him an evidence of conversion? Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee, and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them mine enemies.' 'What do ye more than others?' Should not the line of distinction between the church and the world be not only real, but visible? Should not the Christian universally appear? Are not his choice and refusal, as well as his sorrow and joy, to evince the empire of religion? 'Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' These are the injunctions of God. And we are to

'esteem all his commandments concerning all things to be right, and to hate every false way.' Again. We call upon you to remember the duties enjoined upon Christians with regard to their households. The discharge of these duties in married life requires union, countenance, assistance. They cannot be performed to advantage, if at all, where in the heads of the family, there is a contrariety of convictions, dispositions, and pursuits. Peter therefore enforces his admonition upon husbands and wives by this motive, that your prayers be not hindered.' For imagine the case we are condemning. Does the man seek the glory of God in all he does, and the woman her own glory? Does the woman make the will of God her rule, and the man his own will? Instead of striving together, they draw adversely, and the design of the union is defeated. Are there children? Some will be likely to adhere to the father; some to the mother. Are there servants? Some will be likely to attach themselves to the master; some to the mistress. Thus the husband and wife will probably keep a perpetual watch over each

other, unwilling to lose any of their respective influence; and the house will be divided against itself.

We observe also, that we personally need every assistance we can receive in our passage to heaven. There is surely enough in ourselves, and in the way we travel, to keep us back without engaging any one constantly to retard our progress, either by opposition or diversion! What need often have we of counsel in spiritual darkness and doubts; of comfort in soul-trouble; of stimulation by reproof or example in our religious languors! 'Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but wo to him that is alone when he walketh: for there is not another to help him up.' He is a friend indeed, who knows the road, will journey with us, and afford us seasonable succour: but what assistance is to be derived from one who has no eyes or hands, or who is going in a contrary direction? Is it enough when we want daily and hourly support, that a companion will not try to interrupt us?

For here-and this is another consideration -here not to help, is to hinder. The very attraction of the mind from high and holy things by continual discourse about other subjects, will be no inconsiderable detriment. For it is by the frequent recurrence of divine. things in our thoughts and in our conversation, that we become spiritually-minded, and continue so. Pious emotions may be starved, where they are not assassinated. Fire will be extinguished immediately by water: but it will go out in time, even for want of fuel.

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But we do not go too far when we say, an irreligious connexion is likely to prove the most effectual instrument in the world to injure us, not only by weakening impressions, chilling our affections, and drawing us off by degrees from various duties, but also by perverting the judgment, and enticing to sin. They were mingled with the heathen, and learned their works; and they served their idols which became a snare unto them.' 'Evil communications corrupt good manners.' And here several additional things should be seriously considered. For instance,

The example is near-is always in sight. Evil has more power over us than good. An oath when heard, will make a deeper impression than a prayer. Profane images are more easily retained in the mind than pure ones. Evil falls in with our depravity; and always finds in us a friend to welcome and to strengthen it.

The danger is greater if the unconverted party be the husband, as he has the advantage of superior authority and influence.

The more attachment there is, the greater the hazard of moral injury: for affection is wonderfully assimilating. Like fire, it reduces every thing it seizes into its own nature. We are always in a great measure the same with the object of our regard. The image, by its frequent entrance into the mind, and by its residence there, leaves its impression and resemblance.

But if you should escape unhurt morally, which would be little less than a miracle, still you may experience bitter trials; and under these crosses you will not be able to look up to God for support and deliverance with the same