their assertions, or give importance to their commands, reproofs, and menaces. To say nothing of the very great reflection which, by such a defence, these persons throw on their own veracity and dignity, it is much to be suspected that the very end, which they propose to themselves by the violation of a plain precept of their religion, is not attained. The most solemn things, when frequently used, lose much of their consequence; one of the reasons why so great a stress is laid upon an oath in a court of justice, is, that it is a mode of affirmation which is uncommon: and therefore he who binds himself by it, is by so much the less likely to be guilty of a falsity.

Now when the same appeal to God is observed on every trifling occasion in our familiar conversation, oaths become of no greater importance than other assertions; and if I would not believe the common swearer on his bare word, so neither would I believe him, whatever imprecation he might add to it, since he is constantly furnishing me with proof that he himself sets no higher value on the one than he does on the other. Is not this the case? Let the blasphemer deny it if he can!-to himself I would refer it, whether the simple affirmation of a serious person does not meet with at least equal credit with his oath?

As to the plea that the orders, the reproofs, or the threats of a person in authority, are more efficacious from being attended with imprecations, it is liable to the same objection which I have

just made; when oaths and curses are used on every occasion, they are no more regarded than other words, they are looked on as coming of course, and those to whom they are directed are not influenced by them in any additional degree. But if the case were otherwise, supposing them to have all the weight that they were expected to have, it is worth our consideration, whether the acquisition of a little temporary authority with our fellow-creatures be worth purchasing at the expence of our eternal salvation.

These are the chief reasons and arguments, which men bring in support of this heinous and too common vice: you see how little there is in them.

I shall conclude with observing, that there are many to be met with, who would be shocked at the idea of plain, downright swearing, with whom it is yet grown into a custom to approach very near to it; they dare not take the name of their Creator in vain in a direct manner, but shew the badness of their intentions by disguising solemn words, till they are less disgusting to the ear, though equally offensive to the judgment. These half-bred reprobates prove that they would be wicked, if they durst; and I know not whether the consciousness of being wrong, which their caution declares, does not augment their criminality. Abstain from all appearance of evil : let us not only be virtuous but let us endeavour to appear so. He who ventures, in defiance of

the remonstrances of his conscience, to approach the borders of any vice, and, much more, he who delights to put on its semblance, too clearly evinces his evil principle; though his words and actions may seem outwardly under some little restraint, his heart is certainly unsound.

Be it our care to aim at perfection: notwithstanding our most strenuous efforts, we shall still, alas! fall too short of it; but if we only endeavour not to be openly profligate, not to be notoriously depraved, and content ourselves with even less than negative virtue, we may be assured we shall never attain that degree of holiness, which can alone entitle us to see the Lord.

SERMON XIV.

ON THE CRUCIFIXION.

PREACHED ON GOOD FRIDAY.

ST. LUKE XXIII. 33.

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.

THIS day being appointed by our church to be kept holy in memory of our Saviour's crucifixion, I shall give you a short account of the principal circumstances which preceded and accompanied that most important event. There being, as we might expect, some small difference in the manner in which the four evangelists relate their story, some of them omitting particulars which others have put down, I shall not confine myself to any one of them, but shall draw from the writings of all the four, whatever may appear to me most worthy of our notice.

When Jesus Christ had finished the work which he came upon earth to perform, when he had given men all the instruction for their conduct

which was necessary, and had proved to them sufficiently, by the miracles which he performed, that he was sent by God, he prepared himself to complete the purpose of his coming, by submitting to a voluntary death; and accordingly, though he well knew the malice of his enemies, and the plots which they were laying for his destruction, he resolutely determined to go up to Jerusalem, at the great feast of the passover. The chief priests and elders of the Jews had all along hated Jesus, partly from envy on account of the innocence of his life, and the great character which his wisdom and his miracles procured him, and partly because he affirmed himself to be the Christ whom their prophets had foretold would come, and whom indeed themselves expected: but they erroneously looked for a very different sort of Christ from him ; they looked not for a meek, an humble, a lowly Saviour, a companion of the poor, and a friend of the distressed, but they flattered themselves with hopes of a mighty prince, who should free them from the yoke of the Romans, to which they now reluctantly submitted, and should enable them to subdue and place them at the head of all the nations of the earth. Their disappointment was great, and their rage at this disappointment not less. The bulk of the people, however, who had been spectators of our Saviour's wonderful works, had seen the dumb made to speak, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, and even the dead raised,-loved and respected him: these