nation in the soul, and turns earth into hell. Let us quit the odious and awful object, and proceed,

Secondly, To bring forward some considerations and motives to induce us to be confcientiously honeft in all our employments, business and conversation with our fellow men.

Can we now think a dishonest thought, contrive a difhonest scheme, or be guilty of a dishonest action? Confider the right every man has to enjoy his own, by the laws of nature, reason, religion and society, in respect to his person, property, and character. These blefsings are the benefactions of heaven to all. Their right to the undisturbed possession of them is founded upon the grant of the God of nature and of grace. To hesitate about the title of the lawful owner's quiet enjoyment of them, is to dispute the right of the fupreme and independent proprietor, the Lord Almighty. Therefore, all fraudulent and dishonest practices, from the evil thought in the mind to the highest acts of outrageous violence, are a reverfion of the orders of heaven, a condemnation of equity and wisdom, and an invasion of the throne of God. It is, as a poet inimitably expresses himself in another cafe, to

"Snatch from his hands the balance and the rod,
"Rejudge his justice, be the God of God."

Will the Almighty Sovereign see his creatures and his children rifled of their immunities and blessings, which his goodness and bounty hath conferred upon them, and not conceive resentment? Will he not whet his glittering sword, and his hand lay hold on vengeance? Let all difhonest persons tremble; the eternal God will affert his own prerogative, and maintain the sacred rights of honesty.

Further confider, sincerity and honesty are the very bonds which hold society together. The religious obser

vation of these virtues are the great means to advance its real interests. From whence it is plain, that the neglect or disuse of them must destroy the advantages of society, and threaten its very existence. A dishonest person is a public nuisance, and may be viewed as a common enemy to mankind. None are safe from injuries who have any commerce or dealings with him. Can there be fuch monsters in nature as professing Christians, and yet difhonest men? They sap the foundations of church and state, and are more dangerous than open and declared foes. An avowed enemy may be an honest man, but a deceitful friend cannot. What society, either civil or religious, can be secure, where disingenuity and dishonesty are practised by its members? Can we hold such in estimation, or think favourably of them? How contrary is dishonesty to the treatment we wish and expect from mankind? We resent it when done to ourselves; how should we avoid it in all our traffick with others? Let us never, in any instance, act a dishonest part, or be guilty of a conduct contrary to humanity, reason, and Christianity.

Lastly, Confider the practice of dishonesty is prohibited in a thousand instances in the word of God. The Divine wrath is revealed against it, both in his declarations, and in many examples recorded in the sacred history. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, faith the Lord thy God, Ye shall not steal nor deal falfely, nor lie one to another. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour nor rob him. The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in weight, or in measure. A just balance and just weights shall ye have. The royal preacher informs us, That an unjust weight is an abomination to the Lord. Wo to him, faith the Most High by the prophet, who buildeth bis house by unrighteousness, and bis chambers by wrong; who ufeth his neighbour's fervice without wages, and giveth him not for his work. What doth the Lord say to Christians, by the Apostle James, of difhonest gains? Your gold and filver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat up your flesh as fire. Ye have beaped up treasure together for the last days. Bebold the hire of the labourers which bave reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth, and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Read the vengeance of heaven against dishonest men. Confider the end of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Behold the fate of an oppreffive and difhonest Pharaoh. What infincerity, forfeiture of honour, breach of promises, and cruelty formed his character! And how was his kingdom deluged in blood by the flaying of the first-born; and himself and his whole host overwhelmed in the Red Sea! View the dogs licking the blood of Ahab, in the very place where he shed innocent blood, that he might dishonestly possess himself of his neighbour's vineyard. But there would be no end of retailing horrid instances of this kind.

Let us turn our eyes to our Divine Master upon this head, contemplate his conduct, and the design of the holy religion he instituted. Plain and folemn are his commands upon the mount, as also on other occafions, that honesty be practised between man and man. He has given us an admirable, easy and universal rule of honesty, in that ever-memorable and golden maxim, All things whatfoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even fo unto them, for this is the law and the prophets. How beautiful, excellent and obvious to application is this divine direction! What a system of Christianity is here! And whole codes of morality cannot express more. Do unto all as ye would defire they should do unto you, were you in their circumstances, and they in your's, then you will be honest men and good Christians. Dreadful is the curse which Jesus pronounces upon the dishonest religion-' ists of his day. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, bypocrites, for ye pay tythe of mint and annise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith! that is, ye are neither charitable, honest, nor true believers. Your neglecting honesty-towards your fellow-creatures under the specious pretences of high religion, much devotion, and long prayers, will only bring down more awful vengeance upon your devoted heads. God hates robbery and injuftice; he abhors dishonesty, even for burnt-offerings. The covetous and extortionate are shut out of heaven, and the unjust and dif honest of every complexion shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Confider the sweet, the blessed, and perfect example of Jesus, the mighty Lord and Saviour of the world. Behold him fubmitting to virtuous honesty-rendering to all their dues tribute to whom tribute was due-custom to whom custom-fear to whom fear; and universal love. and benevolence to all mankind. He rendered tribute to Cæfar, subjected himself in all duty to his earthly parents, loved his brethren, and practised, in all things, the most unstained honesty and perfect righteousness.

The great design and tendency of the gospel is to inspire us with an inviolable attachment to piety, morality, and the most exalted honesty. Does not the grace of God, which hath appeared unto all men, teach us to deny all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present evil world? Can they pretend to be Christians, to be followers of the pure and holy Jesus, and form expectations of the cele

stial

stial rewards, who live in deceit and infincerity, and practise injustice and dishonesty? Dishonest men are a blemish to Chriftianity, and a disgrace to our holy religion.

Now, from the confiderations and motives laid before us, let us all be exhorted, my dear brethren, to be perTons of integrity, uprightness, and strict justice. Let us be honest men-let us keep confciences void of offence towards God and man-let us have a good confcience, in all things willing to live honestly. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Persons are often censured in our churches for drunkenness, fornication, &c. but who is ever censured for dishonefly, a crime of a deeper dye? Men may be guilty of a thousand things which are not fair and upright, and no notice taken of them. Yea, they may deceive their neighbour-impose upon him-prove false to their word-break their promifes-withhold his dues, and not only pass uncensured, but be charitably deemed by many as pretty good Christians, though none will trust them as strictly honest. Let us abhor all mean, low and double dealings: Keep yourselves far removed from such evil practices. Attend to honourable industry; be diligent in your callings and occupations, but make not hafte to be rich. Let us be careful to keep our children employed, and our youth to business. I would be far from debarring youth from just and rational recreations. But there is a wide differénce between proper recreations, and sauntering, mischievous idleness. Remember, industry