there, except Lot and two of his children; becaufe their wickednefs was great, and they laughed and mocked at pious Lot, who warned them to repent. You have heard, how he made the earth open its mouth, and fwallow up Korah, and a number of ungodly people, and their wicked children with them; because they murmured against him, and would not obey his commands. They all funk down alive into the pit, with fuch dreadful outcries, that the people who stood near fled away, for fear that the earth would fwallow them up too. You have heard, how a number of profane children, who mocked at a godly prophet, were torn in pieces by wild beafts-you have heard, how Ananias and Sapphira were ftruck dead in a moment for telling a lie-you have heard, how the fons of Aaron were confumed by fire from God, because they were profane in his house, and would not honour him, when they drew near to him.

From these things you know, that God will punish fin. If fuch is its punishment in this world, What will it be in the next? The men of Sodom, Chrift tells us, muft appear at the judgment. They fuffered much in the deftruction of their city. They muft fuffer much more in the place of torments. And yet it fhall be more tolerable for them, than for thofe finners who will not hear and obey Chrift fpeaking in his gofpel.

You fhould fear God, because he is gracious and merciful.

There is forgiveness with him that he may be feared. You are therefore required to fear the Lord, and his goodness. Though he hates fin, and will punish obftinate finners, yet he will forgive those who repent. Have you not often seen, how ready your parents are to forgive your offen

ces, when they fee that you are forry for them? Now, as a father pities his children, fo the Lord pities them who fear him. If a parent, who is evil, will give good things to his children, how much more will God, who is merciful as no other is, give his holy spirit to them who ask him? He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but had rather that they would turn and live. He therefore commands them to repent-He calls to them, "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die ?" He fent Jefus Chrift into this world to call finners to repentance. He gave up his own fon to death in their stead, that they might live through him. Through Chrift he will freely forgive all, who, being really forry for their fins, forfake them, and pray for grace that they may, and refolve through grace that they will, walk in newness of life.

Now you fhould be afraid to fin against God, who has done fo much for you, and is fo ready to pardon and fave you.

*

Do you not fometimes think how kind and bountiful God is to you? How he gives you health and food and raiment? How he preferves and keeps you from day to day? Many have died younger than you: and many of those who live, have not all thofe comfortable things which you have. And befides these earthly comforts, he has given his word to inftru&t you; his fon to die for you; his fpirit to work in you; and his promifes to encourage you. Though you have finned, if you repent of fin, and pray to him, he will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and will remember your fins no more.

The goodnefs of God fhould lead you to repentance: But if you despise the riches of his goodnefs, you treasure up to yourselves wrath against the day of wrath.

I have fhewn you, why you should fear God. I will now,

SECONDLY, fhew you, how you fhould fear him. If you fear him as you ought, you will be careful to please him in every thing, and watchful not to offend him in any thing.

1. If you fear God, you will defire to know what he requires of you. You will not live carelessly, and run along blindly, doing any thing, and every thing, whether right or wrong, juft as it happens to please your inclination; but you will prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. You will read his word as you are able. If you cannot read it well, you will learn to read it better. You will attend when you hear others read it. You will hearken to your parents when they inftruct you; and you will make enquiry, when you are in doubt, what you ought to do. You will not give all your vacant hours to sport and play but will take pains to improve in the knowledge of God and his will, that you may fear him more, and ferve him better.

2. If fear God, you you will pray to him. And you will pray often-every day, every night and morning. You will humbly afk him, not only to fupply your outward wants, and preferve you from death, but also to forgive your fins and fave your fouls. You will daily look back and confider what evil words you have spoken, finful actions you have done, and foolish thoughts you have indulged; and you will ask God's mercy to forgive what is paft, and his grace to keep you in time to

come.

God loves to hear children pray to him. He has promised, that they who feek him early shall find him. It was faid of king Jofiah, that while he was yet young he began to feck the Lord, and

did that which was right in his fight, and declined not to the right hand, nor to the left. And God made him to profper. You must, as he did, feek unto God betimes; for God is nigh to them who call on him; efpecially to those who seek him early. David fays to Solomon his fon, "Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and knoweth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou feek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forfake him, he will caft thee off forever."

3. If you fear God, you will remember the fabbath-day, and keep it holy. This is God's day; a day on which you are to honour him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasures, nor speaking your own words. You must keep this day holy, that fo you may ferve God better every day. You must employ the whole of the day religiously; and efpecially keep your hearts, when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the facrifice of fools. We read of fome who are in almost all evil, in the midft of the congregation and affembly. Let there be none of these among you. Think how pious Jacob felt, when he confidered himself in the prefence of God. "Surely God is in this place, and I knew it not. How dreadful is this place! This is no other than the house of God: This is the gate of heaven."

4. If you fear God, you will govern your tongues, knowing that for every finful, every idle word that you speak, you must give an account in the day of judgment.

David fays to children, "I will teach you the fear of the Lord-What man is he that defireth life, that he may fee good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."

You must not take the name of God in vain must not mock at holy things; muft not talk of God, of heaven, of hell, in a careless, unmeaning, profane manner. If you thus talk, God will not hold you guiltlefs. You remember, that when little children fcoffed at a good old prophet, God, in anger, fent bears among them, which tare them in pieces. What then will become of you, if you mock God himself? Never fpeak falfely. If you fear God, you must keep your lips from guile from lying. "A lying tongue

is abomination to the Lord." All liars fhall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimftone, in the place prepared for the devil and his angels And it is juft they should have their part there, for they imitate the devil; they act as his children. He was a liar from the beginning, and is the father of liars.

Abhor all filthy and unclean talk. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is pure and wholesome, and fit to be heard. Let not uncleannefs be once named among you, nor foolish talking and jefting; but let your speech be always with grace; with decency and propriety, as becomes virtuous and holy children.

5. If you fear God, you will not contend and quarrel with one another, but will be friendly and peaceable. When David teaches you the fear of God, he fays, "Depart from evil, and do good; feek peace and purfue it."

How odious it is for children to fall into violent paffions with one another; to threaten and strike in anger; and to ufe vile and provoking names! Chrift fays, "They whoare angry with others without a cause, and call them fools, fhall be in danger of hell fire." He calls children "his lambs." You