likely to stir up the lusts of your heart, you needlessly expose yourself to these dangers : what can you expect, but that your Heavenly Friend, thus slighted and provoked, will gradually forsake you ? Eve fell by incautiously suffering her ears to listen to the Tempter's voice, and her eyes to gaze on the forbidden fruit. Peter fell by imprudently venturing into the very place, where his courage would be put to the hardest trial. Take warning by these examples. If you copy their misconduct, you will fall like them.

3. Beware of indulging Fleshly Lusts. The Holy Spirit of God is a Spirit of purity : and nothing more effectually grieves Him, than uncleanness and impurity. In this respect especially fleshly lusts war against the soul,” for they drive away Him, who is the soul's best Friend. How offensive sensuality and intemperance are to this heavenly Monitor, St. Paul plainly intimates, when

66 Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the Spirit.” And again, « Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him will God destroy." *

* Ephes. v. 18. – 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.

he says,

“ Abstain," then, my brethren,

« from fleshly lusts.” “ Flee fornication.”

66 Be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness."

Be

pure not only in act, but also in word. “ Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient.” Nay, farther, indulge not impurity even in the thoughts. “ Keep thy heart with all diligence." “ Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.”

4. Beware of practising Deceit and Falsehood. The Devil was a liar from the beginning and the Father of lies. To deal in deceit, and to indulge a false tongue, is especially to do his work, and to show ourselves his servants. Whereas the Holy Spirit is “ the Spirit of Truth." He delighis in truth, and abhors falsehood.

Every lie, whether spoken or acted, (for we may act a lie, as well as speak one,) is a sin directly committed against Him. When Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for the daring lie which they had told, St. Peter expressly tells them, that they had “ lied to the Holy Ghost:” And that they had “ agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord.” * A sin, then, which in this instance was thus

awfully punished, cannot but greatly displease and grieve Him.

66 Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour.”

Avoid most carefully a practice so odious in itself, so ruinous in its consequences, so gratifying to your worst enemy, so offensive to your best and kindest Friend.

5. Beware of profaning the Lord's Day. This is a Day peculiarly set apart for the glory of God, and the good of your Souls. It is a Day, which the Holy Spirit of God more especially employs for carrying on his great and gracious work. It was on this Day, that He came down on the Apostles. It is on this Day, that He is particularly present at His ordinances. He has commanded

you to keep this Day holy, and promises that it shall be a blessed Day, to those who keep it thus. - To profane then this holy Day; to waste it in idleness," in worldly pleasure, or worldly business; to absent ourselves from the ordinances of God, to lose the benefit of hearing his word: what is the evident tendency of such a conduct, but to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and to drive him from our hearts? And how many, by such a conduct, do drive Him from their hearts? How many of those, who die by the hand of the

a

say of

public executioner, date their ruin from this cause! With heartfelt anguish they look back to their early years, when by wasting in sin the sacred hours of the Sabbath, they grieved the Spirit of the Lord, and wearied out his patience and long-suffering towards them. — Be admonished by such examples.

You, who are young, especially take warning. Keep holy the Sabbath-day. Slight not the ordinances of God. Provoke Him not to you, “ He is joined to Idols, let him alone."

6. Beware of cherishing Evil and Malignant Tempers. The Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of Love.

His fruits are meekness, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness. How then can He dwell in that heart where wrath and hatred are suffered to reside? To indulge an angry, unforgiving temper, is expressly said to " give place to the Devil* ;” and consequently to offend and grieve the Holy Spirit of God. No sooner does the Apostle deliver the Admonition in the text, but he immediately adds, as in some respect pointing out his meaning : • Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away

from you, with all malice.” Profit, my brethren, by these directions. Cultivate mild, peaceable, and charitable dispositions. " Be kind one towards another, tenderhearted." Let the heavenly graces of the Spirit abound in you. So shali He delight over you. So shall He seal you unto the day of Redemption.