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"and of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvel«lous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of "Saints." Rev. xv. 2, 3.

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SERMON XI.

FOOLS MAKE A MOCK AT SIN; BUT AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS THERE IS FAVOUR. PROV, xiv. 9.

BEFORE we consider rightly, it may be imagined, that the words of Solomon in this place give encouragement to sin; as if sin were favoured by the righteous, while it is mocked at by fools. But the words have another meaning, and that a very instructive one: they teach us, that fools, those inconsiderate people who are without a proper sense of religion, mock at sin, as a matter of ridicule; while the righteous have compassion upon sinners, as upon persons under the greatest misfortune in this world. He only can mock at sin, who knows nothing of the danger and misery that attends

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attends it. Laughter is, generally speaking, a sign of ignorance it is the lowest faculty of a rational being, and the great instrument which weak people employ upon all occasions. They laugh at godliness, because they see no reason for it; they laugh at seriousness, because their own thoughts are vain and shallow; they laugh at misery, because they are without the tender feelings of humanity; they laugh at sin, because they do not consider the dreadful effects of it; they laugh at what is great and sacred, because they are attached to little and profane objects, Much laughter is, therefore, the symptom of a bad heart, or a mean understanding; and hath always been so reputed. The righteous man, who knows God, and the world, and himself, and considers things as they are, finds no pleasure in mockery; especially, when sin is the object of it. The ruin of an immortal soul; the displeasure of Almighty God; the terrors of everlasting judgment; all of which are inseparable from the consideration of sin, are so serious, that they check the mirth of a righteous man, and dispose him to sentiments of soberness and compassion. Instead of mocking at the sin, he is afflicted for the sinner; he makes every charitable allowance for him, and is ready to do

every thing in his power to deliver him from the effects of his own folly.

On this occasion, we have the fool appearing to us under his worst character, and the righteous under his best. The fool is never so much a fool, as when he becomes censorious, and mocks at sin: the righteous is never so respectable in his righteousness, as when he is favourable and compassionate to sinners. You will readily guess at the reason, why I have chosen to set these things before you at this time*. My desire is to lead you to the proper use which ought to be made of the example we have before us this day in the church; and to stop the mouths of those (if there be any such) who may forget their Christian profession so far, as to mock at the offence, when they ought to be grieved for the offender. I hope very few of those who are here present will be tempted to trespass in this way. They who are sensible of their own sins, and intend to repent of them, will be too wise to mock, either at the sin, or the repentance, of others: and they who, perhaps, at present do not resolve to amend, may yet have sense enough to condemn themselves;

* March 17, 1777, when this sermon was preached, two young women, by their own choice, did public penance in the church, at Pluckley in Kent.

themselves; and that self-condemnation will be sufficient to make them serious.

The time may come when it shall be improved, by the grace of God, into true conversion.

On these considerations, I persuade myself, you will attend to me, while I proceed to shew

you,

First, what sort of person we are to understand by the fool, who is here said to mock at sin.

Secondly, on what principles favour is shewn to sinners by the righteous.

After which I shall make some remarks, and add such advice as shall arise from the subject.

First then, the fool here meant does not signify a person so weak in reason, as to be void of common sense and understanding: but one, who being without a sense of religion, has no consistent rule of action, no proper considerations to him; and is therefore given up to the follies of pride, vanity, selfishness, and all those other evil passions, by which the men of this world are commonly agitated: and a dreadful character it is: the harmless driveller, who can scarcely distinguish between fire and water, is Da prince, when compared with a person whose delight is in mischief, and whose wickedness has made a fool of him. The one knows little

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