away that he might be alone with God. It was his frequent practice. Sometimes he continued all night in prayer. He re sorted to secret communion with God, as a relief from fatigue, and a preparative for his labors and sufferings. I might notice the reasons which have often been urged, to justify the neglect of retirement. But I shall content myself with one or two remarks. First: It is a clear case, that no business whatever can afford a just excuse for neglecting the duties of secret devotion. Our eternal interests are infinitely important, and must be attended to, though at the expense of our worldly in 1erests. But, secondly, we should take care, that every du; ty have its proper share of attention. Diligence in the concerns of the world will give time for the appropriate duties of religion. Remember these duties, when you lay out your secular business; and undertake no more than you can accomplish consistently with a life of piety. Before engaging in any business of importance, seriously inquire, whether it will allow you suitable time for daily meditation and prayer. If we exercise Christian wisdom in the arrangement of our business, and diligence in the execution of it, no part of our duty needs to be neglected. Life is long enough for the performance of the whole work, which God has given us to do. I now beg your attention, Christian reader, to a few considerations, which show the importance of religious retirement. First. Religious retirement tends to erase the hurtful impres sions, which are made upon the mind by our intercourse with the world. We are apt to receive impressions from what we see and hear. By conversing con. stantly with sensible objects, we are liable to be too much under their influence The things of the world obtain a dangerous ascendency over us. They occu py our thoughts, strengthen our earthly passions, and weaken every sentiment of piety. Religious retirement is fitted to cure these disorders. By withdrawing our attention from sensible objects, it weakens their influence. It gives us opportu nity to consider the vanity of earthly things, and to correct the false estimate, which we before made of them. In seasons of inconsideration and busy care we are prone to set far too high a value upon the riches and honors of the world. But this error is likely to be corrected in retirement. In the silent, solemn hour of secret meditation and prayer, what trifles do earthly riches and honors appear, compared with the riches of Christ, and the honor cometh from God! Intercourse with the world tends to make us familiar with the sight of immoral and sinful practice, and so to wear away all affecting sense of its evil. The continual exhibition of impiety and profaneness gradually dimin ishes the horror, which they once excited in our minds. We are in danger of conforming to the maxims of the world; of sliding insensibly into a compliance with prevailing fashions; and of imbibing the immoral sentiments, which govern others. We are often carried away in knowledge, unless these instructions are reviewed and digested in private. The secret chamber,'the secret grove, or the lonely mountain, has been one of the most profitable schools for the attainment of heavenly wisdom. Thirdly. Retirement is favor with the multitude. Their num ber, noise, and influence overpower us. To our closets we must retire, in order to rise above these impressions, and escape these dangers. In devout retirement we behold the ungodly world pursuing shadows, and going swiftly down to destruc-able, in a high degree, to the en tion. We learn, that conformity to the principles and fashions of the world, is the certain way to perish with the world. Thus we are awakened from our dream, and secured from fatal evils. Secondly. Religious retirement affords the best opportunity for becoming acquainted with God and divine things. Inter course with the busy world, instead of giving any right views of divine things, tends to keep us in ignorance of them, or to instil erroneous opinions into our minds. How can we hope to obtain divine light by having much to do with the world, which lieth in darkness? But retirement withdraws the mind from earthly objects, and puts it in a suitable frame for contemplating the perfections and ways of God. Our best views of these subjects are commonly obtained in retirement. In secret meditation and prayer, we can fix our eye most steadily on heavenly objects, being most free from every thing, which beclouds the sight, or turns it away to other objects. Religious retirement night and morning is the best means of promoting spiritual knowledge. Whereas, without this, every other means will be exceedingly ineffectual. Even the instructions of God's house will - contribute little to our progress joyment of communion with God. Public prayer and family prayer have their peculiar advantages, and ought to be conscientiously performed at their proper seasons. But in neither of them have we the perfect liberty, which may be enjoyed in secret. When secluded from the world, we can best discover our wants, and most unreservedly make them known to God. We can most attentively examine our hearts and our lives, and thus prepare ourselves for the most penitent confession. The clearer views of God, which are obtained in retirement, excite more ardent love, and more unwavering hope. Never, perhaps, can believers say, with such earnest feeling, as in retirement; As the hart panteth after the water-brook, so panteth my soul after thee, my God. Thou art my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. Fourthly. Retirement affords peculiar assistance in the mortification of sin. Amid the business and pleasures of the world, even Christians are apt to be insensible of their moral corruptions. While a thousand objects invite and forcibly engage our attention, we have little opportunity, and often less inclination, to look into our own hearts, and search out the deceitful workings of sin there. The world not only prevents us from ob serving the corrupt affections of our hearts, but affords much to nourish and increase them. By its evil customs, it furnishes the heart with many pleas to justify sin. It keeps out of view the law of God, the perfect standard of holiness. Against all these evils, retirement is a powerful defence. In pious solitude we have leisure to look within our selves, and discover the corruptions of our hearts. And as the objects, which excite those corruptions, are withdrawn, ⚫ e are under peculiar advantages to make progress in sanctification We can expose the excuses, by which indwelling sin justified itself. We can perceive the falsity of the maxims, by which the world has so often misguided us. We find that the advantages, which a déceived heart expected to obtain from sin,have not been obtained; or, if obtained that they are worse than nothing, being the price of our innocence. We can make penitent co fession before God, set a guard against future snares, and apply to that precious blood which cleanseth from all sin. Fifthly. Retirement directly contributes to the growth of grace. While the corruptions of the heart thrive most amid the hurrying business and tempting pleasures of the world; grace flourishes most in retirement. True grace is modest and humble. It seeks not the public eye. It operates with the great est freedom, when no one sees, but God. When surrounded with earthly objects, we find many hindrances to the exercise of holiness. The objects of religion are out of sight, and our attention is occupied with other VOL. X. things. And are we not sometimes guilty of checking the impulse of grace in our hearts, lest, by yielding to its influence, we should incur the reproaches of the world? In retirement it is. not so. When conversing in pious solitude with God, we fear not man. The world with its allurements and terrors, is far out of sight. Divine and eternal objects are present to our view. We have opportunity undisturbedly to contemplate the errors and vanities of the world, the value of the soul, the Leauty and glory of God, the excellence of Christ, approaching death, judgment, and eternity. With these great o jects in view, love, repentance, faith, and every grace is excited. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory. Sixthly. Retirement not only excites and strengthens the holy affections of believers at the present time. but by inspiring them with firmer resolution and constancy, prepares them for future scenes Few Christians pass much time in the company and business of the world, without finding their pious resolution weakened. Their minds must be col.stantly raised and invigorated, furnished for duty and armed against temptations, by secret reflection and prayer. Besides the direct, natural which secret devotion has upon them, it secures that divine as. sistance, without which their own strength is weakness. influence Religious solitude prepares Christians for the day of adversi ty. In retirement, they learn what the world is, and what expectations they have a right to 32 humble hope of persevering in goodness, and of enjoying forever the friendship of the unchangeable God! How substantial, how purifying, how supporting, these pleasures are, no man can fully describe. indulge of enjoyment here. They see that all is vanity and vexation of spirit. They accustom themselves to anticipate the day of adversity. Their thoughts become familiar with all the common trials of life. Thus they are prepared for affliction, so that they are not surprised : and thrown into confusion when the time of trouble comes. Their previous reflections and prayers with reference to afflic tion have given firmness and strength to endure. It is in a great measure by devout meditation and secret converse with God that they are prepared for the solemnities of the final judging to the impenitent heart. - ment. Finally. Devout retirement affords the purest pleasure. They, who know not the pleasures of secret religion, are just ly objects of compassion These pleasures as much exceed the pleasures of the world, as divine and heavenly things exceed those which are earthly, or as eternity exceeds a moment. What an unspeakable pleasure is it to devout souls in retirement, to be freed for a while from the noise and wickedness of the world; to look at temptation as distant; to see themselves out of man's reach, and to be able to indulge within themselves, this holy, triumphant thought; let the world say and do what it will; let it fatter or frown; Iere in my pious retirement I am safe; here I am happy, for God is with me. What pleasure do Christians derive in retirement, from the undisturbed exercise of holy affection; from unwavering confirulence in God and submission to his will; from the contemplation of divine truth; and from the The foregoing remarks suggest the reason, why impenitent sinners dread the hour of secret meditation, and restrain prayer before God. It is not because secret prayer would intrude upon the proper business of life, and occupy time, which might be better employed. They shun retirement, because it brings to view objects which are displeas Should they give themselves in secret to the sober consideration of eternal things, they would discover the unlawfulness of their favorite pursuits; they would behold the wrath of God and the approaching end of all their pleasures. Their consciences would be awakened, their enjoyment interrupted, and distressing fears excited. This is the great reason why the wicked shun religious retirement, and find no pleasure in sacred duties. Moral impurity is pained at the sight of infinite holiness. It is wounding to the love of worldly pleasures, to see that those pleasures must have an end; and what can be more distressing to guilt, than to see the face of a righteous, Almighty Judge! In this subject, candid reader, you have a criterion of character. The followers of Christ possess his Spirit. That holy communion with God, in which he had such enjoyment, is full of enjoyment to them. When they can retire from earthly scenes, and converse humbly with God, their souls are satisfied as with marrow and fatness. There is no possibility of enjoying the blessedness of heaven without a heart to delight supremely in communion with God. The same disposition, which renders men dissatisfied with the worship and service of God in this life, would render them much more dissatisfied with the worship and service of God in heaven. In heaven there is nothing but religion. The holy service ceases not day or night. How can they, who are tired and disgusted with the little religion found among the saints on earth, be satisfied with the perfect uninterrupted religion of the heavenly state. From the praises and joys of the celestial world they would turn away with dis. gust, saying, Oh what a weariness! When will it be ended! Follower of Christ, receive the admonition, which is here administered to you. Is it not to the omission, or careless performance of secret duties, that you must in a great measure ascribe your low attainments in religion? What knowledge of God and divine things might you have attained what mortification of sin,--what spiritual mindedness,what usefulness, what eminence in grace,-what preparation for the presence of God in heaven, had you, with suitable diligence, employed the opportunities afforded you for religious retirement! Penitently review past neglects; and for the future guard against every thing, which would inter. rupt communion with God. Resolve to live as Jesus lived. But remember your weakness and inconstancy, and repair cone tinually to God in whom is everlasting strength. A SHORT SERMON. No. II. MARK X, 20. All these have I observed from my youth. "ALL these have I observed froni my youth"-my childhood-my infancy. Self-deceived young man! Little had he attended to the subject, when he thus declare ed, that he had kept the commandments. Little did he know of the spirituality and extent of the divine law. Little had he examined his heart, or considéred in what true obedience consists, He probably had not openly violated the letter of those moral precepts, to which bis declaration related, by actually committing murder or adultery; by fraudulent dealing or false accusation. In the view of his fellow men, therefore, who looked on the outward appearance alone, and in his own superficial view, he had kept these commandments. But all this might be done under the influence of the most sordid and selfish motives-upon principles of mere worldly wisdom-with a supreme regard to public opinion, or human authority, or private emolument. All this might be done without the obedience, of the heart-without submission to the will of God-without religious principle-without exercising one holy affection, or performing one act truly virtu ous and good in the sight of Heaven. That the person, who made |