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I need not point out to you the Miseries of his Situation who is without hope. He has neither refolution to undertake, nor fteadfastnefs to accomplish, any action which may improve his condition. Led by no laudable motive, looking forward to no reward, he wanders upon the Earth in the bitterness of his Soul. Affliction comes upon him, but he bears it not: Temptation beckons him to evil, and he refifts not the invitation. Liftlefs and irrefolute, his mind gradually finks within him; every good principle takes its departure from his heart, and leaves him a prey to the violence of evil Inclination, till he becomes fast bound in the captivity of Sin, the unhappy Child of Mifery and Defpair.

Pursue him one step farther, and pause on his irrevocable doomeven to the worm that dieth not and the fire that never fhall be quenched.

quenched. If his life was without one ray of Hope, what fhall we fay to the dreadful profpect of his future Existence? What can give comfort in that place

"Where Peace

"And reft can never dwell, hope

"never comes

"That comes to all, but torture "without End

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If we can imagine a place of perpetual a punishment, à condition which will never end, where we must receive retribution for the things done in the body, furely we must be ftruck with horror, and endeavour with all our power to avoid fo wretched, fo intolerable a Sate. To have no hope either in this world or the next! dreadful thought! enough to roufe the attention of the

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most

*Mark ix. 44. † Milton's Par. loft B. 1. V. 65.

moft inconfiderate, and make the greatest Sinner tremble.

Knowing, therefore, these terrors of the Lord, t let me perfuade you, before it be too late, to repent of all your Sins, that Iniquity may not be your ruin. God, of his Goodness, hath checked you in the midft of your career of wickedness, that you may have time to put away the evil of your doings, and thro' the merits of your Saviour, regain the happy privileges of the children of his Kingdom. Seize with earneftnefs the opportunity that is now given you: turn to the Strong-hold, even! the rock of your Salvation, and be indeed PRISONERS OF HOPE.

+ 2 Cor. v. 11.

+ Ez. xviii. 13.

SER

SERMON II.

USE OF SOLITUDE IN PRISONS.

PSALM CII, 19, 20...

For he hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary: from Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth, to hear the groaning of the prifoner.

WHEN we confider the infinite

diftance between the Creator of the Univerfe and Man, the work of his hands; when we reflect upon Him, who is perfect in Goodnefs, and then turn our Eyes upon ourselves, who are the Children of

Sin

Sin as well as Mifery, fhall we not hide our faces in the duft, and defire the mountains to fall on us, and the hills to cover us?* The human condition, comes undoubtedly far fhort of perfection, and the Words, men and finners, are joined together which fhould for ever have been kept afunder. This is fufficiently evident to the moft inattentive obferver of Life; nay, this is a truth which the breast of every man will tell him, when he fitteth in his house, when he walketh by the way, and when he lieth down, and when he rifeth up.

But with how much greater force does this Obfervation apply itself to you, my Brethren, who have fo manifeftly offended against Society, as not to be thought worthy to continue in it? I need not particularly mention the feveral crimes that have brought you hither. I truft in God, that

* Luke xxiii. 39.

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