Riches, and Equipage, Beauty, Learning and Honour, and divers other Things.

Pride is a Man's overvaluing himself on Account of fome natural, or acquired, or imaginary Gifts, or Excellencies; it is when a Man thinks of himself more highly than he ought to do.

Proud Perfons are Idols to themselves, and Tranfgreffors of the firft Commandment, and have not that Love to God, that Reverence of him, or that Humility of Mind which are their Duty; and God admonishes them by awful Threatnings.

In Ifaiah ii. 11, 12. the Prophet fays, The lofty Looks of Man fhall be humbled, and the Haughtinefs of Men fhall be bowed down, and the Lord alone fhall be exalted in that Day. For the Day of the Lord of Hofts fhall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. And in Confirmation of this it is added v. 17. And the Loftiness of Man fhall be bowed down, and the Haughtiness of Men fhall be made low: and the Lord alone fhall be exalted in that Day, i. e. in the Day wherein he vifits for Sin.

And concerning Women it is declared in Isaiah iii. 16. Moreover the Lord faith, Because the Daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with ftretched forth Necks, and wanton Eyes, walking, and mincing as they go, therefore the Lord will fmite with a Scab the Crown of the Head of the Daughters of Zion: V. 17.

And the Prophet declares v. 18. In that Day (viz. of Visitation for Sin) the Lord will take away the Bravery of their Ornaments, and greatly afflict them (read v. 18. to the End of v. 24.)

Pride goeth before Deftruction, and an haughty Spirit before a Fall, it is faid Prov, xvi. 18.

The Prophet Ezekiel (in Ezek. xvi. 49.) said to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, Behold this was the Iniquity of thy Sister Sodom, Pride, Fulness of Bread (i. e.

C 2

Luxury)

Luxury) and abundance of Idleness was in her, and in ber Daughters. And what was the Confequence? Truly, a moft dreadful and utter Destruction by Fire and Brimstone.

This Example of the divine Vengeance (with the Threatnings mentioned) they who indulge themfelves in Pride, Luxury, and Idleness, have Reason to be afraid, when the righteous God executeth his Judgments for Sin.

V. Perfons who are Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God, are another Sort that have Reason to expect a terrible Feeling of the Wrath of the Almighty, when he vifits for Sin.

Senfual Delights engross the Affections of many People. It is the chief Thing they seek after; for which they take unwearied Pains, and are at Expences far beyond what their Incomings will allow; and for the Enjoyment of which many impoverish themselves and their Families.

And are not they who love Pleasures more than they love God, are they not in a black List? and placed with Blafphemers, falfe Accufers, incontinent, fierce, Defpifers of thofe that are good, Traitors, &c. See 2 Tim. iii. 2-4.

And do not they love their Pleasures more than they love God, who neglect the Duties they owe to God, for the Sake of being present at places of publick Diverfions and Entertainments?

If a Man takes all Opportunities of being in the Company of one Acquaintance, and industriously fruns the Company and Converfation of another, it is plain, to a Demonftration, that he loves the one, and diflikes, and hates the other:

And thus, as to the Lovers of Pleasure, it is most evident, that they are Haters of God, and some of his Enemies.

They go with ardent Defires to Plays, Operas, and other Places of fenfual Delights, but will not endure

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endure the Performance of religious Exercises in their Families, or Clofets, nor will go to the Places of publick Worship.

And will not the Moft High fhew his Indignation against thofe, when he is rifen out of his Place to punish People for their Iniquities?

What God faid concerning Babylon, manifefts his Indignation against this Sort of Sinners; and that they have Cause to expect the bitter Fruits of it. Therefore bear now this, thou that art given to Plea fures, that dwelleft carelefly-----these two Things ball come to thee in a Moment, in one Day, the Lofs of Children, and Widowhood, they shall come upon thee in their Perfection. Ifa. xlvii. 8, 9.

The Prophet fays, Woe unto them--the Harp, and the Viol, and Tabret, and Pipe, and Wine are in their Feafts, but they regard not the Work of the Lord, neither confider the Operation of his Hands. Ifa. v. 11.

And the Prophet Amos fays, Woe to them that are at Eafe in Zion-Ye that put far away the evil Day, and caufe the Seat of Violence to come near; that lie upon Beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their Couches, and eat the Lambs out of the Flock, and the Calves out of the midst of the Stall; that chant to the Sound of the Viol--that drink Wine in Bowls, and anoint themfelves with the chief Ointments; but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Jofeph. See Amos vi. 1-7. and read Deut. xxviii. 15. ad finem.

The holy God will put an End to their Pleasures, and bring them to weeping, and howling, and bicter Lamentation, when he vifits a People for their Iniquities.

The Prophet fays, in Ifa. xxviii. 21, 22. For the Lord fhall rise up as in Mount Perazim, he fall be wroth as in the Valley of Gibeon, that he may do his Work, bis strange Work; and bring to pass his At, bis ftrange Act. Now therefore be ye not Mockers, left your Bands be made strong; for I have heard from

the

the Lord God of Hofts, a Confumption even determined upon the whole Earth.

Then the Mirth of Tabrets ceafeth, the Noife of them that rejoice endeth, the Joy of the Harp ceafethAll Foy is darkened, the Mirth of the Land is gone, (Ifaiah xxiv. 8, 11.) Thus it will be, when God is punishing the Inhabitants of a Land for their Iniqui

ties.

Then will I caufe to ceafe from the Cities of Judah, and from the Streets of Jerufalem, the Voice of Mirth, and the Voice of Gladness, fays the righteous God, fpeaking of the Time when he would inflict his Judgment for the Iniquities of his People.

These Declarations of the Almighty deserve the Notice of them who indulge themselves in fenfual Pleasures.

VI. PROFANERS of the holy Name of God, are another Sort of Sinners that have Reason to expect Punishment in the Day of Vifitation for Sin.

I understand by Profaneness, an irreligious Treatment, by Words or Actions, of fomewhat facred, in Violation of the divine Laws concerning it.

God is greatly to be feared in the Affembly of the Saints and to be had in Reverence of all them that are about him, (Pfalm lxxxix. 7.) Holy and reverend is bis Name, (Pfalm iii. 9.)

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All the Names, the Titles, Attributes, the Providence and Word of the Moft High, even every Thing by which he has made himself known, ought always to be mentioned and treated with Serioufnefs and Reverence.

But all thofe Words and Actions of Men relating to them, which fignify a Contempt of them, or a Want of Reverence to God, are Inftances of Profaneness,

Thou

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain. Exod. xx. 7.

People take the Name of God in vain, when they use or mention it for trifling and vain Purpofes; as many do in common Difcourfe, without any Occafion; and when it can only ferve to fhew an Irreverence of the Great Jehovah, and to fet bad Examples to all that hear them:

But let fuch profane Sinners remember, that tho' they may escape Punishment from Men, yet the Lord will not hold them guiltless, and let them confider the tremendous Import of that Declaration.

It is yet a more aggravated Profaneness of the Name of God, when Men fwear falfely by it; because it is an impious Calling on God, or appealing to him, as Witness to a Falfehood, and is a concealing of Truth, or fomething which fhould be known, and is often injurious to others. It is fpeaking a Lye with an Oath.

Hear ye this-which fwear by the Name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Ifrael, but not in Truth, not in Righteousness, faid the holy God to his People, Ifaiah xlviii. 1. Will ye fwear falfelyAnd come, and ftand before me, and fay, we are delivered to do all thefe Abominations.-Behold, even I bath feen it, faith the Lord. Therefore I will caft you out of my fight. Jer. vii. 9, 11.

Because of Swearing the Land mourneth, said the Prophet, Jer. xxiii. 10.

Hear the Word of the Lord, ye Children of Ifrael, (faid Hofea) for the Lord hath a Controversy with the Inbabitants of be Land, because there is no Trub, nor Mercy, nor Knowledge of God in the Land. Therefore fhall the Land mourn. Hof. iv. 1, 3.

This is the Curfe that goeth forth over the Face of the whole Earth, for every one that ftealeth fhall be cut

off,