vailed, by the superior light and advantag es against which they have sinned.

4. If the sinfulness of wrong actions is in proportion to the light against which they are committed; then the same practices may not be equally sinful in different persons.-Different persons have different advantages, and are favored with different degrees of light. Consequently the same sinful practices, in different persons, cannot possess the same measure of guilt.-It is wrong for any person, who has the smallest acquaintance with the truths of the gospel, to be cold, indifferent, and unaffected under them; but his stupidity cannot be so sinful, as that of one who is greatly his superior in religious knowledge. President Edwards somewhere remarks," When others have come to talk with me about their souls concerns, and have expressed the sense they had of their own wickedness in very strong terms; I have thought their expressions seemed exceedingly faint and feeble, to represent my wickedness." When we take into view the superior light, and high knowledge of Divine things, for which this eminent servant of Christ was so much distinguished; it is not at all incredible, that his remaining sins should appear, in the eye of God, and in his own eyes, as peculiarly aggravated.-It is wrong for children, who have been trained up in ignorance, irreligion, and vice, to continue in those practices to which their education has addicted them; but such children cannot be so inexcusable or guilty, in breaking the Sabbath, neglecting the sanctuary, and profaning the name of God, as others must be in doing the same, who have been trained up" in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."-In estimating the characters of individuals, as well as communities, we must take into

consideration, not only their sinful practices, but the light and advantages, in opposition to which these practices are indulged. In this way also we should estimate our own characters. It is not certain that we are better than others, because our vices are less palpable and glaring; for our advantages may have exceeded theirs, far more than their vices can be thought to exceed ours.

5. If the guilt of wrong actions is in proportion to the light against which they are committed; ther we may see a reason why the pure gospel of Christ bas not been perpetuated in any particular country or place. The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem and Palestine; but for many centuries, its joyful sound in those regions was no longer heard.

Next, it extended itself into Greece, Africa, and the lesser Asia. But the once flourishing Churches of Corinth, Ephesus, and Egypt, have long been prostrated, and their candlestick has been removed out of its place. The gospel was next preached, and numerous Churches were established, in Italy. But these gave place to a night of Papal usurpation and darkness, which is brooding over Italy to the present hour. Upon the reformation from Popery, the pure gospel was first preached in Germany and Switzerland. But in many of the Churches established by the Reformers, the light of truth has been quenched by a flood of errors ; while in others, it has often seemed ready to expire. In this way, the gospel has been shifting from land to land, and from one quarter of the globe to another. It has been perpetuated; but not in any particular country or place. We do not inquire for the natural causes which have operated to bring about this state of things; but rather for the final cause. Why has it been the pleasure of the Supreme Disposer, to order

events in this particular manner? When his gospel has become established in any place, why not suffer it to remain? Why must it be taken from one nation, to be given to another? I answer confidently-on account of the great wickedness of those who have enjoyed it.* Nor does it appear, that the vices of those, from whom it has been taken, have been in themselves more gross than those of the nations to whom it has been given; but their vices have been peculiarly aggravated, in having been committed against the light of truth. There is no evidence, that during some of the first centuries of the Christian era, the West of Europe was not as deeply sunk in superstition and vice, as the West of Asia. But the vices of Asia had this dreadful aggravation attending them, they were committed against the clear light of the gospel.

It is a fearful thing, my friends, to sin under the gospel, and against the gospel. The light which it sheds, necessarily places all who enjoy it in a solemn and critical situation. If they improve it, it will be attended with everlasting blessings; but if they slight and abuse it, it will render their guilt and doom many fold more aggravated and dreadful.

6. If the sinfulness of wrong actions is in proportion to the light against which they are committed; then in falling into the mistakes and defects of our fathers in regard to several religious subjects, we shall be altogether more inexcusable and guilty than they.-A veneration for worthy ancestors is highly commendable; and no people, I think, have ever had more reason to venerate their ancestors, than ourselves. Still we are not bound to copy their defects; and especially in regard to those subjects wherein we are blessed with a vastly clearer light.

*See Matthew, xxi, 43.

For instance, some of the fathers of New-England cannot well be cleared from the charge of indulging a persecuting spirit; but with our superior light relative to religious liberty and rights, should we follow them in this respect, we should be vastly more inexcusable and criminal than they.-A similar remark may be made in regard to revivals of religion. When Whitefield and the Tennents passed over this country, and revivals followed them; they were opposed, in some instances, even by pious Ministers and Christians. Their conduct in opposing them was certainly criminal, and it may be curses have followed it; still I do not think opposition to revivals at that period was any thing, compared with such opposition The truth is, revivals then were little known, and little understood; and hence, the origin, nature, and permament good effects of them were the more liable to suspicion. But this cannot be pleaded in extenuation of those who oppose revivals of religion now. Such do it, and must incur the responsibility of doing it, in opposition to the clearest light; and they are in great danger, as it seems to me, of committing that sin unto death, which hath never forgiveness.

now.

The same view may be taken relative to exertions and sacrifices, for the universal prevalence of the Redeemer's kingdom. This is a subject which our fathers did not properly understand, and consequently did not feel. The light in respect to it was not exhibited; and they remained in a measure insensible of their obligations, to pray, and labour, and contribute, and make sacrifices, for the spread of the gospel among the heathen. Of course, they neglected their duty in this matter, with less criminality than we can neglect ours. The subject of Missions begins now to be known and felt. More light has

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been thrown upon it within the last twenty or thirty years, than within a thousand years previous. If we close our eyes upon this light, and refuse to walk according to it; our guilt must be peculiarly aggravated. We cannot now neglect prayer, in concert, in public, and in secret; we cannot neglect all reasonable exertion; nor can we neglect contributing, as God hath prospered' us, for the spread of the gospel, and the salvation of heathen souls, without incurring a fearfully aggravated condemnation.-It will not answer for us to think of doing no more for these objects than our fathers did. The truth is, we know more of the importance of them than they did, and hence are under obligations to do more than they. Had they lived in our days, and enjoyed the light which we enjoy; we are bound to believe they would have felt and conducted differently.

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7. If the guilt of wrong actions is in proportion to the light against which they are committed; then those among us, who now turn away from the light of the gospel, and perish in their sins, must inevitably sink very low.—The present may be termed an era of light," in respect to the gospel. Many of its doctrines are, I think, better understood, and more closely urged, than they have been at any time since the days of the Apostles. And our country is emphatically a land of light, and of religious privileges. How many privileges we enjoy, of which multitudes, even in some Christian lands, are destitute? And what a refulgence of heavenly light is shining upon us, and all around us, compared with the thick darkness of the miserable heathen? But let us remember, my friends, that our superior light and privileges lay us under an awful responsibility ; and that if, in present circumstances, we reject the