SERMON XXXVIII. LUKE XV. II, 12, 13. And he faid, A certain man had two fons. And the younger of them faid to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger fon gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wafted his fubftance with riotous living. 46 A1 LL fcripture," we are told, "is given by inspiration of God, and "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for "correction, for inftruction in righteouf"nefs." And perhaps no part of fcripture more eminently abounds with each of these, than the parable now read to you: which, therefore, I have made choice of, as contain ing useful instruction for the younger part of my audience; that if there should be any unfortunate as neither to be awed by precept, nor restrained by advice, they may at least, be warned by example, of the fatal and inevi table consequences of youthful vices and early debauchery. Nor let any one think it strange, that I fhould fo frequently address myself to young perfons from this place. Experience thews, that thofe whofe minds and manners have long been tainted with vice, are seldom reclaimed, till misfortune, age, or ficknefs, difpofe them to liften to the fober voice of reafon. But they, who are either yet wholly untainted with fin, or at leaft ftand trembling on the brink of iniquity, will fometimes feel the force of a well-intended reproof; may fometimes be taught the fuperior beauty of innocence and integrity; to value the approbation of God more than the applaufe of a wicked companion; to think it a higher fa tisfaction to give joy and comfort to the de clining years of an anxious parent, than to revel in the fcenes of midnight pleasure, or to celebrate the orgies of nocturnal debauchery: in a word, to think it more amiable to be the prop and confolation of age-worn infirmity, than to bring down gray hairs with forrow to the grave," A certain man had two fons." See here how happiness is ever entwined and chequered with misery! how bleffings and forrows are infeparable companions, and attend us in every stage and circumftance of life! He had but two fons: and yet from fo fmall a number he found a painful dagger planted in his heart. The one was amiable and obedient; was every thing which a father's fondness could wifh: who never tranf gressed his will at any time. But the other, -painful to fay!-was a melancholy reverfe of all this; a disobedient and diffolute child, whose early years prognosticated nothing but affliction to his parents, and ruin and infamy to himself who, unable to brook the neceffary restraints of paternal wisdom, breaks out into the hafty and petulant request in the text, "Father, give me the portion of goods "that falleth to me!"-Too natural a defcription of rash and inconfiderate youth !— He had no reason to complain of the treatment he met with in his father's houfe: the good old man, like a kind parent, granted his request without complaining, and received him at his return with tears of joy: he could not therefore be a harsh or churlish father, who drove him by unneceffary feverity, or undue restraints, to make this imprudent request. Neither had the unthinking youth himfelf yet formed any defigns of lewdness and debauchery, to lead him to it. He was only weary of living under his father's watchful eye, and tired of the necessary restraints imposed by the wisdom of riper years: he thought himself wife enough to be his own manager; perhaps, too, he might think the life of an antient parent protracted a little too long; he wished therefore to be master of his own fortune, and at liberty to perfue his own inclinations he therefore cries out, “Father, give me the portion of goods that "falleth to me!" : And is not this a very natural picture of the usual rashness of that inconfiderate age? Educated under the protection of a father's watchful care, indulged with all the fondness of a mother's love, shielded from every danger, free from every care, fupplied with every wish of reason, no fooner does the unthink ing youth arrive at the verge of maturity, than he wants to throw off the guiding hand of authority, to have the portion of goods that falleth to him, and to rush, without ex . perience to guard, or prudence to guide him, into all the dangers and temptations of an untried world. Is not this alfo too much the cafe with all of us, confidered as the children of our Father which is in heaven? He has watched over us for our good; he has guided our feet into the way of peace, by the light of reason and the voice of confcience; fafety and happiness await us, so long as we remain under his authority here, and he has promised an eternal inheritance to those who are willing, through faith and patience, to inherit the promises. But the misfortune is, we foon grow weary of living under the discipline of our heavenly Parent: we complain that he has not enough confulted the defires and appetites of depraved nature: the laws of the Gospel are a restraint upon us, his commandments feem grievous: we want to perfue our own inclinations, and live, as it is called, like the rest of the world: we therefore throw off the |