praHically improved. III him. What is man ! wherein is he to be S E R M. accounted of? What are even good men ! V. how little to be depended on ? man in his '' belt eftate is but vanity , in his belt moral Rate, or temper of mind in this world, but uncertain. How changeable are his purpo- fes ? they feem to be ftrong, and he has mighty confidence in them ; in his own fond imagination nothing is too hard for him ; but anon his paflions rife violently agitated by temptations, prefently his underftanding is darkned, pious and virtuous refolutions are forgotten, and feeble as water, he yields to the firft affault. If the lhortnefs of the time, affording very little opportunity for calm reflection ; the fituation of the apoftle furrounded with inveterate enemies, not one fellow difciple near him, nor any perfon who might in the leaft contribute to his af- fiftance and fupport, and the confufion he was thrown into by his mailer's diftrefs ; if thefe circumftances do in fome meafure alle- viate his tranfgreflion ; for, certainly, the greater perturbation the mind is in, unhin- ging it, and Running its powers fo, that they are rendered uncapable of exerting themfelves regularly, the more pitiable is its condition, approaching to a diftrac`tion ; and the lets meditated
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