Religious Converfation recommended. 397 for out of the abundance of the heart the SERM. mouth fpeaketh. The interefts and affairs of XV. civil communities, and of parties in them, of `'"\ voluntary affociations formed for commerce, for the advancement of learning, and other concerns in human life; of which there is a great variety ; all thefe furnifh abundant matter of converfation. But religion, which if there be any reality in it muff be acknow- leged to be of greater importance than they all, lies dormant in the mind ; friends can find nothing to fay upon it ; too plain an in- dication that we have it little at heart, and are little follicitous either about its progrefs in the world, or in our own fouls ; and the cafe of Chriftians is fuch, that the words of our Saviour prophetically defcribing the worft times, may well be applied to it ; and * be- caufé iniquity fall abound, the love of many (hall wax cold. Indeed, great prudence is to be ufed in difcourfing on religious fubjets, and the tempers of men carefully confidered, left an indifcreet freedom be attended with bad confequences, left that which is holy he given to dogs, and pearls call before f eine ; that is, facred things be expofed to the con- * Mat. xxiv. i z. tcmpt
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