452 CHRISTIAN- MORALITY, VIZ. CHASTITY, &C. ESERM. xXVIf. of nature. The holy apostle in his prohibitions, cou pies chambering and wantonness, with a rioting and drunken practice. Rom, xiii. 13., and calls them all.works of darkness. It is a good remark of Kempis, a devout papist in former days, " Bridle the appetites of the pa- late, get a sovereignty over them, and you will be better able to master every other appetite" 3. Always employ yourselves in something innocent and useful, that may engage the powers of the body, or the mind, or both, that so temptation may never find you idle. The springs of the sin of Sodom-were fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness; therefore they grew haughty, and committed abomination before the Lord. Ezek. xvi. 49, 50. This is an advice of Jerom, one of the christian fathers : Be still doing some work, that the devil, when he comes to tempt, may always find thee busy. Where you are in danger of these sins, put your- selves upona necessity of diligence all the day, that you may have no time nor room for wild imaginations nor impure indulgencies. 4. Avoid the seasons, the places, and the objects of temptation, as far as it is consistent vt'ith the necessary duties of life: For he that bath no caution about him, and is not afraid of being tempted, he is not,acquainted with human weakness, nor is the so much afraid of sin as he ought to be. 5. tIaintain an everlasting and awful sense of the pre- sence of God thy Maker, thy Governor, and thy Judge. Remember the Lord beholds the secret workings of the heart, and the foul practices of darkness and midnight, There is not a place where the eye of God cannot come,: What an honourable character hath.young Joseph ac quired in the word of God, and his name stands recorded with .renown in divine history through all ages, for his flight from the allurements of an immodest woman The guard which he continually placed upon his virtue, was the all seeing eye of heaven. How can I do this. .great wickedness, and sin against God ? Gen. xxxix. 9. G. Get those scriptures written in your hearts, and ready at all times in your memories, which may be the most effectual antidotes and preservatives against all for- bidden pleasures. This was the ancient practice of the saints. Vs. cxi,Y., 1.1... Thy word have I hid in my heart,
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