incurably sinful in their own nature, and so preeminently pernicious in their tendency, as, in my judgment, to call loudly for a special public testimony against them. But Satan is "the ruler of" all "the darkness of this world." His means of temptation are many and various. You may be falling by other devices. At every moment and on every side are you exposed to "his subtilty." Trust not in your own heart. Seek Divine wisdom and strength. Habitually come to the throne of grace, through your great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who put your enemy to flight and shame; that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Put on that whole armour of God, which is described in the Epistle to the Ephesians, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. Be sober;-be vigilant.-Watch unto prayer. And may it please God to strengthen such as do stand,-to raise up them that fall, and to beat down Satan under our feet.

SERMON XII.

1 COR., XV., 33.

"Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners."

THE corruption of morals, and the increase of crime, are evils of common observation and of continual complaint. In the present day, vice seems less careful to avail itself of the concealment of darkness, or to hide in secret places. It comes forth more freely into open day; and braves public opinion in a more daring manner and with a bolder face. And what is especially to be lamented, there is a more manifest corruption of youthful morals—an increase of juvenile crime; and it is impossible for any person, who is at all alive to the moral character and condition of his country, to read our public journals without being very painfully affected with that very early developement of human depravity,—that unnatural precocity and premature ripeness in vice and immorality, which distinguish and disgrace our times.

This depravity of youthful morals is too visible in our own streets, and in our public police reports; and as one of its effects and evidences, I would remind you that it has been stated on competent authority, that more juvenile offenders are committed for trial from the town of Sheffield, than from any other town in the county. This painful fact should be well weighed and wisely considered by every inhabitant who has at heart, either the welfare or the reputation of the place of his abode; and should lead to the steady and determined discountenance and resistance of every source of moral corruption; and to the patient and persevering support of every institution which is calculated to stem the torrent of abounding iniquity,-to wipe off the above mentioned reproach from the town,-and by inculcating right principles, and forming good habits, to promote its real honour and happiness.

Now the passage which I have selected as my text traces the corruption of "good manners," or morals, to its cause. "Evil communications corrupt good manners.”

The morals, then, are depraved and debauched by the instilling of wicked principles, and the impartation of pernicious knowledge. Initiate any individual into an acquaintance with the evil of which he was before happily ignorant ;-or let the mind become more fully imbued with evil sentiments,-more thoroughly furnished with evil communications ;

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let vice be more familiarly known; and the natural consequence will be, greater depravation of manners and grosser viciousness of life. All occasions, therefore, which favour the dissemination of evil sentiments, and all opportunities for the impartation and interchange of evil communications, are the direct means of more general and complete corruption of morals.

And here permit me to observe, that we may find in the principle laid down in my text, what I verily believe to be one of the main causes of the large number of juvenile criminals which are committed for trial from the town of Sheffield; and of that lawless and licentious spirit and behaviour which are so frequently displayed in our streets, and of which public complaint has been so repeatedly made. It must have forced itself upon the observation of all persons, what abundant and favourable opportunities of "evil communication" are permitted to apprentices, and other young persons of both sexes, especially on the Sabbath-day. Large groups of rude boys and girls, and of disorderly young men and women, are allowed to assemble together, to lounge through the streets and fields, or to frequent the public-houses, without any effectual control, either on the part of parents or masters. God's holy day is entirely occupied by many in "evil communications."— The older corrupt the younger.—The adept initiates those who may be less skilled than himself in the mysteries of iniquity; and generally by the

most corrupting conversation, they stimulate and encourage each other to greater excess of riot, and to bolder crimes. It is not for me to determine where the responsibility may rest, and where the blame should fall; but no effectual check will be put to evils of which all are ready to complain, till the laws for the due observance of the Sabbath shall be more strictly and diligently enforced; and till a more adequate care and authority be exercised by masters and parents,—particularly on the Sabbath-day,-over those who find most leisure on the Sabbath-day for the interchange of corrupt communications; and who are prepared by the profanation of the Sabbath, for pursuing that ungodly and ruinous course of life, to which the profanation of the Sabbath directly tends.

But it is not my design, in this discourse, to enter at large upon this wide subject, but to confine myself to a particular illustration of the principle laid down in my text. I propose to show that the character of Theatrical Amusements is that of "evil communications;" and that the consequence of Theatrical Amusements is the corruption of good manners."

It is now ten years since I first brought this subject before you. My conviction of the evil nature of these Amusements, and of their pernicious and corrupting effect on the minds and morals of those who frequent them, has been only confirmed by further observation, and inquiry, and reflection.