The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

2 SERMONS.and fince religion isfuppofed to contribute to the virtueand good order of the world at prefent, and isconfeflediy neceflary to the happinefs of men in theworld to come ; is it really true that it grows to belefs and lefs in requefl ? and if fo, what are the caufesof this its decline ?Demas, fays the apoftle in the text, " Demas hathforfaken me, having loved this prefent world." Heis bafe and infamous, who forfakcs his friend fromworldly views ; he is impious, and in a ftate of perdition,who forfakes his God and his religion from anyviews whatever : but, in our times, it is not one only,there are many, who, it is to be feared, have loft thereality, at leaft they have forfaken the profeflion, ofreligion, and have forfaken it, as Demas did, fromlove and attachment to this prefent world.From the text, I might take occafion to obferve, thatin thefe corrupted times many have forfaken the profeflionof religion ; and then ihow, that it is from loveto this world that they have done fo.But I almoft take it for granted, that men are muchlefs regular in their iproieffion of religion than theywere fifty, or even thirty years ago. Is the Sabbathas religioufly obferved now as it was then ? are thechurches as much reforted to by people of all ranks,and of every condition ?. is family-religion as much infafliion ? pious aged people behold and lament thatthere is a very wide and remarkable difference. Couldmen formerly have undertaken journeys of bufmefsupon the Sabbath, or have rode abroad for amufement,or vifits of ceremony ? could they have tranfaO:edtheir bufmefs at home, or met in one another'shoufes, and fpent the hours of public worfhip in feafting,drinking, and diverfion ? could they have donethefe things half a century ago, without being wonderedat, and without (hocking the world much morethan it is at prefent, when fo many are guilty of fuchrude, unmannerly, and offcnfive pra^ices ?have not