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

SERMONS.and their profeffion of religion may be more or Icfsregular from what is ngw mentioned, and from otherexternal caufes.2d, This is an age wherein commerce ftouriflies,and riches have greatly increafed, and both thefe, itfhould feem, are unfriendly even to the profeflion ofreligion. A rich man, our Saviour fays, fliall hardlyenter into the kingdom of heaven. At firft, theywere the poor that came and heard the gofpel preached,and not many mighty or noble were obedient tothe call of it. Review ihe hiftory of the plantingof religion 3 they \ycre the poor who received it, theywere generally the rich who oppofed it. In the poorercities and nations, it is believed, a greater proportionof the people embraced it.In the richer ones, the greateHr^numberswere more backward and flow to believe it;and if our own country had been as rich, or as intent onriches, when the gofpel was nrft preached to it^ as itis at prefent, it may be qucftioned whether or not itwould have embraced it. When one is rich, or makeshade to be fo, he cares not to give himfelf any troubleabout religion at all •, if he is in the keen puruiitof riches, no fpiritual thought employs his mind ; theGod of this world has full poileffion of his heart ; hehas littie or no fenfe of religion, and, except it be forfome low Vv'orldly end, he has no appearance of it.If his fortune isalready made, his time and attentionare aimofl as much fv/allowed up in managing orfpcnding, as they w^re in acquiring it : he fares fumptuoiiflyevery day, his mind is enfeebled, his thoughtsare diffipated, he wants to make a figure in life, andhe is infenfibie and forgetful of God. Feeling nowants, he afks no bleffings ;proud of his knowledge,Jie thinks he need not be told his duty. If, on a rareoccafion, he countenances public worfhip, he declaresby his looks that he thinks he is defcending from hisdignity, and is doing a very humble thing.In fhort, ifhe has firll profefled religion, and then becomes opu-