---

The dangers to which religion and virtue are exposed during the whole of our Christian course are enough to excite the care and to exercise the prudence and fortitude of a Christian. The passions and appetites implanted in our nature, if not strictly restrained, will rise into irregularity and lead us into criminal excess. The pernicious examples with which the world abounds, unless they be carefully guarded against, will easily corrupt the heart, and seduce us into sinful practices. No inconsiderable degree of danger arises from that cheerfulness of heart and gaiety of temper which, though innocent and agreeable in themselves, may lead us inadvertently beyond the bounds of innocence. The desire of riches and wealth, that love of money which is the root of all evil, has carried away numbers of mankind, and landed them in destruction.

1. The first and most essential preservative of virtue is to maintain a lively faith in the principles of religion. By frequently recollecting the evidences of the gospel, which are the proper grounds of faith, revive that essential principle, and by reflecting on the consequences of religion keep alive a deep sense of its importance. Often call to mind the goodness of God, especially as displayed through Jesus Christ; exercise your faith in those great and precious promises which are made to good men in the gospel, and never lose sight of those awful threatenings which are denounced against impenitent sinners.

2. As another excellent mean of safety, which should be employed in the preservation of innocence, cultivate a lively sense of virtue and vice, by attending to the dictates of conscience. Never stifle the admonitions of your own minds; regarding them as so many warnings from heaven, attend to their voice and follow their directions. Allow conscience to strip vice of those artificial disguises which it assumes in the world, and which lessen the sense of its guilt and danger. Always regard sin, even under its most flattering appearance, as the reproach of human nature, as subversive of society, as peculiarly offensive to God. Nor let your abhorrence of evil be confined to those flagrant vices which expose men to shame, which lay waste the conscience, and are an outrage on religion. Look even upon less instances of vice as proportionably guilty in the sight of God and dangerous to your own souls.

3. It will greatly conduce to our spiritual safety to maintain a sense of the weakness of human nature, and of an absolute dependence upon God. Remember the imperfection of the understanding, the power of prejudice, the perverseness of the will, and the deceitfulness of the heart.

4. As a natural consequence of human weakness, and another excellent preservative of virtue, carefully avoid the occasion of sin. Allow not yourselves to proceed to the utmost bounds even in things lawful. From the utmost boundary of virtue there is but one step into the regions of vice; and he who continues to take this dangerous liberty will sometimes make the fatal transition. Make yourselves well acquainted with your own abilities, dispositions, and inclinations; that you may encounter no temptation which you are unable to resist, that you may undertake nothing to which you are unequal. But do not think it enough merely to avoid the occasions of sin. If you would effectually secure your integrity, you must make diligent use of the means of virtue. Attend with seriousness and regularity the public institutions of religion. Be as regular in your private as in your public devotions. There call your past ways to remembrance, deliberate concerning your future conduct, and ask assistance and direction from the eternal fountain of wisdom and goodness.

(A. Donnan.)

---

---

KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

WEB: Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.