e. If any are more
inexcusable than the rest, it must be those, who, from their station
and office, are peculiarly bound to set a good example to others. I
hope this friendly hint will be received in good part. I mean not to
offend. But I must admonish you, that whatever be your situation in
life, you will gain nothing in the end, by doing what God forbids, nor
will you be a loser by yielding strict obedience to his commands.

III. Be constant and diligent in prayer to God. Intreat him to give his
blessing to what you read and hear, and to all your concerns. As we are
weak and needy creatures, always dependent upon God, and
always receiving mercies and favours from him, we ought to be frequent
and earnest in prayer. Daniel was accustomed to pray three times in the
day [Dan. vi. 10.; Ephes. ii. 12.]. I hope you will be punctual in prayer,
morning and evening, at least. So long as any of you live without prayer,
you live without Christ, without hope, and without God in the world.
They, who do not pray to God while upon earth, will not be admitted to
praise him in heaven. When the rich careless man who had fared sumptuously
every day, for a time, lifted up his eyes in torments, he only desired
and prayed for a drop of water to cool his tongue, but it was not
granted to him. Oh! if you value your souls, pray earnestly to God.
Consider your obligations to do so. He is your Creator, Preserver,
Benefactor. In him you live and move, and have your being. And
therefore not to acknowledge, by prayer, your dependence upon him,
would manifest the greatest ingratitude and insensibility.
Consider, likewise, the encouragement you have to pray. Though you
are by nature sinners, and by practice enemies and rebels, he gives you
free and sure promises, that whoever is disposed to return to him, and
seek him by earnest prayer, shall not seek him in vain. Oh! my
brethren, that there was less cursing and swearing, and more prayer
among you!

After these positive directions what you ought TO DO, I proceed to some
necessary cautions, against what you ought to avoid.

I. Profane swearing is one thing against which I am especially bound to
warn you, because it is an evil which so much abounds amongst you.

God has said, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain,
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.
Our Saviour likewise has said, Swear not at all [Exod. xx. 7.;
Matt. v. 34.]. But how can