the dungeon, or banish them from their country, but rather the wickedness which is practised under the cover of morality; for great indeed is the wickedness indulged in, which, though it does not endanger personal safety, is still abhorred in the sight of the Lord, and, if unrepented of, must end in misery.
Do we begin with the mercantile axiom, "A penny saved is a penny got?"—unless it is well watched, and kept within the boundary of strict justice, it is the first step of the miser, the first step of the covetous; and this vice unchecked will terminate in the worst kind of idolatry—the worship of gold.
Who has not found himself guilty of dissimulation, and concealed it under the name of expediency? It is the first step in the grand wickedness of the hypocrite, upon whom so heavy a malediction is pronounced.
Who has not cultivated what the world terms self-interest, and excused it under the plea, that every man has a right to do the best he can for himself?
Now, may not we have taken the first step in some one of these evil ways? Extreme wickedness is rarely displayed momentarily, and we are reflecting upon the melancholy issue to which wickedness conducts. Self-interest—a present advantage—the slight opinion the world entertains of such crimes, will all contribute to draw us into a snare, and lead our steps downward, and alienate our souls from God: "and what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" The end to which the steps of the wicked conduct, is in every instance vexation and misery in this world. In every state of the wicked there can be no peace.
We are brought nearly to the termination of another
