The Jews, who hired Judas to betray his Lord, and extorted from Pilate à fentence of death against the Savior, are called his betrayers and murderers. -Saul, who ftood by, and kept the raiment of the men who ftoned Stephen, was confenting to his death, and involved in the guilt of it. We are in any wife to rebuke our brother, and not fuffer fin upon him. If then, inftead of bearing teftimony against the fins of others, we actually concur with them, we are partakers of their guilt; and it is a circumftance of little importance, who were first in the tranfgreffion. So afraid was David, left he fhould help the ungodly, that he would not even countenance them by his prefence. He fays, "I have not fat with vain perfons, nor gone with dif femblers I hate the congregation of evil doers: I will not fit with the wicked." Refolving to keep the commandments of his God, he said to evil doers, "Depart from me."

5. To comfort and uphold finners in their wickedness is to have fellowship with them.

God commands, that a mark of approbation be fet on the men who figh and cry for the abominations done in the land. David beheld the tranfgreffors and was grieved. The Apoftle reprehends the church in Corinth, that he had not mourned for the grofs iniquity committed by one of her members. He teaches the Theffalonians, that if any profeffor of religion walk diforderly among them, they are to note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. If then we have pleafure in them who do evil, make them our intimate companions, feek their fociety, and appear to take fatisfaction in their frothy and vain converfation, and ludicrous treatment of ferious things, we are partakers with them.

6. There are fome who rejoice in iniquity, when they have lent no hand to accomplish it.

It is no uncommon thing for men to rejoice in the iniquity of an enemy-of one who is their com→ petitor in business, trade or preferment-of one who belongs to another fect in religion, or party in politics. Have you never observed, with what apparent pleasure fame will receive and fpread reports, to the difadvantage of one, against whom, on some such account they have entertained a preju dice? How they love to dwell on the infamous ftory? How uneafy they appear, if you queftion the truth of it? Are they not inwardly glad at the opportunity of cafting reproach on the man who ftands in their way? How many are there, who in a way of sport and merriment fpeak of other mens faults, and delight to make them the fubject of laughter and diverfion? Do not these rejoice in iniquity? Bring the queftion nearer home: Have you never perceived an inward pleasure, when the man, whom you hated, has by fome grofs mifconduct exposed himself to infamy? Have you not enjoyed his iniquity as gain to yourfelf? Have never been fenfibly gratified in hearing the faults. of others talked over and fpread around, though perhaps you was not the author or propagator of the fcandal? Now, by thus rejoicing in iniquity you make yourself a partaker of it. By your fatiffaction in other mens fins, you affume a fhare in the guilt of them.

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We have illuftrated the nature of fellowship in fin. We proceed,

II. To apply the arguments which the Apoftle urges against it.

1. One argument is taken from the fuperior light, which chriftians enjoy. "Be not partakers.with the children of difobedience; for ye were fometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, proving what is acceptable to the Lord."

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[SERM. XXXV. Heathens are in a state of darkness, and they practise the works of darkness. You are by the gofpel brought into a ftate of light. You have been taught the different nature and confequences of fin and holiness. Will you still walk, as the Heathens walk, in the vanity of their mind? Will you have fellowship with them? What communion hath light with darkness? What part hath the believer with an infidel? Whatever excufes may be made for the fins of Heathens, these cannot be pleaded in your favor. You have known your Lord's will, and if you do it not, you will be beaten with many stripes. Think what a privilege you enjoy in your diftinction from the unenlightened world. Why has God made you to differ? Has his goodness laid you under no obligation? Will you ftill walk, as if you remained in darkness ?-Will you ftill promote the intereft of the kingdom of darkness? Will you do nothing to rescue your fellow mortals from that deplorable state, in which you fee them lying; but, on the contrary, endeavor to fix them there by your fellowship with them? Who would expect this from you? Have no more fellowship with them, but rather reprove them.— This argument the Apoftle Peter preffes on Chrif tians with great force. "Ye are a chofen generation, a peculiar people, that ye fhould fhew forth the praises of him who has called you out of darknefs into his marvellous light.-Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as ftrangers and pilgrims, that ye abftain from fleshly lufts, which war against the foul; having your conversation, honeft among the Gentiles, that they, by your good works which they behold, may glorify God in the day of vifitation.

2. Another argument again this fellowship with finners, is taken from the grace of the Holy Spirit, of which believers are the fubjects. "Be not partakers with them, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness and truth."

The gospel is a miniftration of the Spirit. As it came to men attended with the demonstration of the Spirit in figns and wonders, fo it was at first, and is ftill accompanied with his kind and gracious influence on the hearts of men, for the awakening and conviction of finners, and for the fanctification and comfort of believers. All true believers have the fellowship of the Spirit. They are partakers of his renewing and transforming power. The fruit of the Spirit is oppofite to the works of darkness : It is in all goodness, and righteousness and truth. And what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? They who walk in the Spirit will not fulfil the lufts of the flesh. This Spirit can have no fellowship with that which works in the children of difobedience; for the defign, operation and fruit of these two Spirits are oppofite to each other. If then we profess to have been renewed in our minds, and to be ftill governed in our lives by the Spirit of God, let us have no communion with finners in their unfruitful works, but rather reprove them. Let us fupport our character by works of a different kind-by thofe works of holiness, which are the true and genuine fruits of the Spirit of God. 3. The Apoftle teaches us, that the works of darkness are unfruitful.

Gain is the object of all worldly partnerships.If you knew a number of men, who had combined in the profecution of a bufinefs, from which no profit could poffibly accrue, but its obvious tendency was to poverty, flavery and death, would you think of joining them? Would you not be aftonifhed at their ftrange infatuation? Have no fellowfhip then in the works of wickedness, for in this nothing is gained, but every thing loft. Paul demands of the Roman converts, "What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now afhamed? For the end of thofe things is death.",

Though you had no higher aim, than worldly peace, profperity and enjoyment, it would be your wildom to adhere with invariable conftancy to the rules of fobriety, juftice, truth and goodness. "Godliness has the promife of the life which now is." This will prevent ruinous habits, will give tranquility and contentment to the mind, will procure favor and good understanding with men, and bring down the bleffings of divine providence; in a word, it is profitable to all things. The reverse are the confequences of vice and impiety. "Righteousness tendeth to life, but he who purfaeth evil, purfueth it to his death." You may indeed fee men of piety in a ftate of ficknefs, poverty and affliction. But did their piety bring them into this ftate? Would ungodlinefs have fecured them against it? Or will it now deliver them from it? There is not a virtue, in the whole fyftem of practical religion, which will injure a man in his health, reputation or substance. And there is not a vice, which can be practifed with fafety. Will you then have fellowship in wickednefs? You act contrary to all thofe rules of prudence, which govern you in other partnerships. Your commerce is not only unprofitable but ruinous.

4. This is a fhameful fellowship.

The Apoftle fays, "It is a fhame even to fpeak of thofe things, which are done by them in fecret?" He alludes probably to thofe abominable exceffes and impurities, practifed by the Heathens, in the nocturnal festivals which they celebrated in honor of their deities. These were fuch as decency forbad him to name.

Sin is in itself a fhameful thing. It is an oppofition to the character and will of the Creator-a rebellion against his authority and government-a contradiction to the end and defign of ourexistence --a degradation of our nature, a perverfion of our powers, and an extinction of our liberty. It de