the sons of Seth what the Moabitish women were afterwards to the children of Israel, and what women of bad principles always have been and always will be to men of good ones, who are no wiser than to contract alliances with them in their state of error and delusion. With infinite wisdom, therefore, did the law of God provide against this evil, by limiting the people to their own tribes, and forbidding them to intermarry with heathens, and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. And let every Christian beware of being unequally yoked together with unbelievers, or persons of idolatrous, or schismatical communions; since neither the wisdom of the wisest, nor

the strength of the strongest man was able to ward off the sad consequences of such unnatural conjunctions. But, to strike at the root of the disorder, let him be instant in prayer, that God would turn away his eyes from beholding vanity, to look on him whom, by their wantonness, they have so often pierced, till the flames of unlawful desires are extinguished by rivers of penitential tears; so shall he become master of himself, and be enabled to enter into that holy estate "which Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly con

sidering the causes for which matrimony was ordained *"

5. Corrupt offspring of these intermarriages.

FROM the marriages of the sons of Seth with the daughters of Cain, sprang a race of men, who, whatever they were as to stature, became overgrown monsters of apostacy, impiety, and iniquity; so that in process of time the earth was totally overspread with corruption, and violence of all kinds; till every good principle being eradicated from the

*Matrimonial Service.

hearts of men, their thoughts and imaginations were only evil continually. While principles remain, practices may be altered and amended; but, those once gone, there remains no farther hope of a reformation, because there is then nothing to ground one upon, no hold upon the consciences of men, whereby to bring them round to the point from which they have wandered. A bowl that is furnished with a biass, although it deviate from its course, may return into it again ;

but one that has none must continué to deviate, so long as its continues to move. Let this be a warning to all who would avert the judgments of God, and who wish to see returning

righteousness once more visit and bless our land, to spare no time or pains in fixing Christian principles in the hearts of those for whom they are con cerned, as governors, pastors, parents, tutors, or masters.

6. The withdrawing the Holy Spirit, and God's repenting that he had made man.

THE enormity and universality of the antediluvian crimes at length rendered it to no purpose for the Spirit of God, whether by outward reproofs and admonitions, or by inward checks of conscience, to strive any longer with man; so entirely,