Sermons for Prisons. to Which Are Added Prayers for the Use of Prisoners - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1790 edition. Excerpt: ... m i _ sermon iv. on the influence of evil company. i Cor. xv. 33. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners were there any inclined to question this Observation, which was proverbial even before the days of the Apostle, the unhappy circle, which appears around me, would too surely confirm its Truth. Society, which offers happiness to thousands, by £ mutual Intercourse of good Offices, abounds also also with innumerable dangers to those who know not, or are not willing, properly to apply its Gifts. All the sweet comforts of social life, the charms of friendship, and even of domestic bliss itself, instead of working together for good, produce, by an improper application of them, a dangerous and deadly jevil.' Thus from the sweetest flowers and fairest fruit, is extracted the most subtle and penetrating poison. Were I to apply separately to each of this Audience, and enquire--what was the first cause of their departure from Virtue?--1 douht not but I should be informed, that it arose from too great a fondness for Society, and the Influence of bad companions. Shrink not, my brethren, when I call to your remembrance those tempters, that have seduced you to sin, that-lured you by false promises from your peaceful homes, and have left you to to sigh out many a melancholy hour, either under the pangs of punishment, or in the gloomy confinement of a prison. Such recollections, tho they cannot be made without horror-, are yet salutary and proper. They trace the stream of Evil back to its source, and restore the Powers of the mind which were enervated by drinking these bitter waters. Some of you perhaps can recollect the time, when you lived soberly in your father's house, when your fond parents gave