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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

SERMONS

O N T H E
Following SUBJECTS,
VIZ.
I. Friendship.
n. GRATiTaDE to God.
in. Mercy.
IV. Pride.
V. Sinful Anger.
VI. The Advantages of EarlyPiety.
VII. The Unsearchableness of God's
Ways, and the Benefits cf Afflic
tive Providence.

By MARY DEVERELL.

B R I S "T O L:
Printed and fold by S. FARLEY, in Caflle-Gveen : Alfo
fold by T. Cadbll, B. Becke.t, Bookfellers; Frede
rick and Bally, Batti; J. Bbnce, Wotton-Under-Edge ;
G. Harris, Glccefier ; Carnan and Newbery, St.
Paul's Ctiurch-yard, London.

YALE

t>4n1774-

A N

APOLOGY To the PUBLIC.
WH E N a female wtiter pre-
fumes to obtrude npoii the
world the produdions of her leifure
hours, under the title of SermonSy
it may poflibly be expected that fome
excufe fhould bc made for {o daring
an ufurpation of the facred province.
It is therefore with the flridiefl:
truth aflerted, that a ftrange con
currence of circumftances has on
this occaflon, united to uflier into
the world thofe liianufcripts, which,
like many others tha|t make their
appearance in print, were not de-
A 2 flgned,

( iv )
flgned, at the time they were pen
ned, for the infpedlion of the public.
— Thefe circumftances, as they would
many of them refled: 'on private cha-
racSters, can with no propriety be
taken notice of; and thofe which
flowed from the feelings of generoflty
and the glow of friendfliip,il am moft
unwillingly forced to fupprefs, as the
recital of them yvould be too popious
for this writing.^  In cpmpjjment,
however, to the opinion of forpe re-
Ipedable chara<5lers among tl>e clergy,
I would both readily and gladly have
altered the title of Sermons y to that
of .EJaysy RefieEiionSy or any, other
which might have been deemed more
proper, as lefs afluming, than the
prefent. But as thofe gentlemen
could not, from the form and na
ture of the compofitions, allow the
equal propriety of any other title;
and as my firft fubfcribcrs would
'not relinquifli their elairp to the pub
lication

( V )
licatioii Urider the identical deiidftii-
nationj fdr Which they had giv^eh in
thfeir iiariies, I have, for their Satis-
faSiioHi retained it.
But it is , not barely for the title of
thefe flieets, rior yet for their appear-
^ce in print, that I fliall very pof
libly have the rnisfortune to incur
ccnfiire, but even for writing any
thing in the form of a ferious and re
ligious difcourfe. In this however, I
have the confolation to think that I
am by no means Angular, and I have
only to regret that 1 am fo very un
equal to , thofe diftinguiflied patterns
of every female excellence, who have
ventured to fubmit their productions,
in this way, to the perufal of the
public. — But how little lenity foever
I. may exped: to meet with from the
world . in general; from the clergy,
tp wbgni I may te fuppofed to have
given

( vi )
given moft offence, as having invade.d
their peculiar fundion, I flatter my
felf I fliall receive" a lefs rigorous fen-
tence ; convinced, as I am by ex
perience, of the generoflty, candour,
and benevolence, which charaderize
their profeflion. And furely if it
be allowed, as it ufually is, that if
our amufements are but innocent, it
is alone fufiicient to render them ex-
cufeable ; it would be ^ hard cafe
indeed, if thofe that habituate the
mind to ferious and religious con
templations, are, merely upon that
account, to be deemed criminal, or
yet ridiculous. But no fober pqrfon,
I am perfwaded,' will condemn me,
if I. have incurred no heavier charge,
than; that of devoting my leifure hours
to an employment of this nature.
As I wrote only in a manner to
pleafe myfelf, fcholaftic debates, or
fcientifical divinity, could not be fup
pofed

( vu )
pofed to have afforded me that ferene
delight I fought, had inclination led
me to it. But there is no 'merit in
declining what I am in no refped:
capable of- Myfterious ¦ points in
Theology ^re left to the erudition
of the fchools;, and perhaps thofe
deep controverfial fubjeds would have
been as little pleafing, or improving,
to the generality of my fex, as they
are to her whofe foul, as PopE de
fcribes his hidiansy
" Proud Science never taught to ftray,
' " Far as the Solar Walk, or Milky-way.
' I .' ' ' '
The fubjeds I have treated of are
fuch as occurred to my mind from
obfervation on the facred oracles,
without knowing at the time of
writing, they had been treated of by
much abler pens : by one lefs advan-
tageoufly circumftanced, or lefs in
ftruded' in the arts' of literature,
they could fcarcely be, a^ my educa tion

( viii )
tion haibeerias coi*iried^ as rii jr life
has' been 'dbmeftic; i -ith'erefore frdrii
at juft fenfe t^f thefe difadvantag^si ds
Well as of thena'rrov^nfefs of iny iiWd'
caipacity, ^ I ^ have ri'ot prefurried t&
lay thefe 'difdourfes before tht priblik:^
'till ithej^ bad firft undergone a ^re-
vifal frd'nS'pFoper judges?,- left I fliopld'
inciit? that woe denounced by thC
Prophet againft thofe that are wife iri
their ei'mn- ejfesy. and frudent in ¦ "their
own fi-ght. And tb thofe Reverend
Gentlemen \vho have honour'd me
with their ^af)prol?atioh, afliftance and
advice, on this occafion; and like-
wife to all. ethers, who ih^ve corope-
r^ated to facilitate . and promote i the
publication J :;|>y a variety of the
jjipft friendly f offices; I , take this opr-
poftunity to, make riiy moft grateful
and /fincere acknowledgments.
The delay, of the, publication fo
long beyond .my wiflies, or inten tions.

( ix )
tions, has been occafioned by nume
rous difappointments, fo various ^nd
cogent, that I flatter i^yfelf, if
known, would plead fome ejxcufe, for
me with every perfon pf candour^ gs
the difpenfations of Providence, by
ficknefs and other misfortunes, retarded
for a tedious time the henevplent qf-
fices of thofe good Divines engaged
in my favour. It would "be imper
tinence to trouble my readers with a
detail of other circumftances, as re-
miffnefs or negled had no fliare in
therii ; and they confifted wholly of a
long chain of unfortunate and inter
vening accidents, equally out of my
power to forefee dr prevent; otherwife
thefe manufcripts would have been
fome time fince committed to the prefs.
And if any of thofe produdions which
prbbted ft'bin \Ii ' ar^ intided to more
peculiar lenity, it is certainly thofe that
are forced from it in felf-vindication,
for which reafbri 'Mtrcy ' is 'lloped for
" ¦' 'y from

( ^ )
from the dread courts of criticifm. —
But however I may bc condemned^
or acquitted at a human' tribunal,
Omnipotence is not reftrained, and
may do good by the weakeft inftru
ment : After all, the pubHc have
an undoubted right to pafs what judg
ment they pleafe on the feeble efforts
in divinity, made

Bjy their

Obedient humble Servant^

Mary Deverell.

Nails WORTH, Ghcefterfhire^
Jan. 28, 1774.

SERMON I.

I Samuel xviii. 3, 4.
Tfhen fonathan and David made a covetia7it,
becaufe he loved him as his owjifoid.
And Jonathan flripped himfelf of the 7'ohe that
ivas upon him, and gave it to David, atid
his garments, even to his fword, and to
his bo-io, and to his girdle .
^' g""^ H E celebrated love and difinterefted
\_ friendftiip of Jonathan and David,
feem to have flowed, not meerly from that
noble warmth and fimilarity of foul, for
Vv^hich they were fo peculiarly diftinguiilled,
but from a ftill higher principle. For in
fcripture it appears that the affeftion, which
Jonathan conceived for David, com
menced at a very early period,, and, as it
fliould feem, before he could poflibly have
given fuch proofs of fuperior worth, as might
juftify a wife Prince, in making a facred co
venant of friendfliip with a poor Shepherd.
He therefore feems to have been led to it by
a divine impulfe. For in the firft verfe of
this chapter we are told, that // came to paf}
B wbeti

( 2 )
'wheii he had made an end of fpeaking unto
Saul, (and of giving him an account of his
parentage and kindred) fhat the foul of Jona
than ivas knit unto the foul of David, and that
fonathan loved him as his own foul. From
this time one fpirit feemed to animate both j
and the flame which was kindled in the breaft
of Jonathan, was lighted up' as vigo-
roufly in that of David j , nor could all Ifrael
produce fucli another pair of friends..
Whether David at this time knew
that he was anointed by Samuel to be fuc-
ceffor'to Saul, is not clear from fcripture:
nor does it appear. that Jonathan, was ap-
prifed of it. However, when afterwards he
became, fully acquaintpd with; it, Jie was not,
,dn that account, in<iuced to diflplve the co
venant between them, . as niight too naturally
have been expedled from a lefs generous
Prince, but to, ratify it, and that too, with
an oath, the mutual feal of their fidelity.
Nor was it only for. themfelves that they
entered into this veiy folemn_ engagement,
but likewife for their pofterity. For thus
we read in the concluding verfe of the 20th
chapter, and fonathan faid to David, go in
peace ^s for afmitch as we have both of us f worn
in the name of the Lord, faying, the Lord he
betweett me and thee, and bet wee Ji my feed and
thy feed forever^ And

( 3 :
Ano the i'eciprocal conduft i)f thefe illuf
trious friends was afterWards^ we find, fuit
able to this erigagemeht. ' Jonathan, in
whofe power it Wds to; gi^^e ''th6 firft jprodf bf
his kindnefs arid fidelity, 'immediately offered'
David his moft .vigo/ods.^id, to procure fo?
him that peace. Which ,'hd fo ardently wiftied
him. Whatfoe'Oer thyfotiidefireth, faith he,'
/ ivtll even do it for .fhte. Thefe profeflions'
were not, as is to6 . tbinmonly the cafe, the'
cool diftant tender of dry civility; no, they
fprang from the heart, as the uniform tenor
of his ' future a&ibris fully demonftrated.'
When his frietid'g wants, were prefling, and
his afliftance "direftly requifite, he did not
difmifs hitti, as FiELix,, upoh, ariother occa
fion, did St. Paul, with fay:irig, go thy way
for this time, and at a mot^ 'convenient feafon I
•will fend for thee: A civil refiifal, which
founds like the knell of departing hopes,' ^rid
often leaves a fting in the breaft of the iiri-
happy fupplicant j the modefty of whofe
nature, or the delicacy bf. whofe fituation,
may .not permit Kis difti'efs to be twice told.
And to put him to thfe unnecefl^ary pain of
doing it, is not afting by that golden rule,
which was the meafure of Jonathan's con
duft". He knew David's diftrefs was ur
gent; he was fenfible of his danger, and
was therefore as diligent to remove it, as if
it were his own. B 2 But

( 4 )
But what peculiarly diftinguifllies and cx:-
alts the friendfliip of Jonathan, is, it's
fingular difintereftednefs. For though David
was the only man that ftood in his way to
his father's throne, and was his rival for the,
crqwn and kingdom; yet was not the fer
vency - of his affeftion . for hirn in the leaft
abated by that confideration.' No, it was
eftabliflied pn a facred foundation, and could
not be fl:iaken though all the powers of the
world were combined againft it. Hi? friend's
intereft and not his own, feemed , to be his
only care. — He was as vigilant as a centinel
for his, fecurity, as fwift as an eagle for his
fafety, 'and ;as obedient as a fervant to fulfil
his will. Ia his defence, ho w^ nobly did he
exppfp himfelf, to all the tranfports of his
father's fury ! How induftrious was he to
defea;t the plots that were continually laid by
him againft his life ! And how warmly, upon
all occafions, did he plead his caufe!
But, on the cqntraiy, how earneft was
the rancorous and implacable Saul, to fliake
his fidelity, and diflblve his friendfliip! He
would' fain perfwade his fon, that he had
more regard for his intereft, than he had
himfelf, and with the utmoft bitternefs up
braids him for, a conduft;, in appearance, fo
fingvxlariy impolitic, fatal, and difgraceful.
1'hou fon of the perverfe, rebellious woman,
fays he, do nof 1 know thaii ' thou hafl chofen the

( 5 )
the fon of Jeffe^ to thine own confufion ? For
as long as the fon of Jeffe liveth upon the
ground, thou fhalt not be efiablifloed, nor thy
kingdom. Wherefore noiv fend and fetch him
unto me', fpr he fhall furely die-
But how' juft and pathetic is Jon athan's
enquiry in reply ! Wherefore fhall he be fain ?
What evil hath he done ? The frowns of his
father and- of his fovereign, could not deter
him from doing juftice to his friend, and
vindicating his innocence j nor was the throne
of Ifrael any temptation tp him, to withdraw
his affeftion from the man he loved. Even
the javelin darted from the hand of Saul,
by which his own life was immediately en
dangered, ferved but to increafe his ardour.
But when he faw that his intercefllon , was
vain', and that his father was not to be di
verted froin his cruel and bloody purpofe,
his heart fwelled with honeft' indignation,
and he was top violently agitated, even to
take neceflTary fuftenance. For we are told,
that Jonathan arofe from the table in fere e
anger, and did eat no meat the fecond day; for
he was grieved fqr David, becaife his father.
had done him fhame. His fympathetic breaft
moft anxiovifly felt for him. Nor can this
be matter of furprize, when he had before
declared, that he loved him as his own foul. And

( 6 )
And there feems indeed to be a refem
blance In their perfons, as well as minds,-'
for Jonathan's cloaths fitted David'.
when Saul's armour would not; and pro
bably he was as glad to put off" the one, as
to wear the other. For to generous minds,
it is very painful to owe obligations to per
fons of contrary difpofitions. I cannot pre
tend to determine how far it may be a culpable
pride, "which creates in us that ftrong repug
nance which we naturally feel, to owe them
to thofe, whom we know to be not well
affefted towards us. But if the favours of
difaffeftion are irkfome, the gifts of friend
fliip are doubly valuable. That which gives
us real pain, when received from one man,
aff'efts us, when beftowed by another, with
the moft lively pleafure. Of this, David,
on the prefent occafion, muft be truly fen
fible. And all, who faw the ruddy youth
divefted of his rufl^et coat and fcrip, and
adorned with the royal robes of his illuftrious
friend, muft be ready to fay, See Jonathan s
other felf, altho it be in a different form!
Sumptuous drefs becomes high ftations; and
they who wear coftly robes, are in Kings'
houfes. David was in a King's houfe, and
was defigned by Providence to be the imme
diate fucceflbr to the crown. And his ele
vation, altho' at the expence of his own
.claims, his generous friend was ambitious of
promoting; and for that reafon delighted to
fee

( 7 )
fee him arrayed, in a manner fuitable to the
heir apparent. Well, therefore, might David
fay. Thy love to 'me was wonderful, paffing the
love of women. For fuch is the fondnefs of
that fex for flievf and external ornament, that
I believe it is feldom feen, that they can
acquire greatnefs of mind fufficient to give
it from their own perfons, to adorn their
rivals. Indeed, weie they capable of fo mucli
hcroifm, the C^een oi Sheba, in all her glory,
could not appear with greater advantage to
the external eye, than fuch women evidently
muft to the intelleftual. Such however was
the magnanimous fpirit of Jonathan, or
he would not have ftript himfelf to do honour
to his humble friend; an honour peculiarly
enhanced by the mode of conferring it.
Ahasuerus, it is faid, aflceid his favourite.
What fl:!ould be done to the man, whom the
King delighted to honour; to whom the am
bitious. Ham AN made anfwer. Let the royal
apparel be brought, which the King ufeth to
wear, and the horfe that the King rideth upon,
and the crown royal which is fet upon his head,
and public proclatnation be made thro the city;
thus fhall it be dojie to the man, whom the King
delighteth to honour.
The proud man, who wiflied and thougliL.
this honour defigned for himfelf, could not,
mount higher in idea, nor devife any thing
more magnificent. In a manner no lela
fuperb,

( 8 )
fuperb and fplendid, was Joseph, in Egypt,
diftinguiflied by the gracious and royal Pha
raoh. And Daniel, at the F erf ian court,
was cloathed in fcarlet, and had a chain of
gold put about his neck, by the command of
Belshazzar. But whatever propriety or dignity there
might be in the gift, it was the principle,
from which it flowed, which ftamped on it
it's chiefeft value. Friendfliip is feated in
the heart, and is equally eftimable, whether
apparelled in a ruffet coat, or a royal robe.
For externals are no more to the efl'ence of
it, than the caflcet is to the jewel it contains.
It's excellence is intrinfic; and it's due praife
would exhauft the moft copious language.
It has indeed been the favourite theme of
writers in every age; but their moft eloquent
panegyrics, fliew rather that they wiflied to
do juftice to their fubjeft, than that they
really did it. A true friend is thus defcribed
by one of thcni : " He is the comfort of
" miferies; the guide of difficulties; the joy
" of life; the treafure of earth; and no other
** than a good Angel cloathed in flefli." An
union with fuch a friend doubles our plea
fure, and divides our pain; and is often dearer
to us than the neareft ties of kindred. In
deed without friendfliip, even Heaven itfelf
would not be the manfion of blifs ; for this
it is which conftitutes that harmony, without which

( 9 )'
which, happinefs can have no exiftence. And
as to this terreftrial abode, it's choiceft de
lights, without it, are but infipid and. dif-
gufting. From friendfliip^ fociety ^derives all
it's relifli; and without fociety, even Eden
would be irkfome. Adam could not gather
the fruits of Paradife, when folitary, with
fatisfaftion. ' Even brutes aflbciate^with' their
kindred brutes. But 'meeii<fociet)fjis^not all
that man' feels the want) of ,-' he o wants' ¦ a
friend; he wants a feobnd felf, toj whomy
without referve, he may give vent ; to all! th6
efiiifions of his heart:: The celebrated fDr-i
Young has thus expreflfed ¦ himfelfi qn, this
fubjeft. ! '•':'• :¦:,.'¦''.
" Know^'ll thou, Lorenzo ! what a Friend contains ? ,
" As bees mixi.nehar draw froin fragrant aow'f's, '.'.'' ~ '' ~'
" So men from FriendshipV kuifdhm and dd'i^i'i'' '' ¦'¦' '-^
" Twins ty'd bynatiii'ej if theyptirt theyidie. oJ ^'. :. ' '\
" Haft thou no Friend to fet thyjjnind ?brqaclj,ffr. : ,,<
" Good y^«/9 .will ftagnal;e. T,houghti (hut up want air*.
" And fpoil, like bales unopen'd to, the fun. , *¦" . "
" Had thought been alii fweet fpeech had beeji dehy'd ; '• - '
" Speech, thoughi's canal I fpcecKj'.thoUgrht's'eriteriotiiitbo. y
" Thought in the mine, maycom'e fori'h gold Ordcofs; , • ''
" When cqin'd jn word,, \ve ;kpow it's ;j?i-7/ worth-. , ,.,',,.¦ -.-.^
"Jf.-fterling ; flore it for thy future ufe ;'
'' 'Twill tliy thee benefit ;. perhaps, t-enrtwn."-'^-' ~' *'
The 'generous fervour' of a fteady,, frieridy
in whonb: are; haippily united the'iWill and
power of doing good-, 'has • fuch \ am -emanation
of the divinity in it, as- muft fuprQMely exalt
the charafter it animates. And -.v^hat con-
C fidence

( IO )
fidence may we not repofe in fuch a friend !
Therefore we ought to lay open our hearts
to him without referve, as clients do their
daufes. to their agents; and fliould fubmit to
his examination every hidden thought, if we
would expeft the benefit of an unbiaffed
judgment. For otherwife how can we be
faid to blend fouls ? or how is it poffible for
our friend to form that impartial and juft
opinion of the cafe^ as may enable hirn to
give -US the beft advice ? Without fuch a full
developement of every circumftance, we may
be led into fuch a labyrinth of errors, as
v/ill not leave it in the power of any friend
fliip to extricate us.
Besides, it is derogatory of the; ttue value
of a friend, and an abatement of that con
fidence, to which he is entitled,; if we /be
have towards him witli fliynefs and referve.
By fuch a conduft vv^e deprive ourfelves of
the. rich fruits • pf confolation, the gentle
foothings: of cowipafllon, and the cool deli
berations' of mature judgment. By the weight
of adverfity and the bitternefs ofaffliftion,
we are often deprived of the power of think-
ing for ourfelves, or of devifing rneans to
meliorate our condition; but in this -wilder-
nefs of imagination, friendfliip will benevo
lently lend it's aid, ''and will excite a hope,
which, like a reviving cordial, will keep lift;
from finking' beneath the weary load. But

( 11 )
livr thefe advantages are only to be hoped
for, .f!v)ni the fenfible and intelligent, as well
ns fincere; from thofe who are blefled with
fcntimcnt, probity, generoflty, and all the
fine feelings of nature. In friendfliip between
perfons oi this happy frame, and elevated
temper, the heart may dilate itfelf in mutual
complacence and efteem; and the mind may
exult in all the luxuiy of focial intercourfe.
Mutual iiappinefs, and mutual fifcty, are the
noble privileges of fuch a friendfliip. It
confifts not in a torrent of kind words, but
a feries of kind aftions. It has virtue for
it's bafis, and reafon for it's guide. It is
aftive aiul vigilant, prudent and cautious,
(Icady and intrepid, fincere and permanent,
warm and affedlionate. It is at all times
illuftrious, but never appears to greater ad
vantage than when it combats difiiculties. It
fliines brighteft in the gloom of adverfity;
and in the chill hour of affliftion fends forth
the warmeft rays. It braves with ehearful^
nefs the greateft dangers; and, inftead of
cooling, acquires frefli ardour from refiftance.
How excellent then is true friendfhip, and
how valuable a faithful friend! But let us
hear the animated effufions of an eaftern
imagination on this fubjeft. A faithful friend
(the friend whofe virtues and qualities I have
been now defcribing) is a firong defence; (fays
the fon of Svrach) and he that hath' found
fuch a one, 'hath found a treafure. Nothing
C - doth

( 12 )
doth countervail a faithful friend, and his ex
cellency is invaluable. A faithful friend is the
medicine of life ; and they, that fear the Lord,
ftoallfind him. Whofo feareth the Lord, fhall
direB his friendfhip aright ; for as he is, fo
fhall his neighbour be alfo ; that is, the neigh
bour, whom he fliall chufe for his friend.
The royal prophet likewife, has, in many
parts of his writings, beautifully enlarged
upon this fubjeft. Wicked men, fo far from
being permitted to ftiare in his friendfliip,
he would not fo much as fuffer, he fays, to
remain under his roof. He that worketh de
ceit, fhall not dwell within my hoife ; he that
telleth lies, fhall not tarry in my fight. And
in another Pfalm, how fervently does he pray,
that God would preferve him from all con-
neftion with wicked men, as well as their
wicked deeds ! Incline not my heart to afiy
evil thing, ' fays he, to praBfe wickednefs with
the workers of iniquity. Let me not eat of their
dainties, fays he again in another place. But
with the good and virtuous of whatever or
der, he,, on the contrary, gladly aflbciated.
/ am a companion, fays he, of all. them that
fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
And again he fays,., iL^/ the righteous finite
me, (as the moft familiar mark of his friend
fhip) // fhall be a kindnefs ; and let hitn reprove
me, it^fhall be an excellent oil, which fhall not
break^ 'my head. From the righteous, who
alone

( 13 )
alone are my companions, and with whom I
take fweet council, I expeft this inftance of
real regard for me; for he, who is my fin
cere friend, will always be my faithful re
prover. David, altho' a powerful Monarch, did
not regard his ftation as a privilege from re
proof, when his conduft was juftly reprehen-
fible. A noble pattern for modern Princes!
He delighted in the way of righteoufnefs,
and when he erred from it, he efteemed it
an aft of kindnefs, even in the humbleft of
his companions, to admonilh him of his er
ror. Indeed a due regard for the reftitude of
our conduft, is the beft difpofition to qualify
us for true friendfliip. For fuch a difpofition
will not only permit, but require the mutual
exercife of this honeft freedom ; a requifite
fo very effential to friendfliip, that it is never
known long to furvive it. For the claims of
fuperiority, are the grave of friendfliip. For
however different Providence may have caft
our lot in this tranfitory life, in true friend
fliip there is no pre-eminence. State and
form ever vanifli before it ; and it either finds
us equals, or makes us fo. The profeffors
of chriftianity, had, we read, in the infancy
of it, all things in common ; by which, as
to degrees of condition, they were all re
duced to a level. This effeft of chriftianity
at that time, is the effeft of true friendfliip at

( H )
at all times. It not only, unites poffeffions,
but unites fouls. Nor indeed was the he.-
nevolence of Chriftians under the bright
irradiations of the gofpel, more illuftrious
than that of David and Jonathan under
the dark difpenfation of the law. So very
diftinguiflied indeed v/as their example, that
it approaches nearer, perhaps, than any other
upon record, to that of the great Captain of
our falvation, who to friendfliip facrificed
what is of far greater value than any king-.
dom, even life itfelf. Greater love, faith he,
• hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friend.— -^Te are my friends, if
ye do whatfoever I command you. Henceforth
I call you not fervants ; for the fervant knoweth
not what his Lord doth, But 1 have call'd
you friends ; for all things that I have heard
of my father, I have made known unto you. —
What a divine emblem of this love of our
Saviour's to his difciples, was that of Jona
than to David ! For tho' they feem'd con
genial fouls, yet it appears from facred hiftory,
that Jonathan loved David firft, and that
v/hatfoever he knew of his father, he made
known unto him; verifying the truth of
what Solomon wrote long after, that,^ bro
ther, or friend, is born for adverfity.
For certainly the time of adverfity, is the
proper feafon for friendfliip to exert itfelf.
In the warm funfliine of profperity, when the

( 15 )
the candle of God illuminates our path, as
it did Job's, and our way is plain before us;
when public honours and private congratu
lations give atteftation to our merit, and, as
it Were, encircle us with a tranfient blaze of
glory; we have no occafion to draw upon
our friend's benevolence. It is then our time
to beftow, and not to alk; and we may fay
from happy experience, it is - ffiore bleffed ta
give, than to receive. The . rich 7nan, it has
heen. obferved, hath many friends ; hut the,
poor is defpifed of his neighbour. ' The train
of profperity is always fupported by a mul
titude of friends;, and comforters are ne
ver wanting to thofe, who ftand in no need
of 1 them. If therefore we are thus happily
circumftanced, we r may, well fay, with the
good, man juft mentioned, fhe light of our
countenance is not cafl' down. ' ¦ '
But when, for the trial of our integrity,
PrPVidenCe thinks fit to reverfe^ the fcene;
wheH' riches have '^ made ^fketnfelves^ wings and
are fed; when the airy bubble, "reputation,
is : likewife gone^ and from eoriiforters, thofe
abotlt us, like Job's cohipanions, are turned
Upbraiders; then is the critical junfture for
the difcovery of real friendfliip, from, that,
whicli only wears the garb of it. For if it
be genuine, it will fupport us iii the day of
adverfity; and when overvi^helmed with ter
rors, it will not let us fink. When they pur-
flit

( i6 )
fie us as the wind, and our welfare paffeth
away as a cloud; and when the days of afflic
tion have aftually overtaken us; then will
our true friends, like the agents of the Al
mighty, endeavour to bring darknefs into
light, by an honeft and juft vindication of
our injured charafters. Then will they af-
feftionately endeavour to tnake our righteouf
nefs appear as the light, and our jufl dealing as
the noon-day; then will they plead with them,
that flrive with us, and fight with them, that
fight againfl us.
David pioufly repofed his confidence in
God, and found the friend, that would plead
for him; and that too, with fuch pathos,
energy, and generous ardour, as will ever
be the admiration of every age. For when
will the world produce another Jonathaisi?
What a difinterefted, and yet what an un
wearied counfellor! To gain his caufe, was
to lofe a kingdom; and yet for friendfliip's
fake, how nobly did he maintain it, and how
affeftionately plead it! But when at laft he
found that all his efforts were ineffeftual, 'and
not only endangered his own life, but fliar-
pened the weapons of death againft that of
his friend; when he perceived that the gloomy
and malignant fpirit of Saul was utterly
implacable, he defifted indeed from urging
that reconciliation, which was no longer to
be hoped for ; but not from ferving his be
loved

( I? )
lov^ed friend. David was ftill no lefs the
objeft of his affeftion, and of his care. His
foul was as much knit to the foul of his
friend, when in exile, as when in the full
poffeffion of court-fmiles, and court-ho
nours. His real worth, he knew, was ftill
the fame ; for merit varies not with the opi
nion of princes, but with a man's own con
duft. The frowns of a court cannot ftain the
heart, or blemifli the foul, however they may
blaft our pomp, or cancel our greatnefs.
Princes cannot rob us, of what they cannot
confer, folid virtue and real worth. Of
thefe, however obnoxious to his indignant
Sovereign, David was ftill poffeffed; nor
had he been guilty of any thing to merit his
refentment. Nay, he was perfecuted merely
for his virtue, becaufe he Was that man ac
cording to God's own heart, for whom he
had deftined the kingdom. He feemed as
unfortunate as he was worthy, and therefore
Jonathan was now become doubly in
terefted for him, from motives of humanity,
as well as from the ties of friendfliip. He
indeed could no longer hope to reinftate him
in the poffeffion of his former honours ; but
all the fervice, that feemed yet to be in his
power, he was refolved to do for him; and
therefore immediately went to him in the
fields, to acquaint him with the danger
which threatened him, that he. niight, with-
D out

( i8 )
out lofs of time, efcape out of the reach of
it, and preferve himfelf by flight.
Here DAvinmuft take his leave of hi.s
beloved Jonathan, and commit himfelf
rather to the fa v ages of the foreft, than to
thofe of a court. But hov/ affefting, how
melancholy,, was their parting! their tender
ernbraces were fucceeded by a flood of tears.
They wept 07ie with another, until David
exceeded. And wejl he might; for he muft
be very fenfible, that hitherto obligations
|iad lain wholly on one fide. Jonathan,
as yet,, had been the only benefaftor; Jo
nathan an illuftrious Prince, whofe fa
vours, frorn the confideration only of his
diftinguiflied eminence, muft be greatly
}ieightened> when conferred, on an humble
fhepherd, Of this fuperiority of his friend,
David feerns to be fully confcious, as, I
think, his conduft, pn the prefent occafion,
fufficiently evinces. For it is faid, that he
fell on his face to the ground, and bowed him
felf three times; a proftration equally expref-
five of his humility and gratitude. The
refleftion that the King's fon wiflied him to
fit on his fathers throne in prefei'ence to
himfelf, and that he purfued him, now an
unhappy fugitive,, with more than brotherly
affeftion, filled him with fentiments too big
for utterance.. The moft humiliating pro
ftration.

C 19 )
fl:rationy and an ocean of tears, wfere the
only tokeils he could give, pf the grateful
feelings of his heart Indeed a generous dif--
pofition muft neceffarily be overpowered, by
a kindncft of this magnitude. ' But Wl'iile'
he loved his benefaftPt ; while he embraced
him in the arms Pf the mpft tender friend
fliip, the elevation 6f -his charafter' coiild
not fail, in fome degfedi to depreciate him
in his ' oWrt eyes,' And, as it were, Upbfaid
him with the inferiority of his cPnditiP'ft.
He i her cfbre fell o)l his ¦faCe to ihe'^fbtiijd;
and, froin a fenfe of th'^ majefty, a§ Veil as
kindnefs, of the pcrlbn, irt whpfe prefe'ntei.
he was, bowed himfelf thf'ee times',"-'
" ¦• , .:v. • ' ' '. '
And it muft be acknbwlMged that where
the diljparity of Colid?ti&n is confidefable,
friendfliip muft ever Islb'oitf under a great
difadvantage. The infirior in fottuncji koW-
ever independent, finds" difliculty to altume
that eafe and. freedom',' '\Vhich the commerce
of friendfliip naturally' required, but w-hich
an inequality of conditi'Pn feems almoft tP
forbid. • Befides, ' the claims of fuperiors
upoii tliBfe iti' hiinibli eirGUmftance^i Eire
uiiially fo very unreafonable and eX!tfaVaganf,
as muft not ' oiily reprefs efteem, but highly
difcou rage? that reciprbcatlioii of kind ofTices~,
which invariably accompanies fincere fi'ieftd-
fliip. The great, when they Accept Pf be
nefits, as v/6\l as When they dPnfef tliem',
D 2 would

( 20 )
would have it believed, that their inferiors
are ftill the perfons moft obliged. What
ever thefe may do, it is only to be confidered
as matter of duty, and not of favour. Nor
is this all ; but the great often extend their
claims: ftiH farther, ,- and expeft not only
thefe kind affiduities : j and friendly offices'
from , their inferiors, . but likewife formal
thanks; fpr their poridefcenfion in accepting
of them. But where the mind is too gencr
rous, and , rational, to adrnit fentiments fo
very illiberal and abfurd, it is not often that
we find it totally difengaged from the pre
judices of fuperiority.; They are few in
deed, who, . when they themfelves are , the
objeft of their contemplation, are able to
diveft thei , idea (;yi all,, external confiderations.
They whofe, rank or; fortune is fuperior, are
always apt to regard themfelves as .ftanding
upon fuperior gfoundr and therefore know
not how to admit , inferior mortals,, however
they may efteem their merit, , to all the
getiuine, freedoms, of friendfhip. . B.utiof this
greatnefs of foul, extr^iordinary as.jt is, we
neverthelefs meet with fpme inftances, even
apiong , Princes, and ; thofe too, affifted by
no other light, than that of nature. I fliall
at^ prefect. take notice only of , that of Au
gustus. Poffeffed, as he was,, pf all the
power, elevation, and dignity, of a, Roman
Emperor, with arrnies at, his comniand, a
fenate at his feet, and all the known world
,. .: tremblinp:

( 21 )
trembling at his nod,~how tenderly did he
cherifh, how nobly cultivate, the friendfhip
of M.ffiCENAS ! how highly did he value it!
and how deeply, when cancelled by death,
did he regret it !
The rebukes of Maecenas were no lefs
dear to him, than his council. How fubjedt
every man is, to be mifled by his pailiuns,
he experienced; and therefore well knew the
importance of fincere friendfliip to guard
him againft errors. The diftates of fuch a
friendfhip he as readily obeyed, whether
they wore the meek afpeft of humble advice,
or the rough features of fliarp reproof. A
remarkable inftance of this amiable difpofi
tion, recorded of him in hifiory, I cannot
omit mentioning. When he fat judging a
number of accufed perfons, M.^cen/s per
ceiving by his temper; at that, time, thathe
would condemn many of them, and not
being able to approach him by reafon of the
crowd, immediately wrote thefe following
words, r-ife up executioner, on a piece of
paper, and thew it into his lap ; which
Augustus obferving, he inftantly rofe up
without fentencing one of them. Thus he,
whom the world implicitly obeyed, as im
plicitly obeyed his friend. And when that
friend was no more, he as fincerely lamented,
as he now reverenced him, and with the
greateft reafon : for, fenfible as he was of
the

( 22 )
die value of fuch a friend while he enjoyed
him, the lofs he fuftained by his death, muft
have added new force to his conviftion of it.
For the dignity of conduft, which, while
MAECENAS lived, he fo glonoufly main
tained, he was not always able to maintain
afterwards. Augustus was not Augus
tus, when M^ cen AS was no more; for too
great a portion of the wifdom of the Em
peror, was buried in the grave of the friend.
But ftill it will be recorded to his ever
lafting honour, that, while he had a friend,
Jie could treat him as a friend, and could pay
that regard to wifdom, which is wifdom's
due. But in no charafter, ^vhethe^ Prince or
Peafant, does^ friendfliip appear to fo great
an advantage, as in that of Jonathan. In
him we meet with a difintereftednefs not to
be equalled, and a fidelity not to be furpaffed.
In him all the graces of the mind, and all
the virtues of the heart, fliine confpicuous.
And well niight David fay of him; very
pleafant hafl thou been to me. But to do
juftice to fo much excellence, exceeds my
abilities ; I fliall therefore proceed to make a
few obfervations on David's gratitude, when
he came into power.
Ingratitude is by all allowed tp be
one of the worft crimes, that do not aftually come

( 23 )
come under the cognizance of tlie law. Even
thofe who are moft guilty of it, are unani
mous in it's condemnation. Of all the de
pravities that pollute the heart, this is one of
the bafeft ; and the mifery it occafions to
mankind, is as infupportable as it is general.
No inftrument of death gives deeper wounds.
It penetrates the inmoft foul. And what pe
culiarly aggravates the evil we fuftain from
it is, that it poifons the wounds it gives,.
and renders them incurable. Nor is there
any tiling more generally fatal to fociety,
than, the effefts Pf it upon the human mind.
It chills and benumbs the foul,, ftpps Up
the avenues of benevolence, and deftroys the
vital force of all thofe generous principles,^
which were implanted in it by the hand of
nature. It cancels confidence, and creates
fufpicion ; it detaches mankind from each
other, and promotes an univerfal felfifhnefs.
But tp reproach us widi the bafenefs of this
-odious enormity, we need only be fent tp
-the brutes, whofe natui;e, however meanly
regarded, is fuperior to the admiffion of it.
Even the ox and the afs, animals ftupid to
a proverb, too- evidently fhew, that, in this.
refpeft, they are of a, temper l§fsr ignoble than
man. For this , reafon they dEC- felefted by
the prophet, to upbraid,, by their example,.
his degenerate cpunttymen with; their ingrar
titude tP almighty God, whom ; he intro
duces ^s thu5 fpeaking ; 1 hm'e -mHrifhed and
brought

( 24 )
brought up children, and they have rebelled
aga'tnfl me. The ox knoweth his owner, and
the afs his mafler's crib ; but Ifrael doth not
know ; my people doth not confider. Even
creatures, led only by 'fenfe and inftinft,
will carefs, love, and obey their benefac
tor; but mankind. With all the bokfted pre
rogative' of reafon, will wantonly infult their
beft friend, and openly rebel againft him
that made them. Inftead of being foftened
by kindnefs, they often feem only hardened
by it in their ingratitude. The benevolence
that fubdues the favages of the foreft, has
frequently no other efleft upon them, but to
render them ftill more favage. And tho'
formedi by their ma,ker, but a little lower
than angels, they often, by their aftions,
fink themfelves beneath brutes.
But however common this ungenerous
difpofition may be found in the human race,
it is not perhaps more obfervable in any or
der pf it, than- in thofe who are diftinguifh
ed by fome fudden or extraordinary eleva
tion. 'It is hot an illiberal remark, to fay
that their conduft is often fuch, as if they
regarded the 'change of their condition, a
fufficient difcharge from all former obli
gations. And they, who ufually experience
the ' greateft unkindnefs from fuch people,
are the very perfons, who have contributed
moft to their fuccefs. For fuch is the folly of

( 25 )
of mankind, that they cannot bear the re-
-fleftion, that they are indebted for their
profperity or greatnefs, to any one but them-
ielves. Therefore the fight of thofe, who
have been their principal auxiliaries, is of
courfe odious to them, aS it reminds them
of the fupport or affiftance, which' they have
received frdm others. And we have'' too
many inftarices of Princes," Wvho, for' 'this
very reafon, have 'made thofe, that had bfeeii
the chief agents in adv'ahcin'g thfem to 'the
throne, the firft' viftims of their tyi-'annyi
Monfters of cruelty ! But let us noW'ptb-
ceed tP the contemplation of a -charafter 'as
amiable, as th'efe are deteftable ; a ' chkrafteV,
which' is as gf feat an Prrianierit to lluiiiftfii'ty;
as thefe are a, difgrace to it.
David's acceffion to jioi^er,' fo far- from
being ftained with any afts' bf cruelty, op--
preffion, or i-'evenge^ ii^ dift'iiigfiifhed by'a
torrent of the mofi pungeilt' grief, evefi'fof
that very peffbh,. who not "oiily ftbod ill his
way to it, but aftually fought ' his deflrUt-
tiort. But the lofs of his mend; 'lie feems
fcarcely able to^ fupport ; foi" ¦ the ' 'aCquifltiPn
of a kingdom,' he well • khevi^, was litcfe^ Or
no" recompence for fuch a lofs. Even ' a
thoufand kingdoms weighed againft fu6h a
friend, would have been but diift iri -the
balance. For his fake hfe coiild not pnly
forgive, but even love his perfecutor. The
E cruelty

( 26 )
cruelty of Saul, was absorbed in the friend
fhip of Jonathan. The foul of David
feems now to know no other paffion, but
thofe only of love and grief. And the firft
aft of his, that we read of, after he was
made king^ is to fend me^engers to thofe>
whp had done honour to their dead bodies,
to fignify his peculiar approbation of their
conduft, and to affure^ them of his inten-
tipns to requite thei;: kindnefs. So genuine
and vigorous is his affeftipn, for thefe un-
fprfunate J Princes,, that his grie/ upon the
Hlpurnful occafton of their e^taftrpphe, feems
to have affunjied eyery. mode pf , expreffion.
IJp\y , highly pi^urefque; of it, is his very
pa,the|ic elegy,j cpmppfed, as it fhould feem,
immediately upon hi,8 receiving an account
of that melancholy event ! The beauty of
fffraeh fay? he,, is fiaip.. How are the mighty
fallen! He then proceeds to give vent, to
all.tjhe enthufia,^ pf diftraftipn;^ and even
imprepates a pu.iffe upon the fatal ni,ountains
of Gilboa., And having juftly celebrated
the valpuF an^hepPiifnj) pf thefe accomplifhed
leadcFSfc he eon<-|udi^$ vv^ith a variety of fuch
tendeji fentimpntS;^ a^ gre ftrongly cliarac-
teriftip.. pf his dJ^iflgW^^^d affeftion for
them»^ Saul and Jowthar^ were- lovely qnd
pleafa.nt in, their liye^;. and^^^fn. tpeir death,
they were not di'uided.^ _ Te 4qugf>.ters of Ifrael^
luesp for, S^til^ I tifa. ^iflr effe ({; far thee,, my
kr other

( ^"7 )
brother Jonathan; very .pleafant hafl thou
been untb mei Thy love to me was ivond&ful,\
pafjingjhe love pf •womeh^' <¦¦ >,• •;!
' ¦ I ' ¦ ._. .,1 f. ,! , r'.y- / i . ' ¦' ''"'"I
But his laffeftion for his friend^ did iiot
exhatift itfelf in univailing lamentatiori foi!
his dedthjf but he diftinguifhes his -orphaAi
altho', he might nbvv; be juftly confidered ad.
his rival for the crdwnj, with the fnoft
princely hoilbilrs. The claims of the fatheit
had expired/ with: his life^'iwpoh the moun
tains of Gilbba; fand D'AvId; Jiad he fram
ed his conduft upbn ithe, cold and ungener
ous maxihas df^-.worldiy, prudence, -^ jftiigh^
have eafily conterited himfelfrwith only dif*
playing the outward enfigns of forrow ufu^
upon fuch occafions, withbut ;r&,ifing his" fon
to an elevation, which, as it furhifhed him
with opportunities of , forming . corineftioris
and intimacies with the :lfeading men in ih©
kingdom, .might have foom rend^ed Jiim
formidable. For though, by virtilfe , pf his
engagement with Jonathan, he was bound
to fhew kindnefs to h|s',feed,- h^ was iiot
bound td raife hini to a: level, with the fut^
Princes, Befides^; with feipeft td Mephi*
bofheth, David feems to haVd been entifejy
ignorant that there was any' fuch perfPnj
and he would have had nd reafoii to tjiink
that he had been deficient ,iii the perform"
ance of his engagement, hfed he only fheys^a
kindnefs to fuch of the familyi , a? jhfe had
E 2 a.nv

. t 2?: ),
any - cognizance of, ; or 'to : fuch of them as
ihould, .at any. time be introduced to his
notice ; but his affeftion for, his .friend was.
not fo torpid, feeble and inanimate ; nor his
political maxims fo ¦ narrow," felfifh and illi
beral.' i. No, fo'ideaiiito him wasUhe memory
of JoNATriANiVthat, for his'fakei, hejlonged
for an -ojjportunity to diftingv^ifh' ariy ^ one
of> the wholdihoufe -ofrSATJJL, by his royal
favour i ' and therefbre inquired! if itthere were
any ' left -of :hiq '-¦ defbendaiitfei,wtQf whpm ! he
might fhewiikindnefs i land ^when,- by this
meangjihe had difcpvered a ftjn 6f' 'his beloved
friehd, whoih^d^hitljerto. lived -in the greateft
obfcurity, x he? iiiiimediatily,' s in:; oppofition to
thei.^ufual-.'maxJms;.^pfcpurts, granted him
a: -princely eftablifhrhent. He. fhewed not,
in ! (his -conduft; it owards him, : any thing of
thatiiartifice, • jealoufly, or fufpicion, fo pe--
cdliarlyrcharafteriftic 'of little minds, but
afted with ani uniform generofity, franknefs
and affeftion; (.1 :lj:. .^: iOU . .:
' iTo-makda-'fuitable provifion for his- dig-^
nity and dndejlendence, he reftored - to him
the .'pbffeffion»Jof- the' king his -grandfather,
and^ appointed him a fteward to fuperintend
and 'fcu|tivate them; but his fociety he could
not part with.'- For the fight, of Mephibo-
sheth 'ferved daily to recall to his mind
the I fond idea ofhis beloved Jonathan ;
and therefore he placed him among thofe who
'' ' ~ ' did

( 29 )
did eat at his own table cofitinually. Befides,
as his father was now no more, he confi
dered it as ' his duty to fupply that lofs,
and to be a father unto him, and there
fore gave him rank among his own fons,
that with them Tie might fhare his affeftion.
With them he was to eat, and with them
to aflbciate. Nor would he fuffer him to
feel any other mortification, by the depar
ture of the fceptre from his family, than
muft arife, only from his not bearing it
himfelf. For while he made him fit among
Princes, it was not upon the humble foot
ing of a court dependent ; but upon that of
an opulent . Prince, whofe hereditary poffef
fions were fuitable to his dignity, and equal
to his ambition. Illuftrious monarch, and
more illuftrious friend, whofe virtues add
luftre to a crown, and do honour to huma
nity !
The friendfliip of Jonathan nov/ blof-
fomed in the grave, and his pofterity ga
thered the fruit of it. How great was the
love of Jonathan ; and how noble the
gratitude of David ! For his friend's fake,
he was a friend to his enemy, and a gener
ous patron to his whole houfe. Unhappy
Ishboshetii, that inftead of faUing into
the power of the fons of Rim mon, thou
didft not fall into that of the fon of Jesse !
For then wouldft thou have found, at the
foot

( 30 )
foot of a throne, that peace and proteftibn,
wjtiich the full poffeffion of it cou'd not
feeure to thee. Then wouldft thou have ex
perienced him thy beft friend, whom thou
wert wont to efteem thy greateft enemy.
To recall life is not in his power ; but
what will he not do, which even a Prince
of thine own blood could have done for
thee } He will avenge thy fall, execute thy
murderers, and pronounce thee righteous;
the noblefl panegyric that can be beftowed
on man. 'Thefe deeds therefore fliall pro
nounce him righteous, and worthy, from a
fhepherd, to become a king.

SERMON

SERMON II.

Psalm cxvi. ii,
W hat reward fhall I give unto, the L,ord for
all the benefits that he hath done unto me '?
GRATITUDE to Cod, in the moft
[" comprehcnfive fenfe, , may juftly be
confidered as ii,icluding every aft of piety,
every duty of religion. . I'liQ m:\n \A\o is
properly aftuated by this principle, will al
ways endeavour to difcharge every fpecies of
obligation, which he conceives tP be incum
bent on him. It is. therefore of the utmoft
confequence to mankind; that they fhould be
rightly Iniprcffed with it;.., l^or to tlie in-,
clliciicy or the total dcflitufion of thi,; prin
ciple, may evidently be afcribed the prevar,
lence of vice and wickednefs in the world.
It is at once the folly and misfortune of many
men, that they confider themfelves as littlu-,
if at all, indebted to God for \yliatcvcr they
are, or whatever they jioffefs ; but rathc)- re
gard themfelves as their own pfincipal bciic-
faftors. Their enjoyments, coniforts, or,
conveniences, they trace to no higher fource, and

( 32 )
and afcribe to no other caufe than their own
management, flvill, or dexterity; and it is
only to nature that they think themfelves
indebted for all their bodily advantages and
endowments. Thus nature and themfelves
are confidered as the chief, or perhaps, the
fole agents in fecuring them fo many exten
five benefits, fo many wonderful bleffings.
But what is nature, or what is man, but
the operation of Omnipotence, and the work
manfhip of God? For 'tn bim alone we live,
and move, and have our being; and from him
alone we derive both our prefent enjoy
ments, and our future hopes. To him there
fore we owe, in return' for thefe unmerited
gifts, every aft of obedience, every iiiftance
of love.
His claims upon' lis are as infinite as his
goodnefs, and as boundlefs as his mercies.
To thefe the moft vigorous exertion of our
gratitude can bear no proportion. But tho'
it is not in our povver to make any returns in
the leaft degree adequate to the benefits we
have received; it is yet evident they fhould
extend to the utmoft limits of our abilities.
To do him indeed any real fervice, far, very
far, exceeds our capacity, or even that of the
firft order of created beings. But we may
at leaft faithfully endeavour to obey his will;
and this is the only teftimony of our grati
tude, which he requires of us. This there fore

( 33 )
lore fhould uniformly be the meafure of our
conduft. By this we fliould guide our ac
tions, aud by this direft our ways. For in
whatever inftances we aft contraiy to the
will of God, in whatever inftances we violate
this fupreme law, in thefe we are ungrateful
to him. All fin tlierefore is a fpecies of
ingratitude. And whoever oppofes the divine
w^ill, whether by doing what it prohibits,
or by omitting v»-hat it prefcribes, is an un
grateful man. For he returns evil for good;
and, as far as in him lies, refifls his greateft
benefaftor. \\'ere men duly imprefl \vith a
juft conviftion of tlieir obligations to God,
they Avould always endeavour to pleafe him;
tliey would always endeavour to be as vir
tuous, holv, and good, as he has commanded
them. In his ways they would then delight,
and not tlieir own. For they v.ould then be
lovers of God more than lovers of themfelves ;
and would therefore cultivate thofe tempers
which are moft agreeable to his nature, and
purfue tliat conduft ^^hich is mofi conducive
to his glory. In a word, they would endea
vour, in all thmgs, to be like him, and, as
far as they are able, to be perjccf, even as he
is perfect. Now it is extremely obvious, that, if man
kind were properly aftuated by tliis principle,
what a happy revolution it would produce in
their morals, and what a happy change in
F their

( 34 )
their condition. That there is at prefent
but little virtue in the world, is fufficiently
notorious. Nothing is more commonly, or
more juftly lamented. There is fcarcely any
man of the leaft obfervation or experience,
but would readily tell you, how few are to
be trufted, how very few are influenced by
any other motive than felf-intereft or felf-
gratification.; and how bafe, vicious, and
corrupt, the human race is in general. Nor
is thi,5 mere declamation, but unhappily a
faft' too well founded, too ftubborn to be
difproved. And they who are not inclined
to believe it, may eafily be. convinced at their
own expence. For perfidy, fraud,, and vio
lence abound every, where; and they who
are not vigilant, will foon difcover, that they
have, far lefs to hope for, from the integrity
of mankind, than from their own caution.
They will quickly perceive, that to do by
all men, as they would wifli to be done by
themfelves, is not the common maxim of
the world. But if men would be grateful
to God, it is a rule, from which they would
never deviate. For it is a plain comniand of
revelation, as well as a clear diftate of
reafon. And it is only in proportion, as the
aftions of men arc governed by this rule,
that they are really juft or virtuous. And
fo effential it is to their reciprocal comfort,
that where it is not obferved, human fociety
has far more of terror, than fatisfaftion in it.
Rut

( 35 )
But the refblt of a well eftabliflied principle
of gratitude, would not be the produftion of
one folitary virtue, or only of a few; mere juf
tice or charity would not be the fole effeft of
it, but an uniform goodnefs and perfeft piety.
Were mankind therefore to regulate their
lives on this comprehenfive plan, tlieir obe
dience to God would not be limited to
particular inftances ; but whatever chrifti
anity requires, whatever humanity demands,,
they would endeavour faithfully to perform.
The man, who is duly fenfible of his obli
gations to providence, is at the .fame time
no lefs fenfible, how very inadequate a re
turn, even by his beft fervices, he is able
to make for them. And when he has done
all he can, he ftill wiflies to do more, and,
with David, cries out in the fuUnefs of
his heart, — What reward fljall I give unto
the Lord, for all the benefits that he hath
done unto fiie ?
In difcourfing npon thefe words, I fhall,
firft, point out fome of thofe benefits, which
ought more particularly to excite our grati
tude to Almighty God ; and, fecondly, I fhall
fhew by what frame of conduft, and mode
of expreflion, we are required to demonftrate
the fincerity of this holy difpofition.
The firft benefit I fliall mention, as it
;is the firft which we have all received from
F 2 God,

( 36 )
God, is our creation. But here, perhaps,
it will be objefted, that fince man is born to
trouble as the fparks fly upwards, it is im
poffible that his exiftence can be a benefit
to him. For if our entrance into the world,
is only an entrance into mifery, pain, and
forrow; where, it may be aflced, is the ad
vantage; where is the bleffing conferred on
us by our creation ? And it may be ftill
farther obferved, that the more minutely
we examine into the ftate and circumftances
of man in this world, the more reafon we
difcover, to regard it as our misfortune,
and not our felicity, that we have received
our being. For the profpeft of human life
never appears fo difgufting, as when we
take a near view of it ; becaufe then wc
perceive, that what before we deemed
the moft inviting fcenes, are all delufive,
and that their feeming beauty, is but real
deformity. Thus many perhaps will be
ready to argue, and thus to reprefent our
cafe, and to delineate our condition ; but
admitting the pifture to be really juft, and
no feature exaggerated ; yet nothing is more
certain than that our creation, if we are
not extremely wanting to ourfelves, will
ultimately prove, as it was originally intend
ed, an invaluable benefit.
But then we are not to form our eftimate
of this benefit, from the very imperfeft- view

( 37 )
view of our exiftence, which we are able to
take on this, fide of the grave. It is as pre
fumptuous as it is unjuft, to conclude, that,
becaufe we find ourfelves wretched in this
tranfitory ftate, it is better that we had never
been born; efpecially when we have every
reafonable affurance, that thefe light afiliBions,
which we now fuffer, will finally work for us
a far more exceedijzg and etertial weight of
glory. In this world we are only pilgrims
and ftrangers, who are daily travelling to
their everlafting home ; if therefore, in our
prefent fituation, we are but ill accommo
dated, it cannot be any juft matter of fur-
prize or complaint. For it is the common
fate of travellers in general, to be liable to
many difficulties, dangers, and inconveni
encies. Indeed had our exiftence been li
mited to our prefent ftate, and we had
nothing to expeft beyond it, we fliould then
have been able to fotm a more competent
judgment. But as the prefent ftage is only,
as it were, a prelude to our real exiftence,
our prefent determinations can, by no means,
be decifive. The moft we can pretend to
fay, if we are to judge wholly from our ov/n
experience, is, that if we are never to arrive
at a happier condition, than any we have as
yet known, we cannot help wifhing that we
had never been created. But formally to
pronounce, from fo inadequate an evidence,
upon the merits of the queftion in it's utmoft
latitude,

( 38 )
latitude, is a proof indeed of our raflinefs
and folly, but of nothing more. It would
have been juft as reafonable for th« Ifraelites
to judge of the fertility of Canaan, from the
afperity of the intermediate road, as for us
to judge of the flate invifible, from the dif
ficulties that occur in our paffage to it. And
it is only from the nature of this ftate, that
a right eftimate can be formed, of the be
atitude or. infelicity ,of .our having received
our being. And in this, we are expreflly
told by him that made us, fuch elevated joys
and exalted happinefs, await all thofe, who
live agreeably to his precepts, as far exceed
all human comprehenfion. For eye hath 7tot
feen, nor ear heard; neither hath it entered
into the heart of 7nan to conceive the thi7igs
which God hath prepared for them that love
iiim. Another very important benefit, which
we daily experience at the hand of God, ib
our prefervation. That we are all, eveiy in-
ftant, expofed to numberlefs perils, we can,
none of us, be infenfible. Whether we arc
at reft or in motion, whether afleep or awake,
whether at home or abroad, a thoufand dan
gers continually befet us. All the elements
are replete with death; and we have no lefs
to apprehend from things inanimate, than
from thofe which are endued with life. The
.peftilence by which millions perifh, rides^ tho'

I 39 )
iho' unfcen, upo7i the wings of the lifnd; an..i
wc know not, anv of us, but the next breath
AVC draw, may prove our deflruftion. But
tho' we had nothing to fear from dangers
invifible, there are multitudes that we can
perceive, which threaten us every moment.
And what are we, that we fhould hope to
refifT: their affault by any efforts of our own ?
By v.'hat caution can we elude it; or by what
ftratagem divert it's force ? V.'hat fkill, what
dexterity of man, is equal to the talk .'' Or
who is endued with that might and flrength,
that can fupport the ftroke, vdien it falls ?
How feeble, how impotent, when aftuallv
affailed, is the flouteft among mortals ! No
thing indeed is more evident than the inef
ficacy of alHiuman means to procure for us
a moment's fafet^^ To what then are we to
impute our continual prefervation ; and our
frequent deliverance, even when there appears
fcarcely a poffibility of it ? Shall we afcribe it
wholly to blind chance, to the influence, of
the ftars, or to the agency of friendly De
mons? What then is chance, but a word
without a meaning ? For what proof is there,
that even the fmalleft incident is the effeft of
mere chance? It is certainly no article of -a
chriftian's creed, and an infidel cannot main
tain it. But are the ftars the guardians of
die fons of men ? Can they afflift or relieve,
prote-ft or deftroy them at pleafure ? Or caji

( 40 )
they interpofe their influence in any one in
ftance, beyond their natural and ftated fphere ?
Can they even difpenfe one ray of light, to
regions they were not deftined to illuminate?
Or are they not themfelves evidently im
pelled by necefJity, and fubjefted to laws
which they cannot tranfgrefs ? If therefore
they fight in their courfes, it is only at the
command of their maker. And, as to the
agency of demons, it is not true in faft that
any one aftion, that was ever exhibited on
the theatre pf the world, could juftly be
afcribed to them, unlefs confidered as afting
by the permiflion at leaft, if not by the ex
prefs direftion of a Divine Being. From thefe
therefore no aid, no fupport or affiftance can
be hoped for;; nor indeed is there any, other
being, who can fuccour us in the hour of dif
trefs, but the fupreme God. For he only is
able to fave and to deflroy, to kill and to malce
alive ; and as by him alone we were at firft,
created, by him alone we are continually
preferved. And therefore as we are all moft
deeply interefted for our own fafety, we muft
neceffarily be all fenfible of the importance
of this bleffing, and likewife of his good
nefs, who fo gracioufly confers it ; a good
nefs which cannot fail to excite the moft
fincere gratitude in every breaft, in which
the genuine fentiments of nature are allowed
to operate. Again,

( 41 )
Again, the comforts and conveniencies
of tliis life, are benefits which we deti/e
from the fame fource. To our father which
is in heaven, v/e are as much indebted for
thefe, as we are for our being. Our life indeed
is a complication of many evils ; but through
the mercy of God, they are greatly alle
viated. For our various wants, he h.ith
kindly fupplied us with various provifions ;
and with various helps fbr our various fuffer-
ings. If v.'e daily hunger, we are daily fed,
and if we are faint v/ith thirft, or pierced vvith
cold, the means of relief are commonly
within our pov/er. There are few regions,
in which the neceflaries of life may not be
obtained by due induftry and care. Our
natural and real wants are not very num'C-
rous; and thro' the bounty of heaven, may
ufually be fupplied without any immoderate
pains, or exceffive difliculties. We are in
deed fometimes expofed to the moft preffing
and fatal penury; but this too oftcji is folely
the effeft of our own improvidence. The blef
fings of plenty are feldom wholly inacceflibie,
altho' many times they are fuffered to lie un
cultivated. The earth is not reluftant to
produce ; nor the feafons to cherifh ; but
we are fparing of our labour, and therefore
become perhaps the viftims of a calamity,
whicli it was in our own power to avert.
And to all our other exigencies, the giver of
tv ry good and perfect gift ; has been no lefs
G attentive

( 42 )
attentive in the diflribution of his blcfiiii|^;-..
For this end he has endued, as it were,
every part of the creation, with fbme jiro-
•)crty conducive to the benefit of man. To
ical our wounds or relieve our achs, in
every clime and foil, trees and plants, roots
and flowers, mofi liberally oflcr their vo
luntary aid. Nor are there perhaps fcairely
any pains, that we are doomed to fuffer, for
which fbme lenitives, if not remedies, may not
be found in the great ftore-houle of nature.
Our bodies indeed can, by no art or medi
cine, be fbcurcd from decay or diflblution ;
but their approaches may often be retarded,
and their attacks rendered lefs violent. To
effeft this, both animals and minerals as Avell
as vegetables uniteilly contribute. But to
difcover and apply their virtues, is the bufinefs
of man ; for tho' much is done by Pro
vidence, fomething feems generally left to
be done by ourfelves. But the accommo
dations, which CJoD hath prepared for us,
are .ui anqile demonflration of his goodnefs,
and fuch as, e>.elufive of any other motive,
ought both to excite our gratitude, and en
gage our love.
But what are all thefe benefits, howevei
in themielves great, or however important,
when I ompared Avith that moft Jlupendous
one, our redemption by JKSUs Chris i!
This as much furpaffes all other bleflings, a;;
the

( 43 )
the fbul, in excellence, furpafles the body.
Fully to comprehend it, is more indeed,
much more than we are at prefent able; but
wc know enough of it, to behold it with the
utmoft wonder, and to regard it \\ith the
warmeft affeftion. After all the explanations
that can be given, the wifefl among the
Ibns of men mufi confefs, that all he can novv^
perceive of it, is, as it were, thro a gljfs
da/kly. For the redemption of man, is, even
by an infpired Apoflle, called the myiiery
of godlinejs, and an hidden myjierw which,
tho' revealed to us by the gofpel, is only re
vealed in part. For the wifdom of God, cuJ
the power of God, are fubjce'ls fu' too won
derful for our limited capacities to admit or
entertain e\f them any adequate idea.
Ir was the felicity of our nature, that we
were created alter the image of God; that
our common parents, tho' appointed for a
feafbn to inhabit the earth, were no lefs in
nocent or righteous, than thofe more exalted
beings, who were deflined to iurround their
maker's throne; but it vvas our misfortune,
and the fource of all our wretchednefs, that
nhui bcino; in ho/iour continued not in that
happv fituation ; but even before he could
fully inform himfelf of all the extent of it's
beatitude, no lefs fooliflily dian wickedly
forfeited that blifs he vainly fought to en
large. For a triid of his virtue, he was en-
G z joined

( 44 )
joined only one plain command ; but was
threatened with death in cafe he fhould vio
late it. The penalty he foon incurred by
the fatal tranfgreffion, and involved not him
felf only, but his whole pofterity, in the
unh-appy confequences. That we are indeed
refponfible for his guilt, is probably Vv^hat
few in the prefent age will admit ; but that
we are the children, not of innocent, but of
fallen, Adam, none can deny. What then
is the inference, but that we inherit the in
firmities and corruptions, that were entail
ed upon our nature by his tranfgreffion ?
What thefe are, we all of us unhappily
experience. Of this at leaft we cannot
be infenfible, that if we were to be judged
by the tenor of the covenant firil made
with Adam, by which unfinning obedi
ence was made the condition of immor
tality, we muft all perifli. For where is the
man that can fiy, that can truly fay, that he
has never violated the divine commands?
Where is that righteous, that perfect man,
that has ahvays obeyed every precept of his
Maker ? This furely no one can pretend, or,
I believe, will pretend, that is influenced by
truth, or guided by reafon. By this cove
nant, therefore, we muft all have died. For
tho' the juftice of God requires us to believe,
that Adam was endued with fufficient power
to keep it; yet we too plainly feel, that our
ftrength is not equal to the tafk. To refcue us

( 45 )
us, therefore, from this wretched condition,
in which death feemed to be our inevitible
portion, is the glory of the'MESsiAH, and
the felicity of man.*
But by what means was this to be effeft
ed? not certainly v/ithout a more merciful
covenant. And this was eftablifhed in virtue
of that atonement for' 'fin, which our Saviour,
out of his infinite goodnefs, was pleafed to
undertake, and, in the fulnefs of tirne, to
mal<^e for us, by the facrifice of himfelf.
And now, tho' we are not capable df that
finlefs
* How nobly and beautifully does our fublime poet, Mil
ton, write on this fubjeft, in his Third Book cti .Paradife
Loft, line 209.
. He with his whole pofterity muft die,
Die he or juftice muft ; unlefs for him
Some other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid fatisfaftion, death for death.
.Say heav'nly Powers, where fliall we find fuch love.'
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem
Man's mortal crime, and juft the unjuft to fave I
Dwells in all Heaven Charity fo dear ?
He alk'd, — but all the heav'nly choir flood .mute,
And filence was in Hcav'n ; — on Man's behalf
Patron or interceflbr none appear'd.
Much lefs that durft upon his divn head draw
The deadly forfeiture, and ranfomcfet. m-
And now without redemption 9II mankind
Muft have been loft, adjudg d .to Death and HelJ
By doom fevere, had nbt the Son of God,
In whom the fulnefs "dwells of love divine,
His deareft mediation thus renew'd.

( 46 )
finlefs perfeftion required by the firft, we
are capable of thofe milder conditiops, which
afe offered to us by this fecond covenant.
Rigid obedience, as it is no longer in our
power, is no longer infifted on as the terms
of-"; our acceptance, but finceve repentance
for our paft tranfgreffions, and a faithful
enJe.ivour to avoid the repetitipn pf them,
is allowed, for our redeemer's fake, to fup
ply the place of it, and to entitle us to that
blifs and immortality, which were forfeited
in Adam by the fall. Tp prpeure for us
the ineftimable benefit, pf this merciful dif
penfation, the Prince of peace, the great
captain of our falvation, was pleafed to de
fcend from the manfions of glory, into the
habitations of wretchednefs ; and to affume
that nature in whicli fin had been com
mitted, to render it an offering for fin. For
verily he took not on him, thi 7idture'of angels,
but that of the feed of Abraham. Even he,
by whotn the worlds were tnade, who was ap
pointed heir of all thi7igs, and who, being in
the form of Got>, thought it not robbery to be
equal with Gop, to accomplifh this gracious
defign; took upon hif/i the for/n rf a fervant,
and was 7nade in the likenefs of itian ; and
having thus humbled himfelf. tp the cpn-
dition of man, became obedient unto death,
even the dejith of the crofs. Even he, I fay,
who, from eternity, had di^elt in light inac-
cefiible, at the^ right hand., of pgiver, who was the

( 47 )
the exprefs i77lage of Go'd, and the brightnefs
of his glory, fubmitted to all the miferies of
mortality, and became a man of for rows and
acquainted with grief, to qualify himfelf to
expiate our guilt, and to give us an example
of the moft confummate virtue, that we
might follow his fleps, and walk in all purity
and holinefs, even as he alfo walked. For
he furely, as the Prophet faith, was woimded
for our tranfgreffions, and bruifedfor our iniqui
ties. He was defpifed and rejected of 77ie7i ;
he was oppreffed and affliBed, and, to conclude
the tragedy, was brought as a lamb to the
fiaughter ; that by means of thefe bitter fuf-
ferings, he might bear our griefs, and carry
thofe forro-ws, to which our fins had expofed
us. For the chafiifeme/it of our peace was
upon him ; becaufe the Lord laid upo7i Kvn the
iniquities of us all ; and with his ftripes we
are healed. How great, how wonderful,
then is this inftance of the divine goodnefs !
What an amazing condefcenfion, what afto-
nifliing love, and exalted mercy, are here
exhibited by our faviour in the accomplifli-
ment of our redemption ! Well may we
cry out, with the pfalmift, what is 7J7an, O
Lord, that thou art thus i7imdful cf him, or
the fon of man, that thou fo regardefi him ?
The means of grace are another moft in
valuable benefit conferred on us by Almighty
God. To promote and facilitate our progrefs in

( 4« )
in our chriftian courfe, many helps are giveuj
many rules are enjoined us; but as thefe are
various and extenfive, I fhall only mention a
few of them. Of all the helps which we
receive from God, to do him true and lauda
ble fervice, and to live foberly, righteoufiy, and
pioufly in this prefent world, the aid and in
fpiration of his holy fpirit are the firft and
moft confiderable. For by him we are moved
and animated to every good work, to every
righteous purpofe; and by him we are
ftrengthened and fupported in the purfuit
of every virtue, and in the difcharge of every
duty. — Again, as the love and favour of
God, are only to be obtained by an earneft
and fincere endeavour to obey his v/ill, the
fcriptures, whicli are an exprefs revelation of
that will, are obvioufly, therefore, one of the
principal means of grace. In them all that
is required of us, both as men and chriftians,
is contained; and by them we are inftrufted
in every branch of our duty. They illumi
nate our path thro' this world, and open to
us the moft awful profpeft into futurity.
They exhibit the cleareft view of all the jufl
objefts of our hopes and fears; explain to us
our trueft intereft, and direft us to the moft
certain method of fecuring it. They furnifli
us with the wifeft maxims and mofi perfeft
rules for the government of ourfelves in every
poffible condition ; and teach us both how
to live and how to die. But however condu cive

( 49 )
tive they may be, in themfelves, to inform
our minds, or influence our wills, however
profitable for doSirine, reproof or inflru£tion,
it is evident they can be of no farther real
benefit to us, than as we make a right ufe
of them; than as we hear, read, mark, and
learn what they teach, fo as inwardly to digefl
it. The poffeffion pf them, like that of
any other talent, is only a bleffing when it
is duly improved. But the proper application
of this means of grace is of the greater mo
ment, as the knowledge of fo many , others
is infeparably connefted with it. Indeed
fome particular inftances of our duty, fome
of thofe Ways by which we may recommend
ourfelves to Gpd, the mere light of nature
perhaps might fuffice to point out to us; but
it is' only that of revelation, which can fully
inform us how vve may hope effeftually to
grow in grace. It is the peculiar prerogative
of the holy fcriptures, to be a compleat fyf
tem of all that is neceffary to be known to
make us wife unto falvation; to be alone able
unerringly to inftruft us, how we may ad
vance unto a perfeSi 77ian, unto the 7)ieaJure of
thefiature of the fulnefs of Chrijl.
I SHOULD noW proceed tp take notice of
the ordinances inftituted by Pur bleffed Sa
viour; and of feveral other means of grace,
of the utmoft cpnfequence tp, our gi'owth
and improvement in it; biit my jirefetit limits
H will

( so )
will not permit me. Thofe, however, I
have already mentioned, ought to be alone
fufficient to imprefs us with the deepeft gra
titude; as likewife fhould that hope of glory,
which both nature and revelation confpire tO:
excite in us. But I muft now liaften to my
fecond propofition, which was to fliew what
reward we fhould give imto the Lord, or by
what frame of conduft or mode of expreffion,
we fliould demonftrate our gratitude to him,
for all the benefits which he hath done unto us.
Gratitude to man implies not only the
moft cordial thankfulnefs, but likewife a re
turn of the fame benefits that he hath con
ferred, or of any other within our power.
For man may aflift or relieve man, and that
frequently in that very inftance, in which he
himfelf hath been relieved or affifted. But
as God is infinitely felf- fufficient, indepen
dent, and omnipotent, and therefore cannot
poffibly ftand in need of any thing that we
can do; our gratitude to him muft necefliu'ily
exclude the idea of a formal return of bene
fits, or of our ferving him in any manner,
by which he himfelf may receive any real
good, or immediate advantage. We may be
indeed, and are required to be, thankful to
him-; we are expreffly commanded to hovv
down, with the moft profound reverence be
fore him, verbally to acknowledge his good
nefs, , folemnly tp praife him for his mercies, and

( 5' )
.ind lo magnify him for all his works: but
to retufn him a fingle benefit is not in our
I'oNvei-, and therefore is no where enjoined'
us.  If therefore \vc are not able to do the
leafl good to him, wlib has done fo much for
u,^:;''wc arc evidently the more flriftly bound,
to attend to all other ways and means, by
whicli we may demonflrate to him the fin-
eerity pf our gratitude.  Particularly to
liotOi and diflindlly to confider each of thefe,
would neceflarily lead me to treat of all the
variou.s iluties incumbent on us, both natural
and evangelical; to feleft, therefore, and
point out a li-w of them, is all that I can at
pielent attempt.
liclovcd^ fays the Apoflle, if God fo loved
ns, ve ouii^ht alfo to loVe one another. To this
conclufion of the Apollle, I intend chiefly
t\> confine myfelf in the fequcl of my dif
courfe. And the firfl inflanec of brotherly
love, of mutual benevolence, and reciprocal
afll^lion, whieh I fhall here "recommend, is
that of promoting each other's fpiritual wel
fare. Hut how little, how very little, is this
to bc cvpecknl, where [leoplc arc fb extremely
veiKutllels of their own, as we commoifly fee
them? Before vve can 'hope therefore, fuc
cefsfully Wt inculcate this indifpenfiible duty
of promol'ing the falvation of others, it feems
highly requifite that We fhould all be re
minded hovv much it imports u."?, with fear
II 2 and

( 52 )
and\ trembling, to work out our own. For,
unlefs we properly love ourfelves, which we
can only do by thus caring for our fouls; un
lefs we are truly our own friends, we cannot
be friends to others, nor do them that good,
even tho' we really wiflied it, whicli is ob
vioufly our duty ; efpecially as one principal
means to benefit mankind, is to fet them a
good example. Here then we- fhould begin
to preach to the world,, and to endeavour
their converfion by the holinefs of our lives,
and the uprightnefs of our conduft. , For a
fincere regard even for the welfare of pthers,
as yvell as for our own,; requires that We
fliould order our converfation aright, that we
fhould walk worthy of tbe vocation wherewith
we are called, and let our light Jb fimie before
men, that they may fee our good works,- and
glorify our Father which is in- Hfaven, ; When
we thus live ourfelves in ftrift. conformity to
the laws of God, we ^may, i with, ./the mpre
propriety, as well as thei more, efficacy, bid
pthers ^f), and do fo likewife; which is the
next proof it is incumbent on us tp give, of
qur love to, our brethren, ,
We fliould therefore, be careful to inftruft
one anothei-i by precept, as well as by exam
ple. We. can .have, no real regard for any
man's falvation, whom we knpw tp be vicious
or. profane, a^d . feek not to reform, by every
poflible me^ws, from which we have any
i hope

( 53 )
hope, of fuccefs., ,If advice and exhortation
have no weight j if no art of perfuafion has
any influence ; we fhould, where we can, ufe
difcipline and reproof. But tho' we fliould
always be zealous in a good caufe, and fhould
never fuffer ourfelves, by vain apprehenfions,
to be intimidated from our duty; — yet the
wifdom of the fer pent is perhaps never more
neCeffaryj than when we are engaged in the
work of reformation. For no favages are
half fo formidable as mankind, when they
have given themfelves up to the dominion of
their lufts, and the tyranny of their paffions;
wheiij being pajl feeling, they riot in lin. with
a feared confidence, and commit all iniquity
with greedintfs. We fliould therefore be cau
tious not to cafl oiir. pearls before f wine, as
it will only bring deftruftion upon ourfelves,
v/ithout any way benefiting thofe, whom
we endeavour to reclaim. ;We muft not
however fuffer our caution to degenerate into
cowardice. Prudence and difcretion, as v/ell
as fortitude and zeal, have their bounds,
which they cannot pafs, without lofing at
once, .their exiftence and their name. And,
if the will of God be fo, it is certainly far
better that we fhould fuffer, . in this world,
for well-doing, than incur punifhment, in
the next, for the negleft of it. But fince
mankind, in the laft ftages of corruption,
are thus dangerous and intraftable, we ought
evidently to be the more diligent to exhort one

( 54 )
'me another daily, while it is called to day, lefi
any of us flmuld be hardened thro the 'deceit -
Juhufs ef fin.
Vice, in it's infancy, may often be ; fup-
preffed without much difficulty. The man,
who has wandered but a few fteps-out of
his way, may eafily be prevailed with to
retur.n to the point, at 'which he at firft;
deviated. The diftance is but fmall, and
therefore may fpecdily be retraced. And as
the error, as ^et, requires but little trouble
to correft it, the temptation to continue it,
is not powerful. . Therefore to reclaim thofe,
who are thus circumftanced, who have made
but a fhort excurfion from, the paths of vir
tue, is an eafy tafk ; and^ the ftrong proba
bility of fuccefs, is a nioft; animating motive
to attempt it. ,For merely to be told that
they are in an error, is ¦ alone fufficient to
make fbme people ^reftify it. As foon as
they perceive they are in the wrong, they
are convinced of their danger. They are
inflantly alarmed, and inftantly change their
direftion. All the powers of nature are as
yet vigorous and unbiaffed. Reafon retains
it's force, and confcience it's integrity. Thefe
are therefore no fooner appealed to, but they
accufe, admonifh, perfuade and prevail.
This therefore is the time for us, when
men begin to draw back imto perdition, moft
><ffeftually to oppofe their fatal progrefs ; for
now

( 55 )
now we have good grounds to hope, that our
labours of love, that our exhortations, re
proofs, and admonitions, will iiot be in vain.
But w;e are not to confine our attention
to thofe only, who have •Ax^i.^yforfiaken their
firfi faith, who have aftually fwerved from
the way of righteoufnefs ; but fhould bc
equally diligent to caution thofe, who as
yet ftand, to take heed Iff they fall, and to
exhort them to bold faft iheir profeffion. We
ihould often remind them of the danger of
vice, tho' but once indulged; and point out
to them it's fatal tendency to corrupt the
heart, and blind the underftanding. We
fliould explain to them the fertility of fin for
the produftion of fin ; and fhew them the
propenfity of the paffions, when once fuffered
to controul reafon, totally to fubjeft it.
And laftly, we fliould faithfully admonifli
them of the extreme difficulty of returning
from the abyfs of vice into the pale of virtue;
a difliculty fo very great, that the prophet,
the mpre forcibly to alarm us, reprefents it
as altogether an impoffibility. Can tbe Ethi
opian, fays he, cba/ige bis fkin, or tbe leopa-rd
bis fpot s ? then may ye alfo do good, that are
accufto7ned to do evil. Thus we fliould en
deavour to perfwade thofe, who have hi
therto walked circumfpeUlly, who have as yet
kept tbemfeives unfpotted fro'm the world, to
continue

( 56 )¦
continue their vigilance, to preferve their
faith, and to holdfafit their integrity.
Nor is this all; but as the faithful guar
dians of virtue, we fhould raife, for it's
proteftion, all the bulwarks we are able; ¦ of
which an early education in the principles
and practice of it, is obvioufly one of the
moft important. For what v/e learn earlieft,
we ufually retain longeft. It is therefore
Solomon's advice, that we fhould train up
youth in the way they fhould go, ; becaife, whe7i
they are old, they will not depart from it.
There are indeed, we cannot but own, too
many inftances of thofe, who have been
peculiarly happy in their education, that
have yet afterwards tur7ied from the holy com
mandment delivered imto them, that have made
fhipwreck of their faith and a good confcience,
and have become as vicious, profane, and
abandoned, as the moft profligate that ever
difgraced humanity. But this only proves,
that, in fpite of every advantage, fome men
will be wicked, vile, and defpicable. For
the benefit of a pious education is too evi
dent to be difputed; as it is notorioufly the
nature of all habits, whether good or bad,
to obtain a force and permanency, in pro
portion as they are early acquired ; becaufe
the cuftoms we are inured to in our child
hood, become generally a kind of fecond
nature.

( 57 )
nature. They are as dear, as they are fa
miliar, to us. For the aftions we are then
ufed to, we perform with a facility which
gives delight ; and we therefore repeat them
often, that we may often enjoy it. And
thus, by frequent repetition, they become
fo familiar to us, that we do them, rnkny
times; when we are not fenfible of it ; v/e
do them, as it were, by neceffity. For the
will is no more concerned in the produftion
of them; than it is in the vibration of the
pulfe, or the circulation of the blood. If
therefore the force of habit is fo powerful ;
if the influence of cuftom is fo very great;
we ought certainly, as far as we can, to give
religion all the advantage of them, by bring-
i7ig up youth, as we are commanded by the
Apoftle, in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord. But we are hot merely to train them; as
it were, mechanically, ot the way they fioould
go ; but we fhould teach them to aft upon
principle which is the only conduft worthy
of rational creatures. We fliould carefully
inftruft them in every part of their duty ;
and fully inform them in the nature of that
faith, which was once delivered u7ito the Sai7its.
We fhould teach them what to chufe and
what to avoid, and point out what is benefi
cial, and what injurious to them. We fliould
explain to them the tendency, nature, and
I confequences..

( 58 )
confequences, of every fpecies of aftions, of
every mode of converfation. We fliould
lay before them the wretchednefs and defor
mity of vice, and the beauty and felicity of
virtue. We fliould imprefs them with jufl
notions of God, and enrich their minds
with the moft enlarged views of all his
attributes. As they grow in years, we fliould
continually affift them to grow in wifdom ;
and from the darknefs of infancy, we fhould
gradually lead them into the open day-light
of confirmed manhood. In every feafbn, in
every ftage, we fhould feed their minds, as
well as their bodies, with food convenient .for
them. As their reafon opens, and their ca
pacities enlarge, we fliould diligently incul
cate on them, precept upon precept, and li7ie
upon li7ie, as the Prophet expreffes it ; as by
this means we may hope, by degrees, to
bring them to think juftly, and to aft ra
tionally. Nor fliould we confine our attention only
to our own children, or to thofe more im
mediately under our care and direftion ; but
fhould benevolently extend it to all others,
as far as we are able. For this purpofe, we
fliould do well to encourage and promote
thofe public feminaries, which are often the
only means, by which the poorer claffes of
mankind can hope to receive any ufeful in
ftruftion in their childhood. Thefe are cha
rities.

( 59 )
rities, which cannot be too ftrongly recom
mended, as it is well known, that the bru
tality, corruption, and debauchery of the
lower orders of fociety, is owing to nothing
more than fo the lharn,eful negleft of their
education. How little foever it may be in
our power to reclaim thofe, who are already
hardened in wickednefs, or are grown grey
in fill; yet vj/e may certainly contribute much,
by early ' inftruftion, to fecure fuch from
ruin, as are hithertp unccrrupted. If tliere-
.fore we find it fo hard a tafic, to reform the
prefent generation, let us be the more dili
gent to guard the next from following their
example ; and let us be as truly zealous to
prevent tfie infeftion, as we experience it
difficult to fubdue the difeafe.
But tho' it fhould be our firft care, to
.benefit .mankind in refpeft to their fouls,
we oiighit not to -be lefs attentive to the wel
fare of \their bodies. For if God hath fo
loved us,.,.^s ,to beftow on us the means of
relieving the neceffities .of our brethren, we
ought certa,inly, in gratitude to the author
of thefe bleflings, to apply them, to the ufe
for whic^ he hath conferred them. It is not
left to our choice, in what manner to diljpofe
of any of -thofe talents, which we have
received from Providence. Our extenfive
wealth or large poffeffions, were not given
us either to gratify our paffions, or footh our
pride ;

( 6o )
pride; but to enable us to affift the. diftreffed,
and fuccour the indigent. If therefore a bro
ther or fifter be naked, and deftitute of daily
food, and it be in our power to fupply their
wants, it is incumbent pn us immediately to
do it. Many, we know, there are,' who are
ready enough' to praftife ' the frugal duties
of exhortation or reproof; but yet would
not part with any thing in charity, however
urgent the occafion, or worthy the objeft.
They Ipve themfelves too well, to love any
one elfe in a degree that would be, in the
leaft expenfive to them." And they have not
generofity fufficient to do by other people,
as they would be done by themfelves. If
they have humanity or honefty enough, to
wifh their neighbour well, they dare not go
one flep further ; they dare not aftually to
relieve him, or give him any affiftance. The
mammon of unr ight eoufnefs is far fob dear to
them, tp part with any portion of it on fuch
ternis. But the religion pure dnd undefiled before
God, diftates a very different conduft; The
royal law, as the Apoftle calls' it,- commands
TIS to; love our 7ieighbour as ourfielves, and to
give him' the moft i folid proofs of it, of
which we are capable. It comiliands us
liberally' to give alms of fuch things as we
have; to be always ready to do goodfand to
comMuhicate ; for with filch fiacrifi'ces, God is
well pleafed. ',.y ... But

( 6i )
But thus to benefit our fellow-creatures,
by givijig them thofie things, which are need
ful to the body, feems chiefly to be the duty
of thofe, to whom Providence hath been
more particularly bountiful. It is, however,
required of the poor no lefs than the rich,
to put on bowels of 777ercies, and to demonftrate
their gratitude to God, by every aft of be
nevolence in their power. For tho', as the
Apoftle faith, Jilver and gold they have 7io7ie
to give, pr even perhaps to fupply their own
wants; yet it feldom happens, but they can by
various other means, very effentially befriend
their neighbours. It feldom happens but
the pooreft man living, may be rich in fome
fpecies or other of good works. And I
heartily wifh that the want of abilities more
effeftually to ferve mankind, were all we had
to lament, and not, as is almoft univerfally
the cafe, the negleft of thofe we are pof
feffed of.
But however vigorous we may be in our
endeavours to promote each other's welfare,
to benefit fociety, or reform the world ; v/e
fliould always remember that the difcharge
of this branch of our duty, does neither
fuperfede nor diminifh our obligation to an
uniform difcharge of every other part of it.
For, ,as the Apoftle faith, whofioevtr fljall keep
the whole law, and yet ofihid in one pohit, is
guilty

( 62 )
guilty of all. While therefore we affift man^
let us honour God, and devoutly offer unto
hira the facrifice of thankfgiving, bpth for the
mercies whicli terminate rnore immediately
in ourfelves, and for thpfe which we are
enabled to extend to others,

SERMON

SERMON III.

John viii. ri.
Jefiis fiaid unto her, neither do I condemn thee.
Go, a,''idji7i 710 7?2ore.
' I "'HIS was the kind reproof, which our
J[ bleffed Saviour gave to the woman
taken in adultery, and who was brought to
him by the infiiaring Scribes and Pharifees.
— In confidering of which words, I fliall
endeavour to ,fliew, fi-rlt. The fubtlety and
partiality of that vcrafty people to their ow7i
fex, as well as fieci; fecondly. The wifdom
and clemency of our divdne Mafter towards
the unhappy criminal ; and laflly. That mercy
is above facrifice, which I hope will be an
encouragement to us to imitate the bright
example which the God of love hath fet us.

First, I am to fliew the fubtlety and
partiality of the Scribes and Pharifees, in
bringing this unhappy criminal to our Sa
viour. —^ — In the preceding part of this
chapter we have the accufation of die Scribes
and Pharifees for the proof of h?r crime. And

( 64 )
And it was written in their law, that the
teftimony of two men is true ; and fo hei
nous a crime it was, that from the early
ages of the world, it. was an iniquity to be
punifhed by the judges, and according to
the Mofaic law the oftenders were to be put to
death. Of this the felf-righteous, defign
ing Pharifees would have availed themfelves,
with refpeft to this poor woman. But our
blefled Saviour, who feeth not as man feeth,
took no farther notice, than by ftooping
down and writing upon the ground, as tho'
he heard them not. — And when, by their
Continued importunities, they in a manner
compelled him to fpeak, he only faid unto
them. He that is without fim amongfl you,
let him firfl cafl a flone at her. So this mcr-
cilefs and crafty people were caught in their
own net. Fpr we read, that being convifted
by their own confciences, they went out one
by one, leaving the poor delinquent to the
mercy of her judge. . But what muft her
accufers feel, at having their fecret guilt thus
openly detefted by omhifcient wifdom ? They
had brought a poor, weak woman to that
bar of juftice, which they themfelves were
forced to fly from ; and that for a crime in
which fhe muft have had an accomplice at
leaft, and perhaps a feducer in that accom
plice, who had bafely proftituted his fuperior
abilities to beguile her with fubtlety, and
had inlifted into his fervice all the black
catalogue

( ^^5 )
Catalogue of libertine arguments to leffen the
horror of the guilt, and then ferpent like
had taken a cruel advantage of thofe wealier
powers of mind and perfon, which he ought
to have protefted. Whether this monfler
was fingle or married, or how far his guilt
v/as heightened, fcripture does not inform
US; but putting the moft favourable con-
ftruftion upon it, heino,us ,it muft. be, and
yet fuch was the vile partiality of this people
in favour of their own fex, that no mention
is made 'of the iiiaii s ever being brought to
his triah-7-It 'would have been incbmpatible
with the, divine wifdom and goodnefs ' to.
have cPndemned the . worriari, the Wedker.^
veffel, and to have freed the man, ivho'Vvas
made t}[\efirqi7.ger : but in human courts ,bf
juftice it is too often feen, that by the fair
lacy_ of 'evidence, or the fuppreffing of it
altogether, by that all-pleading fee the' mb.gic
power of gold, the mofi Criminal perfon
com'es off triumphant, while the lefs guilty
are cover'd 'vvith ignominy and reproach.
And it is well known tppi irt 'how 'many in
ftances the 'laws are' lenient' to their^ makers.
— Here indeed the moft penetrating capacity
can 'only fay. As we f^ar',, we judge. 'It
cannot difcover the enveloped fecrets bf ' tlid
heart. But, it is well for us, that there is
an omnifcient judge, who fitteth above the
clouds, that can. He it was, who .upon
thiS; occafipn ' manifefted both his.' wifdpm
K and

( 66 )
and his gopdnefs. — His goodnefs in not con
demning one whofe heart he faw overwhelmed
with penitential grief, fear, and fliame.
— His wifdom in avoiding that fnare, which
the infidious crafty Pharifees laid for him.
 He well knew their hearts, and had
had great experience of their hypocrify, trea
chery, and proud conceit of their own righ
teoufnefs. — They had before this time aflied
him to dine with them, only to have op
portunity to cavil at his difcourfe, and take
exception at his manner. And when he had,
in great condefcenfion, accepted the invi
tation to dine with a certain Pharifee, then
he marvelled, that he had not firft waflied
before dinner,- Which- veil of hypocrify
drew upon him. and his feft, that fevere re
buke and condemnation, contained in the 1 1 th
chapter of St. Luke.. In fliort there was
no end of the cavils of this contentious
feft, that wfirc continually lying in wait for
words. Nor could the moft benign aftions
of our bleffed Mafter pafs uncenfured by
them, even his permitting a poor female
penitent to ftand behind him, weeping. We
may eafily conjefture, that a confcioufnefs
of her crimes would not allow her any other
attitude. Which^ leads me,** Secondly-

* This Difcourfe on Mercy, was fuggefted to the writer
at a time wheA fhe had not the leaft thought- of it's ever ap
pearing

( 6; )
Secondly, To confider, the wifdom and
clemency of our divine Mafiter in his conduft
towards thefe unhappy criminals, fo very
different from the general conduft of man
kind towards them, and of the Scribes and
Pharifees in particular. — To the firft of thefe
criminals, which gave occafion to my text,
vve find no feverer rebuke than this, Wo7nan
where are thofie thine accufiers ? Hath no 7nan
co77detnned thee?  Neither do I condemn thee.
Go, a7id fin no more. Thus did -he at once
defeat the malice of his enemies, and anfwer
the end of his divine embaffy, which was,
tofieek a7id to fiave that which is lofit. Punifh
ment here feemed as if it was his fitrange
work, and mercy his darling attribute. The
bruified reed, he will 7iot break, nor will he
quench the fi77ioaking fiax. From which I
K 2 would
 r 
pearing in public. She was inftigated to it by the conduit:
of our ever-gracious Queen to a certain Maid of Honour,
in the year 1 770 ; who had then lately afted an unwary-
part, in tnanfmitting epiftles, of criminal confequences,
betwixt two perfons of diftinguiflied rank : but it vvas
eafy to imagine the Honourable Mifs V  n did not know
the import of the letters conveyed through her hands : On
account of which, as report tells us, fome would have per
fuaded her royal miftrefs to have banifhed her her aufpicious
prefence. But to the eternal honour of f^j-ZaWs Queen be it
recorded for imitation, that her Majefty, fo far from being
fway'd by vulgar prejudices againft the unhappy Maid, look'd
on tier with an eye of pity in' iJ/c^/woW Gardens; and by a
clemency, next to divine, reftored her to herfelf and the
Court : And at the fame time exhibited the brighteft pattern
to her fex, of that mercy to each other, which it is the duty
and glory of women to fliew, where they can reafonably hope
to amend by their lenity.

( 68 )
would infer how much more good wpuld
probably; be don£, to thofe of a true con
trite fpirit, that have either by the cpntagion
of bad company and example been polluted,
or drawn intp error and vice, by fudden fur-
prize or inexperience; which, tho' not of
a capital nature, as in this cafe, yet
bring them under fuch a cloud of difgrace,
as to make them ,liang down their head
as a bullrufli, and go mourning ali the day
long. Aild if the divine goodnefs, that
knowctli the thcnights of the heart, and con-
fidereth v/hereof v/e are made, will hold out
the fceptre of mercy to thef'e unhappy per
fons, and tell tliem, their fins, which are
many, are forgiven thetn ; fiiali wc tliat are
partakers of the fame frail nature, (tho' per-
li-aps we have not been "imder the fame pref-
fure of temptation and diflrefs) can we, I
afk, in charity to ourfelves, deny them that
mercy, whicli our heavenly Father is pleafed
to fliew unto them, and which we ourfelves
fliall one day w^int? If the delinquent is
under the arreft of confcience, that is fliarper
than calumny itfelf, and renders fuch a one
an objeft of the tendereft pity and compaflion.
Or if by falfe reprefentations any may feem
to have been ftrlpped of their glory, and the
crown taken from their head, yet will it
make the crown of chaftity fhine with more
refplendent luftre on our own brow, to treat
theni as Job's companions did him, in the
days

( 69 )
days of his humiliation, when they followed
him with undeferved reproaches, which vexed
his foul, and broke him in pieces with
words ? No, no; it would better become
us to be thankful that we have not been
entangled with vicious habits, and over
come, and that we have been kept fiecretly
in his tabernacle from the ftrifie of to77gues ;
and if we can be of any fervice to fuch as
have been enfnared to tread the deludine
paths of fin, let us fly to them on the wings
of love, when they are afliamed to feek us,
and offer them the friendly aids of counfel,
the foothings of compaffion, (that balm to
diftreffed minds) and try to guide their fteps
in the way of peace ; rather than add to
their heart-felt forrow by cruel recrimina
tions, which gratitude to Heaven for our
own prefervation, piety, and chriftian cha
rity, nay humanity itfelf forbid. Such a
conduft can never derogate from the virtue
and honour of worthy perfons ; for thofe
who have moft genuine merit or honour in
themfelves, have moft to beftow upon others.
— To be admitted into their company, is to
the unfortunate a letter of credit, and often
affords a light to the feet of thofe who know
not how to walk uprightly. And hpw ho
nourable muft it be to themfelves to be con-
ftituted, as it were, the delegates of Heaven,
who have alfo the facred word of truth to
affure them, that thofe, who tiirn rnany to
righteoufnefs

( 70 )
righteoufnefs' ihall fhine as the brightnefs of
the firmament, and as the ftars for ever and
ever. They will not let the humble and
contrite fpirit fink into defpondency, when
it i,s in their power to revive it by cordials. —
The compunftion and pain of their own
mind, they judge to bc a fufficient punifli-
ment, and thej'^ will not add to the burden
'till it is inadc intollerable. For when the
mind is weakened by fear and flianie, and
the perplexities of guilt, it is often rendered
unable to form or to purine wife and virtuous
s-efolutions, without proper encouragement.
----It is indeed a fad refleftion upon women
'of charafter in general, that they are lefs
fevere to men for crimes of a licentious nature
than they ought to be, by behaving towards
them with every degree of complacency;
v/hile they treat thofe of their ow/i fex, that
5iave been drawn into eiTor by the flibtle
wiles of men with the extremeft rigor, by ex
cluding them from their company, and ihut-
ttng them out of fociety, which fevere treat
ment too often proves a fatal bar to returning
virtue. — But can a good mind give encou
ragement to the authors of thefe complicated
diflreflbs in the former, or fee penitence
written in the faces of the latter, and not
wifli to reftore them to the credit they were
in in months paft? Flow tenderly and ner-
voufly does our Saviour expoflulate on this
fubjeft, in "favour of the poor woman that
ftood

( 7^ )
ftood behind him weeping ? This it feems
gave umbrage to the Pharifee, that he fliould
fo mildly and familiarly converfe with fin-
ncrs. — Our blefled redeemer does not feem
to take particular notice ofthe difguft ofthe
mafter of the houfe, probably from a prin
ciple of good manners, as b^ing his gueft..
But addreffing himfelf tp Simon faid, I have
fomewhat to fay unto thee; and then gav:e
him the parable of the two debtors, and
with, great condefcenfion appealed to him,,
wliich would love hira mofi. Simon an
fwered and faid, I fuppofe he, to .whom hp
forga,ve moft. Jesus anfwered, .Thou hafl,
i-ightly judged; and turning to, the v/oman;,
he faid unto Simon, Seeft thou \ this woman,
I e77tered into thine houfe, thou , gaveft me ixo
water for my feet ; but flje\ hath wafhed m>f
Jxet with tecri's, and,ni}iped the77t w.i.th ihe hairs
of her he^ad. Thou , gaveft me . no kifs, but^
this woma7i fince X, came in, ..h^tfj 7zot ceafid^.tQ-
kifs 7ny feet. My hecfd with oil thou didfl. Tfpt
anoint, but this wdman., bath- .ano'in.ted niy jfet-
ivith ointment. Wherefore.' I fay, iQitb. tkce,
her fins, which are many, are forgiven her, for
fije loved much ; but to whom little is foi:-<
given,- the fame fpveth little. Hard it was,
4hat he who. could have cqpi|nanded.aU the
Kings of the earth to have bp,^(ve,d, before diin-),
and might have taken place 'pf,,Q4iSAR upqn
his throne, and vvas ambitioyis.pf^ holding.
n,o greater levee than tlie qh^4i'en-,of forrpv^,. fliould

( n )
fliould be called to an account by a proud
Pharifee for his benign conduft in this par
ticular.' — Flow fimilar to this is the parable
of the Prodigal Son? What could induce that
foolifli wild youth to defire his portion of
his' father's fubftance, and to go into a far
countryj when doubtlefs he had every ne
ceflary indulgence under his father's proteft-
ing roof. But then perhaps he had the pa
rental reproof with it, which his high li
centious fpirit could not brook, and fo he
mufi needs defire to be . mafter of his own
fortpne, which v/e find he was not long
pofleffor of, for alas! he foon fpent it in
riotous living, and abandoned courfes, fo
that he was 'brought in a little time to feed
on hufks with fwine, and then, and not' till
then, he faw his folly. When he had reflefted
how much better his father's fervants fared
than he did, and when this wholefome feverity
had brought pn a proper fubmiffion, I will
arife, faid he, and go to my father, own my
fault againft God and him, and being no
more worthy of the tender appellation oifion,
will only defire to be as a hired fie7-vant.
But no fooner did his father fee him, yet at
a great diftance, than, in fpite of deferved
refentment,, all the fine feelings of parental
pity broke in upon his tender foul, like a
wide inundation of ' v/aters- that were not
to be reftrained. With all the impettiofity
pf love he ran to meet him, feized him in
his

( 73 )
his arms, preffed him to his bofom, fealed
his peace with the kifles of his mouth, called
for the beft robe to cover him, a ring to
adorn him, and fhoes for his feet, and pro
claimed a folemn feftivlty to his family. —
Upon which joyful occafion, the fatted calf
was flain, and they began to be merry. And
a noble reafon he gives 'for his conduft, in
his reply to his eldeft fon's expoftulation upon
it. // was 77ieet that we fhould make merry
a7id be glad, for this thy brother was dead and
is alive again, and was lofl and is found. As
much as to fay, let a veil be drawn over the
former faults of this poor wandering fugi
tive, once loft to me in the moft aflliftive
fenfe of the word, and, pbor wretch! loft
to himfelf, an incumbrance and peft to fo
ciety: but now that he hath fuch a contrite
fenfe of his rebellious crimes, furely I ought
to proteft him ; for by the divine favour and
my encouragement, he may be confirmed in
his prefent pious refolutions, and reftored to
the world. Andif there be more joy among
the celeftial inhabitants, thofe pure fpirits
that now furround their father's throne, over
one finner that repenteth, more than over
ninety and nine juft perfons that, need no
repentance ; let not the fuperiority of an
elder brother grudge me this teftimony of
parental affeftion to my new-born ¦ fon. A
day more joyful to me than the day of his
nativity. Permit me to keep it as his birth-
L day.

( 74 )
day. And fhould the regularity of his
future life anfwer the warmeft wifhes of a
fond father, he can never fupercede thee in
my efteem. My heart is enlarged enough
to blefs you both. 'I'liy fleady courfe of
piety and filial duty can never be rival'd by
tliis new-made convert, nor fliall it go with
out it's reward. Thou, my firft-born, art
ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
— From the foregoing parables allow me to
obferve, that lenity ought to be fliewn to
the Penitent, (and fuch lenity to Penitents
alone.') Indeed many inftances inight be
produced to fliew it's efficacy where the
difficulties have appeared numerous, and to
human eftbrts infurmountable. But God
hath- promifed to give his gracious fpirit to
all that afk it. And his hand is not fliorten'd
that it cannot fave, nor his ear heavy that he
cannot hear. No, his power is infinite, and
.endued with this power from on high, what
bands are fo ftrong that we cannot break ?
But to imagine that we can fafely converfe
and affociate with the profiigate and hardened,
is a proof ofthe deepeft ignorance of human
nature. It is an undoubted truth, and hath
the fanftion of an Apoftle, as well as the
univerfal experience of mankind to confirm
it, that evil communications will corrupt good
manners, wherefore come out firom a7nong the7n,
faith the Lord, and be feparate. It is indeed
very dangerous to rifk our own principles, by

( 15 )
by aflbciating with thofe, whom we can
neither db good to, nor receive good from,
which is the , great end of fociety. Can a
man touch pitch and not be defiled thereby,
or take live-coals into his bofom, and not be
burnt? And it may moreover be afk'd, Ca7i
two walk together, except they be agreed? Yes,
at cafual meetings they may, but not in the
fervency of bofom-friendfhip. They ca7inot,
where there is fo ftrong a repugnancy of
principle and fentiment. Thought cannot t7ieef
thought, nor from fo barren a tree that never
•bloflbms, nor even prefents us with the fair
leaves of hope, can we flatter, ourfelves that
we fliall ever gather the rich fruit of wifdom
and improvement, or even rational entertain
ment. To affociate therefore v/ith fuch is a
mere wafle of time, at tlie dreadful rifk of
all that is intereflinp and valuable ; and
whatever appellation it may merit, it can
never deferve; the noble name of friendfliip.
'il,.
There ¦axe thofe 'indeed of a difterent
complexion, whom we' ought to treat dif
ferently : Nor, while 'they are capable of
being- mended > by good and virtuous com
pany, fliould they be excluded' from it, as
the greateft good we can do' to' our fellow-
creatures is to ' be inflrumental, under the
direftion and blefling of providence to their
reformation ; for which reafon the bond of
fQ7n!nunion muft in fome fort be kept up and
L 2 maintained

l( 7^ )
maintained with them, that that of humanity
may not be broken. Thus we find it was
a commpn adage even aniong the Heathens,
that the wife man hates no-body, but only loves
the virtuous. The unhappy criminals may
indeed, for a time, be fo de-ad to all fenfe
and feeling, that they muft be treated as
fkilful furgeons do their patients in inveterate
cafes, where there is a fair oytfide, but the
corrupted matter \\e% deep. , If the artift
would effeft the cure, neither. the lancet nor
the probe muft be fpared. They muft be
cut 'till they are made to feel, and then, in
due time, the healing application may be
made, and it v/ill have the defired fuccefs. —
This was the cafe with the Royaf Penitent,
for that enormous, altho' too fafimnable crime,
the crying fin of, adultery. Many months
were elapfed. A child was born, the heir
of his difgrace J The deep wound was
Ikin'd over, and David did not feel, when
the Prophet probed him by the parable, 'till
he ;drew the lancet, (the word which cut
him to the heart) and faid. Thou art the 7nan.
Then David owh'd his crime, and faid,
/ have firmed againfl the Lord. Aiid Na
than faid unto. David, The- Lord alfio hath
put .away thy fimh thou fhalt. jiot . die. But
tho' he did not j fuffer the law in his own
perfon, his fin 'wa.aj feverely vifited upon him
in the conduft of his children, for the fword
did not depairt from his houfe.— And here let
me

( 11 )
me refleft one moment on the complicated
anguifh of his mind, which broke out in
the following words. My heart is fore pained
within 7ne, and the terrors of death are fallen
iipoti me. — Horror hath overwhehjied me, and
fearfulnefis and trembling are come upon 7ne.~'
My foul is bowed down, reproach hath broke7i
my beai't. — Every night wafh I my bed with
my tears. — Deliver 77ie from blood-guilti?iefs, O
Lord, thou God of 7ijy falvation, and niy tongue
fhall fing aloud of thy righteoufnefs. — For I ac
knowledge my tranfigreffions atid 7ny fim is ever
before me.  -The worm of confcience fo
fharply bit him, ' that he even roared for
very difquietnefs of heart.* And doubtlefs
it was more condemning than the accufations
of ten thoufand witneffes. For nothing but
the excruciating pangs which we are taught
to fear in another world, could exceed his.
He had been guilty of fo atrocious a crime
in irreparably injuring, beyond the power of
any

* " what tongue can fpeak the reftlefs Monarch's woes ;
*' When God and Nathan were declared his foes?
" When every objeft his offence reviPd, T
" The hufljand murder'd, and the wife defil'd, >
" The parents fins imprefs'd upon the dying child ? J
" What heart can think the grief which he fuftain'd ;
" When the King's crimes brought vengeance on the land
" And the inexorable Prophet s voice
."•Gave famine, plague, or war; and bid him fix his choice ?"
Prior's Solomon.

( 78 )
iiny human atonement, a woman, whofe
charafter, in all other refpefts, appears , to
have deferved the higheft efteem, both from
the great refpeft which David himfelf ever
after paid her, and the reverence which her
fon Solomon fliewed her upon all occafions,
which greatly aggravated the offence againft
her. Nor did David endeavour to extenuate
it, but by earneft prayer and fupplications to
heaven, where his crime was recorded,
fought pardon and forgivenefs for the foul
offence. — But, alas ! what reparation could
he make to 'her? The horrid crime could
never be obliterated from the annals of Time,
He well knew the mortal wound which he
had given to female glory would be fatal to
her peace of mind, and that hov/ever he
might excufe her conduft to himfelf, the
power of a monarch could never fcreen
her from public reproach and fhame, nor
from the feverity of divine difpleafure. Let
thofe who think light of David's guilt,
and make it the fubjeft of prophane wit and
ridicule, or fhelter themfelves under his
example, ferioufly refleft upon its confe
quences, and the deep remorfe, which fol
lowed it, and tremble. How one capital
crime drew on another of the blackeft dye,
even the murder of a brave foldier that
fought his battles. For in the firft awaken'd
anguifh of his mind, what opiate could be
taken to lay all afleep again, but Uriah's death?

( 79 )
death ? And that did lull him into a fatal
lethargy, 'till he was indeed awaken'd by
the prophet, who founded an alarm of terror
through all his foul, which made him roar
for very difiquietnefis of heart, and tho', as
before obferv'd, favour and mercy were fliewn
him, yet evil purfued him to his lateft day.
But it is time to haften to my third pro
pofition, which is to fhew, that mercy is
above facrifice. In the 6th verfe of the
4th pfalm, David fays. There be majiy that
fay, who will fljcw us any good I The pro
phet Ml caii anfwers, lie hath fl:ewn thee,
O 77ian, what is good. A77d what does the Lord
require of thee, but to do jufily, a7id to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God!
Juftice is firft required. That finer degree
of juftice, I apprehend, the breach of which
is not cognizable by any human law, and
with refpeft to which, therefore, v/e muft
be a law to ourfelves ; as we can be called
into no court, but the court of confcience
for the violation of it, and muft be deter
mined by the golden rule of doi7ig as we
ivould be do7ie by. And where is the appli
cation of this rule more defirable, and the
praftice of this virtue more noble, than in
giving proteftion to a wounded reputation,
which is only blafted by the breath of cen
fure, and fafts are not proved againft it.—
One would think that none but madmen and
fool .9

( 8o )
fools could delight in fuch cruel fport, as to
caft out firebrands, arrows, and death, for
favage diverfion. One would hope that any
man endued v/ith reafon, fliould dcern the
charafter of another too facred to worry in
this manner, as he would very fenfibly feel
the malevolence cf fuch a conduft, if reta
liated upon himfelf, altho' he feems to invite
it by fetting fuch an example. But good
v/ords and kind interpretations are a very
eafy kind of charity, they will never im-
poverifh the moft indigent to beftow, and is
oftentimes better received than coftly gifts ;
for as Solomon allows, a good nojne is rather
to be chofen than great riches, and lovmg-favor
rather thanfilver or gold. Therefore reproach
not a man that turneth from fin, but re
member that we are all worthy of punifli-
ment. And if we fhew no mercy to a
fellow-creature, how can we expeft it lliould
be fhewn to us ? Therefore charity to ourfelves
fhould induce us to it, if not the love of
mercy for mercy's-fake ; which doubtlefs is
more pleafing to the God of mercy, than to
bow before him with burnt-offerings, and
with calves of a year old. For it is queftion
afked. Will the Lord be pleafed with thoufands
of rams, or with ten thoufand rivers of oil ?
No, faith David, Thou defirefl no facrifice,
elfie 1 would give it thee, but thou delight efl not
i7i burnt-offerings. And he hath told us
what is acceptable. The fiacrifice ofi God is a
broken

( Bi )
broken fipirit. A broken and contrite heart,
O God, thou wilt not defipifie. Thus it is that we
fhould walk humbly with our God, con-'
fcious of our own deferts, and how unable
we are of ourfelves to help ourfelves, and
that the whole of our falvation from fin and
mifery is of the Lord, who hath alfo com
manded us to go and learn what that meaneth,
/ will have mercy and not fiacrifice. No in
ftituted religion was ever meant to fupercede
the neceflity of moral conduft and purity
of heart. And altho' the Jews laid great
ftrefs upon the ceremonial part of the law,
yet, under the fuperior light which we enjoy.
We know that God. is a fipirit, and that they
\oho worfioip him, 777ufl worflnp hi7n in fpirit
and in truth. The church of Rome may be
deceived With expiations of this kind, but
this will not do with God. And what can
we think of that religion, which will not
allow falvation to thofe of a different per-'
fwafion ? The good and great bifhop Tillotfbn
fays, that he does not wrong them, by re
prefenting them as inquiring after this man-'
ner, fliall I go before a crucifix, and bow
myfelf to it, as to the Fligh God? And
becaufe the Lord is a' great King, and it is
perhaps too much boldnefs and arrogancy to
make immediate addreffes always to him ; to
which of the faints or angels fliall I go to
mediate for me, and to intercede on my
behalf ? Will the Lord be pleafed with
M thoufands

( ^2 )
thoufands of pater-nofters,, or with ten thou-
fand of ave-mary's ? Shall the hoft travel in
proceffion, or myfelf undertake a tedious
pilgrimage ? Or fhall I lift myfelf a foldier
for the holy war, or for the extirpation of
Hereticks ? fliall I give half my eftate to a.
convent for my tranfgreffion, or chaftife and
punifli my body for the fin of my foul ? No,
our religion does not require any coftly facri
fices, nor any fuch painful feverities. For as
the wife fon of Sirach juftly obferves,. He
that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough.
He that taketh beed to the co7nmand7nent offer
eth a peace-offering. He that requiteth a good
tur7i offereth fine fioiir, and he that giveth
alms fdcrifiiceth praifie. To- depart from wick
ednefs is a thing pleafing to the Lord, and to
forfake unr ight eoufnefs is more than whole
burnt -offering and facrifices. Above all thefej,.
therefore, we are commanded to put on
charity, which is the bond of perfeftnefs.
Let us then confider the frailty of our na
ture, and not prefume upon our own ftrength.
Let us be tiender of our neighbour's re
putation, and not needlefsly expofe it by rafli
cenfures. This conduft will plead for us in
the day of our own diftrefs, (and who can
be fecure, that fuch a day fliall never come
upon him ?) with a filent, but an all power
ful eloquence. Let us alP^ihen endeavour to
imitate the example of our bleffed Saviour^
who, tho' he himfelf was without fin, neither was

( 83 )
was guile found in his mouth, yet was al
ways moft ready to put a favourable con-
ftruftion on the mifconduft of others. Then
thro' his divine grace and interceffion, we
may hope for that benediftion in the great
day of audit, bleffed are the 7nerciful, fior they
fljall obtain mercy.

SERMON

SERMON IV.
Ecclesiasticus x. i8.
Pride was not 7nade for Men.*
N'' E V E R was pride more mortified,
or humility more exalted than in the
days of our blefled Saviour : Learn of me,
fays he, for I am meek and lowly in heart,
and ye floall find refl unto your fouls. The
Jev/s were difappointed in their expeftations
of a Messiah by the meannefs of his ap
pearance. No Afiatic pomp or eaftern fplen-
dor attended the Prince of peace, refulgent
only in his father's glory, and his own god
like virtues. He had no honours to confer;
no high places to promote his followers to.
To fit on his right hand and on his left, in the
kingdom of his father was liot, as he told the
ambitious

• As our church has allow'd the Apocryphal writings to
be publickly read for edification, on account of the many
excellent moral obfervations contained in them, I have there
fore thought myfelf fufficiently authorized, in treating upon
a moral fubjeft to introduce it with a Text out of the writ
ings of the wife fon of Sirach : which tho' not canonical,
I prefume to hope may be juftifiable.

( 85 )
ambitious mother of Zebedee's fons, his,
at that time, to give : and a child was
brought to his difciples, to reprefent by it's
docile difpofition, and inftruft by it's free
dom from all afpiring thoughts, that pride
was not made for man.
Let us trace human nature back to that
helplefs ftate, and afk what has the. infant
to be proud of? Tho' he is the fon of the
greatefl monarch upon earth, and paid all
royal honours as fuch ; yet he comes crying
into the world, breaths the fame common
air (if that privilege is allowed him) with
the meaneft of his father's fubjefts: and,
notwithftanding the guards that may fur-
round the gate, has no better human pro
teftion than the feeble arms of a woman,
and indebted to the nourifhment of her
bofom for fupport : and tho' born to be the
head of a nation, and the. neighbouring
Princes may be expefted to ti"eat him as their
equal, yet the head of that tender body is fo
weajk, that it oft-times muft rely on the nurfe's
art to keep it fteady : and could the fmiling
infant be fenfible of it's prerogative from fupe
riority of rank, yet is there any thing in this
pourtrait for the royal babe to be proud of?
And this humiliation, this imbecilhty of na
ture, the fon of God himfelf fubmitted to.
He left the right hand of his father in the
celeftial manfions to take our nature upon him,

( 86 )
' Mm, to be born of a woman ; was laid in a
manger, and voluntarily fuffered for a feries of
years all the indignities that his inveterate
enemies could fuggeft, ot a life of obfcurity
and poverty could be clouded with : v/as con
tent as is fuppofed, to follow the mean em
ployment of a carpenter ; and never fought to
take a place among the great men of the
earth, except when his heavenly father's bufi
nefs called him to it. The nonours he re
jefted and the contempt he bore, were to
fhew that pride was not made for man ; and
to leave us an example that we Ihould fol
low his fteps.
I HAVE fliewn that there is nothing in
infancy to be proud of. And, what is there
in chfldhood ? When it comes to be bleft
with the dawnings of reafon, oftentimes the
very firft exercife of it's awakening faculties
is to draw it into mifchief; for we are as
naturally prone to evil, as the fparks are to
fly upward. It is not an obfervation of yef
terday, when paffion takes the lead, what
bad effefts muft follow. Encouraged by
perfonal ftrength the vigorous boy looks
with difdain on his competitors : 'till rea
fon brings him back to fchool, to civilize
his nature and to irnprove his capacity.
How jejune an employment to the fprightly
youth is the tedious attainment of languages,
arts, and fciences, 'till he has gained a tafte for

( 87 )
for mental acquifition, which perhaps he
never may ; or if he does, the gradual light
of perception, we Jcnow, dawns very flowly
on the human mind. Is this period of life
devoted to fevere inftruftion a ftate to bc
boafted of ?
And when he has thrown off the fhackles
of difcipline, and gained the afcent of child
hood, what has the ftripling to boaft of
more than the boy, except that he is riot
under the tuition of mafters, and his paffions
are more arbitrary and unconfined r Or, if
the felf-governing principle will fometirne?
contend for the fway, what conflifts does - it
not occafion with the impetuous youth, wbg^
brooks 7iot the controul ofi the vicegerent withiri
bim ? No ; he has inlifted himfelf uiider the
banner of pleafure, and will acknowledge no
other fovereign. ' She prefents him with in
toxicating bowls, of which he drinks deep,
^till his fenfes are lull'd afleep ; and wli^en he
awakes out of his lethargic dream, he ftfids
his fiiculties enervated, his fubftance dimi-
nifhcd, and his reputation blafted. But this
he is too wife to learn, 'till, as Solomon
tells us, a dart firikes through his liver, and
he hafieth as a bi7'd hafleth to the finare, and
knoweth not , that it is for his life. He
may not, perhaps, be able wholly to forget
the admonitions of his parents or friends ;
the pleas of confcience will fometimes be
heard;.

( 88 )
heard ; and good refolutions may fome
times be formed : but the allurements of
the world, tfie enjoyments of fenfe, the
torrent of fafhion, and the prevalence of ill
example put in the world's fcale, will too
often make his goodnefs to be as the morning
cloud, and as the early dew that paffeth away.
This revolting nature is moft pathetically
lamented by the Prophet Hosea, in the i ith
chapter and ift verfe. When Ifrael was a
child, then I loved him and called my fon out
of Egypt. How under the humble fimili-
tude of a nurfe, does the great God oi Ifrael
fay I / taught Ephraim alfo to go, taking them
by their ar7ns, but they knew 7iot that I healed
them, I drew them with cords of a ma7i,
•with hands of love, and I was to them, as
th'ey that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I
laid meat imtothcm. And how tenderly after
wards does he lament the back-fliding Ifrael
ites! How fhall I give thee up, Ephraim ?
i)'o-w fhall I deliver thee, Ifrael? how fhall I
make thee as Admah ? how floall 1 fet thee as
Zeboim ? mine heart is turned within me, 7ny
repentings are ki7idled together. But though
the Moft High thus pleads in his favour
and declares, he will not execute the fiercenefis
of his wrath towards him ; what have our
modern youth to do with the expoftulations
of fcripture? They boaft of their freedom;
and what has freedom to do with reftraint ?
Tho' St. Peter tells them, while they pro mife

( 89 )
mife themfelves liberty, they themfielves are the
.fei'vants of corruption ; for of whom a man is
overcome, of the fame is he broutrbt into bon
dage. But thefe notions of St. Peter are far
too antiquated to be attended to ; the eye of
the mind is darkened : and is this ftate of in
telleftual blindnefs a ftate td be boafted of ?
And what fucceeds ? The bold intrepid
man, who carries wifdom in his head, intel
ligence in his look, and ftrength in his arm :
made to face dariger, and encounter with the
bufinefs of a buftling world ; or what is more,
made to underftand all myfteries and know
ledge. Though he is eriddwed With the elo'^
quence of a Denioftlicnes, tile oratory of a
Cicero, the patience of a Socrates, or the
wifdom of a Solon ; though he is now in the
full career of human gloi-y, yet within ^ fiv/
years he will be weary of this whirl of bu
finefs ; this high tide: of honour may break
down its banks to fliew us, that man being in
honour is compared to the be afts that per if!:).
Can there be a more degfadirig comparifon,
a more humbling circumftance, than that he,
whofe penetration and fagacity fathomed the
depths of human policy ; whofe Babel-towers
of ambition reached almoft to the heavens,
muft. yet, by the royal pfalmift, be likened to
the brutal part of the creation ? How morti
fying this to human pride ! Can we like this
pifture ? If not, let us extend our views to
N the

( go )
the laft ftage of human nature, and fee ho^^-
we fliall like that.
When the man reverts ag'ain into fecond
childhood, and has outlived all his enjoy
ments ; when he cannot hear the voice of
finging men or finging women ; then the
melody of mufick, the charms of rhetorick,
wit, and vivacity, are to him like a tale that
is twice told. The ears grow dull of hear
ing ; the eyeSy that pierced with a l6ok more
fagacious than that of the quick-fighted
eagle,, that could with a glance moleft the tran
quillity of their beholders, by infpiring them
with irrefiftible love, are now become fo life-
lefs and funk in their orbs, that they will
not afford, light enough to guide the poffeflbr
about his chamber : and yet his genius and
excellencies might have been fuch^ that he
was regarded as a bright luminary in every
aftive fcene of life, and a lamp to the feet of
others. — But now, that hand, which was
the right hand of ftrength, and power, ex
tenfive in agency, quick in difpatch, eminent
in dignity ; that hand, which, as a late cele
brated pious author obferves, " among the
" Egyptians was the fynibol of ftrength,
" among the Romans was an emblem of
" fidelity, and among all nations may be
" looked on as the enfign of authority, as it
" not only reprefents but afcertains do-
" minion over every creature," — is but an
arm

( 91 ),
arm of flefh, which in old age is often ema
ciated and hangs down as feeble and ufelefs as
the infant's, fearce able to fupport the food to
the mouth. — But b,efides thefe natural imbe
cilities of old age, it ofteij happens, as E-
lihu inftrufts Job, chap, xxxiii. 19, 20, 21
verfes, that he is, chafiened, alfo with pahi uporj.
his bed, a?id. the, multitude of his bottes with
ftrong pain :¦ fio that his life abhorreth bread,
a7id his foul dainty meat : bis fieflj is confumed
away J that it cannot be feen, and his bones that
were not feen fiick out: — and this as he tells
tis, that He may withdraw man from his pur^
pofe, and bide pride from man. — — Ajid tho'
we may not arrive af this low ebb of laii-
^uifhing nature by courfe of years, yet wheii.
the afRifting hand of Providence touches us,
the moft athletic conftitution muft bow :
We all know that a fickly youth makes an
early old age, and then how poor, how con-r
temptible feem all thofe vanities that foftered
the pride of our better days ! How vain wilJ
human happinefs appear, whe^i th^ AJrnighty
for the exercife of our patience or pther vir
tues, fhall think fit to try us, as he did his
fervajit Job, and from the fummit of ho
nour and riches ^all bring us to a dunghill
and a potfherd ! Before this awful difpenfa^
tion of divine wifdom he tells us, his glory
was frefh in him, tbe bleffng of him that was
ready to perifh came upon him, mdhe caufed the
widow's bear-t to fing for joy. The yowig men
N 2 , reverenced

( 92 )
reverenced his prefience, yea, the aged arofe and
flood up. The eye and the ear gave atteftation
to his merit ; and the reafon he gives for this
is, the invincible force of virtue and inte
grity. I put on righteoufinefis and it clothed me,
dnd my judgement was as a robe and a diadem.
Yet, when for the proof of his integrity his
fortune was reverfed, and from public ho
nours, and the efteem of the people, yea, of
princes themfelves, fie became their fong and
by-word : wlieq his domeftic happinefs was
laid wafte by the lofs of children, and other
important deprivations ; and his perfon be
came, as it were, a fpeftacle of diftrefs, and
fo loathfome, by the inveteracy of his difeafe,
that they that did fee hirn did flee far from
him : how earneftly did this good patient
man himfelf wifli fpr death as a refuge I yea,
how was he moved to choofe ftranglmg ra
ther than life !r— And though we may not
have his accumulated diftrefs to grapple with,
yet how wearifome is old age to thofe, who
have been engaged in aftive life, their happi
nefs increafing in proportion to their being
ufeful members of fociety.— And yet we have
fliewn that to be a ftate npt to be proud of;
much lefs this, when our fun declines, and
our fhadows naturally lengthen. And fhould
it be afked us in this laft period of life, as it
was good old Jacob, How old art thou ?
might we not reply as the patriarch did to
Pharoah, after he had given in the number of
his

( 93 )
his days ; Few and evil have the days ofi the
years of my life been. It was a monarch's
queftion, and therefore needs no excufe.
But, perhaps, it may be objefted, that
hitherto we have confidered human nature
only in its moft humble and depreciating cir
cumftances ; we have not taken into our ac
count the pride of royalty, the power of
beauty, or the diftinftions of learning and
fcience. Well, let us briefly confider thefe
three, and fee which pf them will entitle us
to pride,
How unavailing was the royal ftate of Ne
buchadnezzar, when his greatnefs extended, to
heaven, and his dominion to the ends of the
earth ! While the empty boaft was in his
mouth. Is not this Great Babylon, which I
have built for tbe houfe of the kingdom, by the
might of my power, and for the honour ofi my
tnajefly ? The fcripture tells us, a voice
from heaven declared, tbe kingdom is departed
fro77i thee. And it farther informs us_, that
he was drive7i from 7nen, and did eat grafs as
oxen, and his body was wet ivith the dew of
heaven, till bis hairs tvere .grown like eagle's
feathers, and his nails hke birds claws. But
when his underftanding returned to him, then
he praife d and extolled the King of Heaven, and
acknowledged that all His works were truth, and
His ways judgement ; and thofe that walk in
Pride

( 94 )
Pride He is able to abafle. But yet fo har-.
dened was the fon, that he would not take
warning by his father's example, till the
hand-writing on the wall came out againft
him, and his kingdom was rent from him
and given to the Medes and Perfians.-i— But
thpugh the ftately monarch does not provoke
the Divine Arbitrator of heaven and earth, by
fuch daring impiety and idolatry as thefe
princes did, yet how little eafe or fecurity is
there in the poffeffion of a throne ? Though
the afcent to it be by as many noble fteps, as
to that of king Solomon ; though it be made
of ivory, and overlaid with pure gold, will it
tread more foft and pleafant than the grafly
turf ? Will the refplendent luftre of a crown
fecure the head, which is encircled by it, from
pain ? or will the fickle homage of a people,
who to-day cry Hail, and to-morrow. Cru
cify, be any guard againft the numberlefs
difeafes that affault the human frame ? Will
public adoration avert inevitable calamities ;
will it allay the fcorching burnings of a vio^
lent fever ; the excruciating pangs of the
gout ; or the emaciating decay of a flattering
lingring confumption ? — Will the tirefome
farce of ceremonious ftate foften the com
plicated care a wife fovereign has for his
people ? Though he can command fleets and
armies, can he command the afteftions of his
fubjefts ? How often will they revolt upon
the flighteft occafipn^ even when the mitre and

( 95 )
and the coronet bow before him in mock-
loyalty 1 How repugnant to eafe is it to be
loaded with gems ; nor v/ili the Tyrian dye
of the glowing purple, the rich fable, or va
riegated ermine, the pageantry of royalty,
have aiiy charms for his god-like mind, who
thiriks he has the welfare of a kingdom to
aiifwer for *, the charge of which he looks
on in fb facred and awful a light, that it
leaves lefs tranquillity in his royal breaft,
than may be 'found in' the meanefl: of his fub
jefts ! For to be crouded with applications,
which, perhaps, power or juftice' cannot; an-
fvi^er; and tired with popular acclimations,
as if l^e were God and not mari, and at the
fame tinie 'by thofe, who neither i fear God
nor honour the king ; to have all • his aftions
noted, as it were, in a day-book ; to have
' every pleafant or benevolent effort interpretsfd
AS intelleftual weaknefs ; or on the other
hand, the ftrift adminiftratidri of juftice. to
be

* " What is a king? — A man condemri'd to bear
" The public biirtheri bf theiiatibn's care ;
««, At home furrounded by a fervile. crowd,
" Prompt to abufe, arid in dttraftion loud :
" Abroad begirt with men, and fWords, atid.fpears ;
•¦ His very ftate: acknowledging" his fears :
" Marching amidlt a thoufand guards he fliows ,
" His fecret terror of a thoufajid foes.
•« In war however prudent,' grfeat,- or brave,
-" To blind' eivents* dfid' fickle. cfiarice a flavd :
¦" -Seeking'to fettle what for-eVer flies ;
"- Sure of the toil, uncertain of the prize. Prior's Solsmtv

( 96 )
be deemed cruelty and barbarity, prove how
difiicult it is to fv/ay the fcepter, or draw the
fword to pleafe a nation. Or fuppofing the
prince on the throne fhould be as happy in
the affeftipns of the people, as ever the moft
favored monarch has been in the zenith of his
glory; what, are all thefe air-blown bubbles
of fame to a mind that confiders how much
foever he is now the flattered Idol of a court ;
though he can boafl: his lineage from a long-
line of kings and heroes, yet he is but a
mere mortal man, and muft die as fuch : and
when his remains are configned to the gloomy
vault, '* he muft, quarter aims with the
meaneft reptile," and be a companion for
fuch ; and all that he can claim of his vaft
domains, . are a few feet of earth to conceal a
decaying corpfe. Here ends the mortal ftory.
Will not the.hunibling view of this reverfe of
royal ftate, preferve the moft illuftrious fove
reign from pride ?
The Power of Beauty falls next under our
confideration; which is allowed by the beft
judges to be generally a greater trouble than
bleffing to the owners ; as it makes perfons
more confpicuous, and fubjefts them to con
tinual flattery from men, who pretend to fet
a much higher value on it, than fuch an ac
cidental advantage can deferve. Their ad
mirers too often fuffer their reafon to be de
throned by their paflidn, who exalt the pof
feffors

( gl )
feflbrs of beauty into heathen deities ; and
when by falfe adulation they have infpired
them with an undue efteem for fo tranfcient
a good, as the regularity of features, or the
hue of a complexion, then they triumph
over the weaknefs of their underftanding ; a
greater fliare of which than common is ne
ceffary to perfons diftinguifhed for their form,
as well as a greater degree of divine grace,
and human vigilance, to elude thofe fubtle
fhares, whicli might never have been laid for
them, had they been lefs attraftive. And
where is the freedom of thofe, who, if they
are not betrayed by an inteftine enemy, muft,
like centinels, be always on the watch, and
never defert their poft, for fear of the enemy
without. An Unpoliflied gem will not arreft the
eyes of the traveller, like the fparkling radi
ance of the diamond, which, by its own lu
ftre, lights the thief. Therefore, is not the
ftate of beauty very unhappy ? And confi
dered with its utmoft advantages, is it not
A fading landfcape pointed tip'on clay.
The fource of care, and idol of a day ;
A tale, a fliadaw, a delufive found ;
That's loft with mourning, and With forrow found ?
Afk thofe, who liave had the greateft fhare of
it, and they will tell you, they would have
been glad to have exchanged forms with the
O homelieft

( 98 )
homelieft ruftie maid : for then they might
have been free from that incenfe of flattery,
which had fo much mifgiiide'd their judge
ments ; thofe darts of envy, the malignity of
which had wounded their peace ; and that
admiration of the gaping throng, which gives
more pain than pleafure to delicate minds,
arid takes off that perfume,, whicli is generally
thought to be fd grateful to the vanity of
females. For will it,, can it bear the
queftion, to afk what there is in this ftate of
hoftility and temptation to be proud of, ex
cept it be that their trials are greater, ancl
perhaps their intellefts^ weaker than the reft
of their fex ? Befides, can a reflefting mind
be pleafed with thofe ftrains of adoration,,
which are only due to the Supreme Being ?
What an abufe of language',^ when it is ap
plied to any thing beneath celeftial beauty !
for if the angels are not pure in the fight of
the Omnifcient Being, but are charged with
folly, how frail, how contemptible muft hu
man excellence appear ; an excellence, too,
that holds its tenure on the uncertainty of to
morrow : Avliofe fun may not then enlighten
thofe eyes, which are now fparkling with fuch
fprightly vivacity,, but only fliine round a
fenfelefs corpfe, till it is configned to its kin
dred clay. Then where is our pride, where
is our boaft, when the worms are our fifters ?
Memory,

( 99 )
Memory, learning and fcience, as men
tal qualifications, come next under our cpnfi-
deratipn, To begin with memory, that
much-admired faculty of the ipind, which
enables us to look back to the days of cliild-
liood ; and by its ideal powers makes every
paft pleafure prefent : which can bring our
paffions a fecond time on the ftage of aftion,
and help us to tr^nfplant the wifdom of
others, and by recolleftion to furnifli the
ftore-houfe of the mind. Yet, when we
confider it as a gift, it fliould excite our gra
titude, but not our pride. Nor is it fo de
firable a gift, as may be imagined by thofe,
who are not poffeffed of it. The fteward,
who hath much committed to his pare, hat|i
more to be accountable for. And fuch is the
much-to-be-lamented depravity of humarj
nature, that trifling and vain occurrences,
encouraged by example, will often- times
take the lead in precedence of fuperior fenfe
and judgement. How difficult a tafk is it to
make it only a facred repofitory, and never to
bring any thing out of it but what is meet
for our mafter's ufe ! Memory will raaintain
its diftinftion, and in fpite of ourfelves will
remember the painful, as well as the pleafa:nt
in life : and though it can only , be very fe
vere to the guilty mind, yet. the infelicities pf
human nature are fucji, . that; it would be a
happinefs to forget them: but that is a very
di^cult fcience to learn. The envenomed fling.-5

( IOO )
ftings of malice and envy are fo keen, that
they will penetrate into the calmefl foul. And
when human vigilance' cannot elude the blow,
memory will oftener invade us on that quarter
than it will aflifl us in rccollefting the de
lightful moments of ferene happinefs. Be
fides, whatever are our attainments by this
mental faculty, what is more treacherous to
its truft ? And fliall we place a pride on what
Ave cannot a dependence ? Cornmon fenfe for
bids it.
Genius and Learning, indeed, dignify the
man more than the ermin'd robe, or the ftaff
of power : but though we could make the
literary world our own, and could underftand
even -all inyfteries, and, like Solomon, could
know even from the lofty cedar in Libanus,
to the liyffop that groweth on the wall; and
like that wife ir^onarch, frail man, may be in
the full meridian of glory, and acquifition of
fame ; yet ought he to confider, with him too,
how vain that acquifition is, when it is not
turned to its proper improvement by ingraft
ing praftife on theory ! How much vanity is
annexed to reafoning pride ! and what narrow
limits are fet to human wifdom ? Then furely
however extolled by fliorf-fighted mortals,
he will not exult, but remember his fun will
fet in the evening; nay, may withdraw its
beams long before. It is but for Omnipo
tence. to touch the linguiftor the fcholar with
a palfy,

( loi )
a palfy, fever, or convulfion, and his admired
capacity will either fall at once, or dwindle
into the weaknefs of a child, or the foolifli-
nefs of an ideot. But if misfortune fpares
us, and we have any real or fancied advan
tages above our fellow-creatures, let us com-
pafhonate others, and remember who it was
that made us to differ, and that the Divine
Power can as well take away as give. Pride
would fit very ungracefully on the brow even
of a Newton, a Boyle, or a Tillotfon, much
more of thofe who never heard of the names
of thofe great and good men, who were in
fpired with that true wifdom that vaunted not
itfelf, and is not puffed up : and fhall we admire
and not endeavour to imitate the fovereign
grace of humility ? Let us all confider, that
whatever our endowments are now, there is
fl time haftening when we fliall be ftripped of
all outward embellifliments and honour, and
iiimmoned to ftand at the fame bar with the
meaneft beggar : let us then not be high-
minded but fear, left that beggar take pre
eminence of us there. Let us now refleft
how inconfiderable are the boafls of nature,
how weak its pride, when reafbn furveys with
impartial eye what may be put in the fcale
againft elating ourfelves on the advantages of
high-birth, riches, beauty or intelleftual fa
culties, to the diftinftions of which a little
time will put a period. But let the defires of
our fouls be turned to that, which is perma nent.

( I02 )
nent. Our beauty mufi mingle with duft,
as corruption is our original. Our rjches may
make to theiiifelves wings and flee away : but
if we confign them over to the next world b(y
prudent charities, gopd exarnple and good
works, we fliall be fure pf meeting with an
high intereft fpr fherq. Fpr we have the
words of our Ble^ed Saviour tp affure us, that
be who giveth but a cup ofi (old water for his
fake flail not fail ofi- his rew.ar.d. L^t us en
deavour to imitate Him in humility, ^nd re
member that pride goeth before deftruftion,
and a haughty fpirit before ,a fall ; that it has
thrown down kings from their tbrpnes, drove
man out of paradife, and expelled angels from
heaven. May their fall be pur warning !

SERMON

S E R M O N V.

F.cc' I, i',si ,'\s'r I cus .\. 18.
Pride ^ivds not made fot' wen, nor furious an-
<^vr Jhr thehi that are born of a woman,
'"y^lll'v two clauii's of this verfe, the for-
I mer olvvhich I have conlideictl in a
picccding diicourfts have a cloicr colmcxion
with each other tlvAn wc are apt at firft fight
to imagine. l'"or (luious anger generally
proct-cils from pridi^ ; and pride iVtini an in-
tclkVt cither naturally dcflciont, or elfe untu
tored in the icvcrc fchool of alllidion. 'Fhe
difcipline of that fchtvd meliorates the fbul;
and brings it acquainted with thofe amiable
kindred virtues, or acconlplifhnvonts, wifdom
and humility.
Hu r though a furipus man is not fo bo
viiulicatcd, yet fome degrees there arc of re
fentment not chargeable with glfllt ; and tM-
pocially, when the offence is committed not fb
much againfl us, as againfl religion and Vir
tue,

( 104 )
tuc. It becomes us then to fliew, that wif
dom is not deftitute of zealous advocates, be
ing, in this as in other refpefts, juflified of
all her children. Mean-time be the oft'encc
we refent ever fo high, notorious and compli
cated, we mufi not dare to affiime GoD'i;
prerogative, who, condefcending to fpeak af
ter the manner of men, declares vens^eance to
be bis, which he will not fail to repay.
In the farther treatment of this fubjeft, no
one, I prefume, will expeft from me a logi
cal exaftnefs of method ; but I fhall endea
vour to reduce and confine my thoughts to
the following heads :
I shall confider, firfl, how far and in
what cafes anger is innocent ; fecondly, what
provocations we ought to overlook as beneath
our anger; thirdly, how injurious our anger,
when exceffive, will be to ourfelves ; and,
finally, the ferene happinefs of that mind,
which is enabled to overcome refentment, to
defpife affronts, and make the ill ufage re
ceived from others turn to its own benefit.
I AM to begin with confidering, how far
and in what cafes anger is innocent, or ap
pears to be authorized by reafon and religion ;
for that fuch cafes there are, is beyond que
ftion, as St. Paul's caution upon this fubjeft
evidently implies, that anger and fin are not
infeperable.

( 105 )
irifeparable.- Be ye a7tgry, and fin noi; lei
not tbe fiurt ¦ go dowTi upon your wrath. ' Re
fentment is a paffion in fome degree neceffary
to creatures of our rank and in our circum
fiances ; and, doubtlefs, had the exertiPrt of
it never been requifite; the great Author of
our Being who doth nothing in vairi, and who
endued us, with all our natural paffions as
well as faculties;, -would never have given us
this quick mental feeling. Indeed, had We
been to' converfe I only with meek, innocent
and benevolent; tempers, this paffion might
-have lain -dormant, or ; even been excluded
iout of out* frame; but the. various parts -we
.have to aft on this ftage of life, often ^throw
Us. among perfonsy whofe foulsy if I may ufe
the expreffion,'. feem not to have beeri made of
fo fine materials, nor caft in fp fait; a mpqld.
Their 'high affrp^ts tp their Maker, byi their
general moUtion and, defiance of his lawSj
their making moft iippioufly free with, the
fanftion of his awful [name; in prder to de
ceive and "injure a fellow-creature; and; their
daring" imprecations of facred vengea,rice on
themfelves and others, thefe horrid, infults on
Divine, authority will vindicate any ; of, us>, lat
certam feafons, in imitating the faqted: vehe
mence injoined theprpphet,: Cry aloiid, fpare
not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, . and fljew
my people their tranflgreffion, and the houfe of
Jacob their fim, P Tp

( io6 ,)
To- hear the moft ferious, rational and
noble purfuits in (human life abufed by pro
fane infidels, virho vend--fbphiftry inftead of
argument, and ^i-ve us ribaldry for wit I —
'O Moses ! diow would thy righteous fpirit,,
eminent- and diftinguiflied as it was for meek-
•nefs,> have fired at fuch bafe- returns for the
advantages of Divine Revelation ! To what a
' tranfport of anger waft thou once raifed by
the 'idolatry of Israel, vifhen thoivthreweft
out of thy hands, and brakeft' the- tables of
'the law, though writtem byi-the.fingei- of
'God r With what anguifli. and honeft indig
nation wouldeft thou jnow;hear> ithe feoffs of
thofe, who defpife theif Maker and Redeemer,
' faying,' as -the Egyptian tyrant of pld; '.ff- Who
is '^ the Lbrdi ^that we' <' fliould ob^y' his\fuoice.^'
This fudden 'pafilon-ofJthe great prophetland
legiflatbr we never' 'find- iraputed tpiihim a&!a
fin. ' The tables' 'whic'h-heiicaftlfrom. hirn,
and^Maflied in pieces^' though of common
flone. were, on account pf their facred con
tents,- -an ineftimable-iltreafure:. They were
not tP be- valued J with theiprecious onyx- or
-the fajipliire, • and the topaz- of Ethiopia could
not- equal them. And yet tlie fudden. paffion
whith deftroyed them, being excited by the
view of a fliocking: aft of i impiety, 'was re
garded at leaft as innocent. . ,
Nay, we have the example of a much
greater than Moses to juftify anger on fuch
occafions.

{ I07 )
occafionsj even that of our^Bleftpd Lord, who
-" caft out all them that fbld". and bought in
" the temple, and overthrew the tables of
' ' the money-Shaihgers, ¦ 'and the feats of them
" that fold ?tbves ; and faidUnto them (furely
" withgreat; thbtigh juft'afperity] Itiswrit-
" ten. My ' hotfe fhall be called the houfe 'of
" prayer, but ye have made' it a den of thieves."
Reproving the hypocrify, the rapacity, 'the
outrageous perfecuting fpirit of the Scribes
and Pharifees, he rifes to a yet higher pitch
of facred vehemence, reiterating that aw^eful
denunciation of Divine vengeance, " Woe
" unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites;"
at length adding, Te ferpe'nts, ye genera
tion of vipers, how can ye •efcape the damna
tion of hell ? The blindnefs of thefe men to
the cleareft evidences of his Divine miffion,
their infenfibility to all the influence of his
benevolent aftions, and their afcrip tion of his
miracles to the Prince of Devils, being known
by his uneri'ing mind to fpring fromcriminal
prejudice and malevolence, juftified the pe
remptory and 'fevere manner of his reproofs ;
and efpecially as he was poffeffed of fuch high
dignity and jurifdiftion. But we, having
•neither the' knowledge hor authority of our
Lord, fliould be very cautious and reftrained
in condemning our fellow-creatures. And
yet furely, in cafes wherein we ai^e certain of
the fafts, and may hope to reform, or at leaft
t^iifcourage vice and profanenefs, our decent
warmth

( io8 )
warmth in reprehending thepi is fupported by
our Lord's example.
The cx)pduft of the apoftks on fuch occa
fions was fimilar to that of their mafter,
St. Peter mpft. fharply rebukes, Simon the
forcerer for impioufly imagining, that he
could purchafe w^ith mpney the fupernatural
endowments of the fpirit : Thy 7noney perifl
with thee. Witb as little , ceremony did St.
Paul inveigh againft Elymas, when he fet
his eyes on him, and faid, O full of all fub -
tilty and all mifchief thou child of the devil,
thou enetny of all rigbfeoufinefs ; wilt thou 7iot
ceafie to pervert .the right ways of the Lord?
Surely to fee fraud, perjury and oppreffion
praftifed on the weaker and more unguarded
jpart of our fpecies, who thinking no evil
themfelves, have no fufpicion of it in others,
to behold thefe inoffenfive perfons taken in
by deceit like birds in a net, muft rpufe the
calmeft and incenfe the coofeft temper, awak-^
ening in their defence all, the energies of
which we are poffeffed. —Or, to bring the affair
home to our immediate bufinefs and bofoms ;
— when in our own perfons we fuffer various
provocations, and thofe, too, of fhe moft
irritating and infulting kind ; when the fhrill
trumpet of defamation is founded againft us,
and we become as it were the by- word of our
neighbours, or, as Job expreffes it, the fiong
of the drunkard; when perfons traduce us
wlip

(, 109, )
who are entirely ignorant both of our aftions
and motives ; nay, when even thofe ulbrp the
tribunal, and call us into judgement, who
are determined not fo much as to hear evi
dence in our favour ; fuch inveterate malice
is too affefting to the fenfibility of the beft
hearts, not tp ftrike out fome fparks of re
fentment. But we ought not to permit our
refentment to blaze out in the fury of re
venge ; for allowing ourfelves to retaliate un
juftly, we become almoft as criminal as our
enemies ; and can never have received from
them fo great an injury as we then receive
from ourfelves. We may, indeed, convince
them, that it is not a ftock or a , ftone they
have to deal with; and that if we patiently
endure the ill treatment which neither inte
grity nor prudence can avoid, it is not for
want of feeling, but from a fenfe of duty.
Doubtless it is very hard, that a pacific
temper fhould prove an encouragement, or in
vitation, to ill offices. When regularity of
conduft will not proteft from the wounds of
calumny ; when even confpicuous and un
common merit is attacked with the greater
violence on the very account of its fuperiority,
and the good it wifheth and endeavourcth to
do, is fure to be evil fpoken of; this, I ac
knowledge, is extremely grating to the fenfi
bility of an honeft mind. Yet ftill we ought
to remember, that the wrath of man worketh not

( IIO )
not the righteoufnefs of God ; nay, what is
worfe, that furipus anger thrPws a man pfl-
his guard, and leads him to wprk. unrighte-
oufnefs. It may, indeed, be impoflible, on
fome occafions,. to fupprefs the firft emotions
of anger ; but the rifing flame may be foon
extinguifhed by 'proper exertloii : and I hope
what is involuntary in the cafe will not be im
puted to us as guilt, ' ,
That we may increafe our fortitude in
fuch moments bf terhptatibn, let us recolleft
by' what honoured name we are called, under
whofe banners we are enlifted, how patiently.
the captain of our falvation bore' the contra-
diftion of finners againft himfelf, and that
certainly the difciple is not abo-ve his mafter ;
let us fuppofe' that angels, and the fpirits of
the juft, and even our great Leader himfelf,
are fpeftators of the conflift, and waiting to
fee whether paffion or reafon will prevail.
Nay, to render the fcene more aweful and
commanding ftill, if refolution ftagger, let
imagination found that folemn trumpet, which
fhall call us to our laft account. Such me
thods will animate the good foldiers of Jesus
Christ, who, thus armed with the fhield of
faith, will be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked. — Our antagonifts ofour
own fpecies may fometimes arrogantly pre
tend, that they are fighting God's battles ;
but in vain do they make him a party in their
quarrels.

( III )
quarrels. He difdains fuch unjuft and furi
ous champions, and will himfelf, in his own
due time avenge the' caufe of the righteous,
provided they faint not, and are not weary in
well-doing, nor endeavour to wreft from him
the prerogative rof what he is pleafed to call
vengeance. There is none that ca7i deliver
out of bis hand. — If he whet his glittering
fword, and his- hand take hold on judgment;
he will render vengearice to his enemies. And
perhaps thofe wpnderful prpmifes made tp
the faithful under the Mpfaic difpenfatipn,
may be applicable in fome. meafure to per
fons of the fame charafter under the Chrif
tian: He fhall give his Angels xharge over
thee, to keep thee iri: all thy ways.^—Thbu foalt
tread upon thi:. lion and. adder, the young lio7i
and. tbe , dragon flalt thou trample under thy
feet-. Having difpatched the firft. part of .nly
;undertaking^'T ' proceed i to fhew, fecondly,
.what' prd vocations- we ought, to overlopk a&
bfeneath bur. refentment. ¦ , i . , , r
An d here it is bbvious, 'that whea offences
and injuries fpring from ignorance, or how
ever from vefy imperfeft and) fuperficial know
ledge, they ought not to excite in lus. aUy
violent degree of emotion. Numberlefs per.-
FonS,,are .deftitute, inot'only of that pene
tration which 'is neceflary for the folution of
difficulties.

( Ii2 )
difficulties, but of the underftanding requi
fite to form a judgment, even on the plaineft.
fubjefts. Their apprehenfions of truth, rec
titude, and prudence are extremely defeftive
and confufed;.'. nor is there- any. thing they
are lefs acquainted with than .they are with
themfelves, the narrownefs of their own ca
pacities, the depravity of their own tempers,
and the turpitude of their ruling principles.
And nov/ is it any wonder, that thofe perfons
fliould mifconftrue the charafters and con
duft of others; who never undeiftood their
own? Ignorance, efpecially whep- owing to
weaknefs of capacity, is worthy : of com-
miferation, and nbt of anger. Ignorance and
dulnefs will never candidly interpret the ac
tions of benevolent and exalted. fpirits.. The
minds of the dull andignorant are not. a foil,
in which to cultivate fo generous a fruit as
candor. Nothing is produced there but thif-
tles and thorns; and to expeftj grapes from
the latter, or figs ffom the ibrrner, wbuld
be rio riiore agreeable to comrrion-Tfenfe than
to fcripture. But furely we fhould not be
furioufly angry at not finding what we have
no reafon to expeft. j A wife man muft cer
tainly be fuperior to fuch weak adverfaries,
and will not fuffer himfelf to be enraged at
his fellow-creatures becaufe of their mental
imbecillity: For that would betray too great
a complacency in the underftanding, which
indeed he may have improved, but did not
beftow

( 113 )
beflow upon himfelf; and a deplorable want
of gratitude to the Giver of all Good. There
fore, as I have already hinted, we fhould
rather generoufly pity the weak intellefts
of our offending brethren, than fuffer their
offences to inflame us. Though they, in
their cenfures of us and other treatment they
give us, may not be right; we, in the indul
gence of furious anger, are undoubtedly
wrong. Again, if the injuries we receive, appa
rently arife from inadvertence, we ought cer
tainly to regard them as beneath our refent
ment. We ought not to be implacable to
wards injuries of this clafs, till we find that
we ourfelves are never off our guard, never
are furprized into indifcreet and injurious de
portment, nor have ever the leaft need of
forbearance from our fellow-creatures.
Nay more, though malevolence, as is
often the cafe, be mingled with ignorance
and ftupidity, yet as it generally puniflies it
felf, we fhould not permit the ill ufage we
receive from it, to have any great effeft upon
our paffions. The filly falflioods of the ma
levolent affeft only their own charafters ; and
they have not far to fall. For though fuch
perfons are dignified with the human form,
their difpofitions fink them to a level with
the brutes, nay, with the worft of all brutes,
Q^ beafts

( 114 )
beafts of prey. Every thing liberal, ufeful
and praife-worthy ; all literary, moral and
religious worth ; all who are poffeffed of fuch
endowments, though they do honour to hu
man nature, and are at once the ornaments
and bleffings of fociety, are regarded by ma
levolence and folly with contempt and hatred.
Thefe birds of night cannot bear the bright
luftre of their fuperior virtues, and therefore
meanly endeavour to draw an Egyptian veil
over them, and are fure to depreciate what
tliey will not try to: emulate. A wife man
never took the fcorner's chair ; but a wife
man hath faid, A fool will rage and be confi
dent,. But the rage of fuch men is impotent.
If we are fatisfied of the reftitude of our own
hearts, what can we apprehend from the ma
lice of thofe around ns} If our hearts con-
de7nn us not, then have we confidence towards
God. Far be it from us to become remifs in
the duties of our ftations, becaufe of the
¦weak and rnalignant cenfures of thofe who
have nothing to do, or rather are inclined to
do nothing, but to ferutinize the conduft of
their neighbours. Though fuch defamers
fliould be numerous, and indeed they are not
fearce, they will be regarded by the man of
fortitude as only the buzzing infefts of a fum-
mer's day. He will not permit even an army
of fuch diminutive and infignificant beings to
give him uneafinefs, much lefs to retard him
in the path of virtue and ufefulnefs ; which would

{ 115 )
¦would furely difgrace his reafon as a man, and
his profeffion as a Chriftian. The luftre of
a truly good charafter is like that of the fun,
vvhich fwarms of very contemptible creatures,
may for a while obfcure or conceal, but can
never extinguifh.
Let us now confider, thirdly, how inju
rious, our anger when exceffive, will be to
ourfelves. The texlt affures us, that furious anger
was not made for thern that are born of a wo'
man ; which I think muft intend, among
other things, that it is very detrimental to a
race of beings fo weak as the human. The
comparative imbecillity of the female fex,
with regard to intelleftual as well as corporeal
force, feems to be generally acknoV/ledged :
And pray is the weaknefs bf the mother an
argument of ftrength in the child;? I think
not.— But, not to lay too much 'ftrefs on
this reafoning from the mere mode of ex
preflion in the text ; as furious anger is un
worthy the rank, and unfuitable to the guilt
of man, and much fitter for a beaft of prey,
.(particulars on which I cannpt at prefent 'en
large) fo to man it muft be hurtful in an
eminent degree. For let me only afk, dpth
not ungoverned paffion violently exercife, fa
tigue, and in time diminifh the fl:rength both
of bpdy and mind ? What can be mpre im-
petupus ?

( ii6 )
petuous ? What a tumult in the countenance 1
What a fiercenefs particularly in the eye !
What phrenzy in the intelleft, and what cQn-.
vulfion throughout our frame 1 Fury renders
our reafon quite ufelefs. It will agree to no
propofals, liften to no argument, fubmit tp
no law. It refufeth to hear the voice of the
charmer, though charming ever fp wifely.
Paflion is at leaft as blind as a mole ; iior
could the adder, were the ancient fable con-r
cerning it true, make itfelf deafer. When
we are impelled by rage, nothing can ftop
our deftruftive progrefs till pur- ftrength bu
exhaufted, and we. have ej^ecuted fuch mif
chief as we fhall bitterly regret durii^g the re-i
mainder of life. The cruelty we have aftecl
upon others, foon recoils uppn ourfelves.
How pathetically doth good old.jACOi^. la-.
ment the vindiftiye conduft of two of his
fons ! Si/fieon and Levi are bretbreri. .. InJlr-u-.
ments. of cruelty are in thef r habitations, Q my
foul, come not thou into their fecret' ;\ unto their
afjernbly,. mine ho7iour, be not, thou united: For
in iheir ^ aiige^r they flew .^ a man, and ^ in their
fief -will they, digged ¦ down 'a ^ wall. -, Qurfed be
their anger, for it was fierce ; and, their wrath,
for it was crtiel. I %ifll divide thern in Jacob,
and fcatter them in Ifrael. . The-royal and in
fpired fages, well apprized of the, pernicipus,
effefts of outrageous paflion, gives us ; admi
rable advice upon this head : Make no firiend- ft^ip

( 117 )
fisip with an angry man, and with a furious
man thou fljalt - not go ; left ' thou learn of bis
ways, and get a finare to thy -fioui. . To catch
the contagion will, indeed, be the worft evil >
but a long train of other mifcbiefs may arife
from fuch company, which npne but thofe
who have experienced theni can well imagine.
The leaft accj;dental. fpark, will immediately
kindle fuch combuflible fpirits into a, flame,
v/hich many waters cannot quench. To
imagine that the fury of thefe lunaticks is to
be affwaged. by gentle words, y/ould be' al
moft to equal ,tnem in , maclnefs, ; All who
confult their own fafety, and are not pleafed
with Hying in a ftorm,- muft retire. 'To rea
fon on fuch occafions, would be reafoning with
a whirlwind, and endeavouring,; by eloquence,
to ftem the rufhing torrent. .";
But as nothing viblent caii be of longdu-
ratibn; this thunder-florm . will of itfelf at
length fubfide, ' the ; impetuous and cutting
hail-ftones diflblve, the-iclouds retire,, and the
firmament begin to affume >, clearer afpeft.
And; now what a fcene appears ! For befides
the outrage the furious .man hatli. committed
upon others, how miferable;, hath he ren^
dered himfelf!, What a wretchdiath his paf
fion left him I ¦ Good God preferve us from
the dire infeftion. ,Th<? ftrength ,of his arm
and the volubility pf ; his ¦ tongue > fai,l him.
The clieek fo lately" glpwing with rage, is
Jickcri d

( ii8 )
Jickend der with a deadly palenefs. The eye,
which was fwoln with anger, and appeared
to dart fuch deftruftive rays, is now funk in
its focket ; and a kind of palfy fucceeds the
fever of the foul. Above all, the fhame and
remorfe for having fo far debafed human na
ture, and produced fuch mifchievous effefts,
muft be highly diftreffing, JBjit let us hear
Ixow the ppet expreffes it :
'« Our pgflions gone, and reafon in her throne,
<' Amaz'd we fee the mifchiefs we have done ;
," After a tempeft when the winds are laid,
" The calm fea wonders at the wrecks it made.
When refleftion again takes place, and reafpn
hath regained her feat, perhaps the over-
mettled and rampant paffions may become
obedient to the reins, But for the accom-
plifhment of fo great an effeftj, or before the
man who hath been fubdued by anger can
recpver the ground he hath loft, time muft be
allowed, the mofi painful compunftion felt,
and, before he Can be at peace, fuch fubmif
fion s made -as will be mortifying almoft to
diftraftion. Well was it pronounced by a
moft accomplifhed ^nd infpired king, that he
that is flow to anger is of great underftanding.
Nor is the honour of fubduing our paffions lefs
than the infamy of obeying them. Accord
ing to Solomon, it is the moft glorious con
queft the human mihd can obtain, and de
notes the trueft magnanimity. He that is flow to

( 119 )
to anger is better than the mighty ; and he that
ruleth his jhirit, than he that taketh a city.
Wic are now, finally, to confider the happy
ferenity of that foul, which is enabled to
overcome refentment, to defpife affronts, and
make the ill ufage received from others turn
to its own benefit. Here inftances as well as
reafonings may be of great ufe.
Of this generous fpirit, ;md the tranquil
lity attending it, Julius Cxfar, though other-
wife of a mofi exceptionable charafter, was a
rare example. Though policy, no doubts
had a fhare in the direftion of his conduft,
he M^as frecpiently influenced by the noblefl
moral fentiments ; nor was it eafy by inju
ries, or even by ingratitude, to move him.
Many were the inflances of lii^ clemency.
It was cuftomary with him to make his
enemies his friends, cither by privately f'eek-
ing a reconciliation with them ; or by in
viting them to his table, and there treating
them with the mofi honourable diftinftion.
Though Cassius had given him great caufe
of ix'fcntment, he tells his friend, that " Cas
sius had made him great, having aflbrded
him -xn opportunity of prefenting him with
his forfeited life." Nay, not contented With
this degree of generofity, he raifed the of-'^
fender to the high dignity of Pra:tor. The
ferene and cheerful fortitude of this illuftri ous

( I20 )
bus man, 'which brings the inftance hbriic:
to this part of our fubjeft, was exaftly cor-
refpondent to the noblenefs of his fbul.
When his friends recommended to him a
guard, and feveral offered to engage in that
fervice, he rejefted their propofal, declaring
" he had much rather die at once than al
ways live in fear of dying." But perhaps
few men have fo thoroughly experienced the
miferies of revenge on the one hand, and
the ferene happinefs of clemency and com
paffion on the other, as the next Emperor,
Augustus. " Being in Gaul, or as others
fay, at Rome, he received intelligence, that
Lucius Cinna was forming a confpiracy
againft him. Particular notice was given
him of the place, the time, and the manner
of attack; one of the confpirators having
turned evidence. Determined on revenge,
the Emperor appointed a confliltation of his
friends; but mean -while reflefting that he
was about to condemn a noble youth, in
nocent except in the prefent affair, and
grandfon to the illuftrious Pompey, he had
a very reftlefs night. He frequently groaned,
and threw out expreffions contradiftory to
each other. ' What! fliall I permit my
intended murderer to walk about in fafety,
while I myfelf am anxious for my danger ?
Shall the man efcape punifliment, who hath
refolved in a time of peace not only to de
ftroy a life, in vain attempted in fo many civil

( 121 )
civil wars, and preferved in fo many en
gagements by fea and land; but even to offer
that life in facrifice?" For it was at a facri
fice that he defigned to affault him. Then,
after an interval of filence, he ftormed with
louder vehemerice .againfl himfelf, than be
fore againft Cinna. "If thy death be of
importance to fuch multitudes, why doft
thou live ? Is there never to be an end of
inflifting punifliment and fliedding blood?
I am obnoxious to the young nobility, who
whet their fwords for my deftruftion. My
life furely can be of little value, if. fuch
numbers muft perifli that I may be fafe."
At length Livia, his imperial confort, to her
eternal honour, thus addrefs'd him, " Will
ybu take a -woman's advice ? Imitate the phy-
ficians> who, finding the uftial remedies iiU'-
fuccefsful, try thofe of a contrary nature.
By feverity you have gained nothing. Lepi--
DUs hath followed Salvidiennus, Mur^-
NA LepiDus, CffiPio M'ur^na, and Eg-
N at I us CffiPio; with others, whom I fliall
not inention i Make now an experiment, and
fee what cleniency will produce. Pardon
Cinna. Being difcovered he can no longer
hurt yoiir perfon; but your glory; he may
greatly prombte.' Augustus -rejoicing' to
find fuCh an advocate in his ' wife,* dhanked
her, countermanded the appointment' with
his friends, and fent only for Cinna. *' Cin-
R NA,

( 12^ )
NA, faid he. When I foupd you in the;
camp pf my enemies, qpt only an aftual
but hereditary foe, I fpared ypur life? and
allowed you tp enjoy your patrimony.
You are now fo profperpus and rich, that
the conquerors may envy the conquered.
At ypur requeft, I preferred you to many
perfons whpfe fathers had fought on my
fide, and beftowed on ypu, the priefthopd.
But though I have conferred pfi yoq thefe
pbliga,tipns, you; have refplved tp .myrder
me.' Having difcourfed with hlrii inqre
than two Jiour?, he, thus cpncluded. * Wellj
Cinna,.! tbe life which I pnp g^ye ypii as
an enemy, I now grant yqu ^^ ^ trcjitor and
parricide, From this day ., let . .friendfhip
cpm^ejice between u^, and let ,QW Poly cpn^
tention be, whetjier J, fhall prpyp tp haye
given,, oi; you. to hAvejeceiyed ypurjjfe v^^itji
the better faith,/ : Some tifPg ^ift.er, jie of
his own apcord heftpwed pn lii^. the cpnfql-
fhip, complaining that he had not qiade fp
free as to apply for it; fpun4.hipi moft faith-r
ful afid friendly tp the laft; W^s Jeft his, fplQ
heir J, rior was,' ewep after tro^bjed, with .anp-r
ther, confpiracy. ., And, what think ypu was
the I refult?, Why, outward as well as in:^
ward. tranquility. Nowhere, J will npt ^fr-.
frpnt, virtueiby afldrig, wh^.t^reyengei cquld
have been fo npble?,,l only sfli,, what x^n
venge could have beet;i fo effeftual ?
. J- A ,, But

( m )
But thefe a,tB ekam|3les only bf frail mor
tals and unerilightened heathens, who had
great vices as well as virtues. Fbr a perfeft
charafter let us inquire pf the evangelifts,
and confider the life of our bleffed Redeemer,
who though fubjeft to our finlefs infirmities,
was yet in a moral, as Well as in other re
fpefts, the brightnefs of his father's glory,
and the exprefs image of his perfon. With
what ferene patience did this Prince of
peace endure the contradiftion bf finners,
and the infults of a rabble ! His facred head,
which never fought his own honour, is en
circled with a crown of thorns. His di-vine
face, at once fo expreffive of majefty and
benevolence; is fpit upon by the mifCreants
who furround him. He even receives blows
from the fame herd of human brutes. His
ears are Wounded with bitter farcafms, and
the moft cruel taunts ; Flis dignity is de
graded by the mock loyalty of his perfe
cutors, being invefted in derifion with a pur
ple robe, and for a fceptre prefented with a
reed. Yet, behbld his ferenity and felf-
poffeflion ! When he was reviled, he reviled
not again ; -vvhen he fuffered, he threatened
not. Nay, though he could have called to
his aid more than twelve legions of angels,
he fuffered himfelf  is it credible ? It is
more than credible : It is certain  he fuf
fered himfelf to be nailed to the accurfed
tree ! and do you recolleft in what manner,
R 2 when

( 124 )
when he hung there, ,he vented his indigna
tion againft his enemies ? If you do, it mufi
furely be with ineffable aftonifliment. Fa
ther, forgive thern ; for they know not what
they do.
I might have called your attention to
preceding inftances of his truly divine cle-.
niency, which are worthy of the moft feri
ous notice. Particularly his rebuke to his
difciples, and even to the affeftionate St. John
among the reft (fo apt are the mildeft fome
times to become vindiftive and the wifeft to
be unacquainted with themfelves !) when more
from bigotry than zeal for him, they wifh
ed to imprecate celeftial fire to confume the
Samaritans, who, becaufe their mafter was
going to Jerufalem, would not receive him.
Te know not what manner of fpirit ye are of.
His calm reprehenfion of Peter's raflinefs^
'who cut off the ear of the high prieft's fer
vant; his miraculoufly healing ofthe wounded
man, though one of the multitude who
came to apprehend him ; and his ftrong
intimation in thofe words, They who ufe the
fword, fhall perifh by the fword, that his bat
tles were not to be fought with carnal wea
pons, ought never to be forgotten. And
then the unexampled mildnefs of the reproof
which he beftowed on the diabolical treachery
of Judas, Bet ray efl thou the fon of man with
a kfs ? merits everlafting admiration. But
furely.

( 125 )
furely, nothing equals that prayer upon the
crofs : Father, forgive them, fior they know
not what they do. And how delightful muft
have been the tranquility and felf^rcompla-
cency of the foul, capable at fuch a time of
fuch an interceffion I
Sensible I am, it is extremely difficult
to attain the ferenity of well-regulated paf
fions in this imperfeft ftate. The caufes
of perturbation are fo numerous that they
often take us by furprize. But we fliould
place it to account before-hand, that, to hope
in a ftate of trial for an exemption from every
thing which can ruffle the compofure of our
fouls, is from the very nature of fuch a ftate
unreafonable. We muft like hired workmen
perform our day's labour, before we can re
ceive our wages. Were there no corrupt
paffions to combat, no temptations to fubdue,
where would be our trial, or how could we
obtain the unfading wreath of viftory? But
there is no danger of our wanting exercife for
patience, and fortitude. Our kind neigh
bours will fupply us with abundance. And
furely to find ourfelves mifreprefented and de
preciated by the low dupes of falfliood, and
the flaves of felf-conceit, will occafion our
cheeks to glow with a painful warmth ; and
unlefs timely prevented, kindle rage in our
hearts. It may fometimes become us, and
be even our duty, feverely to reprefs the in-
folence

( 126 )
felence of fiich revilers ; and felf-defence
againft their calumnies is at all times lawful;
but we never ought to return their fcurrility:
For we I'Cad that Michael the arch-angel,
difputing with- the Devil about the body of
Moses, durft not bring againft even him
a railing accufation, faying only, with a mild
nefs worthy of an archangel. The Lord re
buke thee. Difficult, as I have already hinted,
it certainly is, to be at once as wife as fer-
pents and harmlcfs as doves ; never to be
angry but wjth juft reafbn ; nor permit our
refentment to carry us beyond proper bounds.
.Revenge is too frequently accounted fweet;
but furely to the wife and religious, and to
all whofe moral tafte is not dreadfully de
praved, patience and forbearance muft be in
comparably fweeter. Revenge draws after it
a long and black train of mifchiefs, too long
and too black for defcription; and what may
be the dire cataftrophe who can determine ?
To fay the very leaft, a revengeful temper
fuffers inquietudes, to whicli the mild and
forgiving difpofition is entirely a ftranger.
Animated by fuch a fpirit, we not only
are exempted from the perturbations endured
by the furious and vindiftive, but compel
our very enemies to be our fervants, our fer
vants with regard to our better intereft, if
they will not be our friends. Animated

( 127 )
Animated by fuch a fpirit, we refembic
the inhabitants of Heaven, are prepared and
attempered for Heaven ourfelves, and muft
experience fome anticipation or foretafte of
the heavenly felicity. This blefled difpofition,
and the hope pf that glorious ftate, fupported
the martyrs under all their fufterings ; and,
•accompanied no dpubt with unufual grace,
endued them with a conftancy, which filled
even their enemies with afionifhment. The
Chriftians fniiled on the various tortures, in
the very preparation of v/hich their perfecu
tors were tired ai)d exhaufted. What are
the little injqries we fuffer, to the diflreffes
and agoniesr which they underwent? Ought
not, we therefore, like thern,' to contemplate
with an eye pf faitji that exifted world, wliere-
inftead of envy, malevolence, dctraftion, in-
fqltj injuftice,. perfonal ar)imof]ties, party,
contentions, and -national: wars, all fliall be
harmony ai]d loye ? There- the- -wifksf ccafi;
from troubling,, arid ther.^ theweury ar-e at
refi. There the meek and forgiving fliall be
infinitely rnpre than compenfated for all the
injuries they haye fuffered, There they fliall
be raifed to that fummit of felicity, wjiich
is, ftiled witjh an ernphafig 4t, prefent but
little comprehended, the joy ofi their Lord,,
Thither, we are aflured, the Prince of Peace
hath long ago afcended, there he fits at the
right haiid of his Father in all the glory and
majefty of Heaven, and is fo far from b?ing
rigorou.;

( 128 )
rigorous in marking iniquities, that he maketii
interceffion for all the truly penitent. Afto-
nifliing goodnefs ! Ineftimable privilege ! Our
very Judge is our advocate ! If we are not
wrought upon by the facrifical fufferings,
the example and interceffion of our bleflbd
Redeemer, fo as to become placable ourfelves,
what can melt our hearts ? If we forgive not
an hundred pence, how can we expeft to be
forgiven ten thoufand talents?
Let us cherifh therefore the temper, and
praftife the duty here recommended, that we
may experience the ferenity and the blifsful
hope, which otherwife we can never attain,;
Bear up, O my foul, with firmnefs and pa
tience, however thou art provoked or tried.
Confider how faft thou art haftening to the
period of this troublefome lifci Though
thou art toft here upon a tumultubifs ocean,
be not difmayed at the roaring of the billows.
Land will be foon in view. Under the in
fluence of divine grace, faith will preferve
thee, and pilot thee into a blifsful harbour.
There (moft tranfporting thought!) a convoy
of Angels will be ready to attend thee, and
waft thee to the manfions of everlafting joy
and glory.

SERMON

SERMON VI.

EccLesiastes, xii. I.
'R.emember now thy Creator /;z the days of
thy youth, &c, &c,
THESE words are an admonition left
to pofterity, as a legacy from the wifeft
of men .; a conclufion drawn from unhappy
experience, that nothing is fo proper, no
thing fo becoming our early years, as to quit
the empty circle of worldly pleafures, and
re7nember our Creator in tbe days of our youth.
Now to remember our Creator is to re
fleft upon him with delight  to preferve
an habitual fenfe of his goodnefs in our
minds ; and to render him all that reafonable
fervice, vvhich is included in love — honour —
and obedience. And fure, for thefe necef
fary purpofes, no time can be fo acceptable
to our Maker as youth — when the affeftions
are more powerful, the heart more fufcepti-
ble of warm impreffions, (and therefore fhould
be 9f divine ones) than in the languid ftate
S of

( 13° )
of decaying nature. Youth is the golden
NOW, the glorious opportunity, which lofing
at prefent, we may lofe forever.
i ' }. ' ¦ .
Besides, there is no feafon fo proper for
man to bear the yoke as in youth ; for then
wifdom's ways will become habitual — whof&»
ways are ways of pleafant7iefis, and all her paths
are peace. .And if we negleft to, fubmit to
the gentle reftraints of religion in our youth,
our burthen will inevitably be the heavier.
And how fliall we be able to fiipport the
weight,, when we are tottering under the
infirmities of old age ?  'Is it a becoming
time to make a firft addrefs to the King of
Kings, and to offer him our fervice, when
our joints are palfied-^our eyes dim— and our
knees grown feeble : — as if our Maker was
only to be complimented with the dregs of
mortality ? Would a temporal Prince accept
the fervice of a foldier in the laft days of his
life, who 'till that time had borne arms againfl
him under his moft implacable enemy ?
Would he not rather condemn him as a
rebel, than accept him as a loyal fubjeft, or
reward him among his own faithful veterans ?
—Moreover, what an ungrateful return muft it
be, for all thofe enobling diftinftions, which
man is endov/ed with above the reft of the
creation ? Alafs ! to what an . unworthy pur
pofe m.uft his creation have been, that of a
fenfitive and reafbning Being— and how ufe^ lefs

( 131 )
lefs his being made a little lower than the
angels ; when he fo abufes his faculties 1 '
By fuch a conduft heaven is treated only
as an hofpital or a guard houfe ; a place to
fly to in the hours of diftrefs, a fhelter from
the threatening ftorm. The reward of fuch
Vain confidence is fully fhewn in the parable
of the foolifli virgins, who for want of a
timely provifion of oil for their lamps, were
forever excluded the kingdom above. That
we may avert their fate; let us all timely con
fider how precious we are in God's fight ; and
how fbleninly he expbftulates with us by the
Evangelical prophet Isaia^i.-^Now will I fing
to my well-beloved a fiong ofi my beloved, touch
ing his vineyard: My well-beloved hath a vine
yard in a very fruitful- hill-^ and he fenced it,
a7id gathered oui the fiones thereof, and' planted
it hvith the choiceft vine, and built a tower ?;2
the 7nidft of ' it, and alfo made a wine prefs
therein : and, be looked that it fliould brin^ forth
grapes, ¦ and it brought forth wild grapes.  ~
And now, 0 inhabitants of Jerufalem, and
men of Judah, judge, 1 pray you betwixt me
and my vineyard. What could have heen done
777ore to my vineyard, that 1 have not done in
it ? Wherefore %vhen I looked that it flould
hri7ig forth grapes, brought it forth wild
grapes. — -'And 7iow go to ; I will tell you what
I will do to my vineyard; I will take away the
hedge thereof, and it flail be eaten up : and break
S 2 dow7i

, ( 132 )
down the wall thereof, and it flail be troderz
down. — And I will lay it wafle : It flail not be
pruned nor digged, but there flail come up briers
and thorns : I will alfo command the cloUds that
they rain no rain upon it.  For the vineyard
of the Lord of hofis is the houfie of Ifrael, and
the rnen of Judah his pleafant plant : a7id be
looked for judgment, but behold oppreflio7i ; fot
righteoufnefs, but behold a- cry. God has
been abundantly indulgent to us — has done
his part in giving us improveable underftand
ings, we muft not then, on our parts 'uegleft
the culture of them. Shall a poor hufband-
man do more for the clods of the earth, to
break and manure the foil, by rifi7ig early
and late taking reft, than we fhall for an im
mortal foul? — Forbid it reafpn !---We are
npt fent into the world to be idle. Our fpi-.
ritual life requires of us as much l*abour as
the natural one does of the hufbandman, we
are to break up thefiallow ground of our hearts \
are to fow in righteoufinefis ; then, and then
only may we humbly prefume, that we fhall
in God's due time reap in mercy. But if
no mechanic art can be attained without a
proper application and attention, is it rea
fonable to fuppofe that we can acquire the
nobleft reward of human induftry, by fl um
bering away our fenfes on the downy bed of
indolence ? Duly as the beams of the morn-r
ing return the birds are up, to hymn their
great Creator, and tp reproach our unpardon able

( 133 )
able Ingratitude and negligence. The con
temptible ant, we tread under our feet, is a
pattern of diligence ; and we are direfted to
confider her ways and be wifie. The bee alfo
arifes to condemn us by her induftrious ex
ample, for being voluntarily chained down in
a ftate of ftupid infenfibility, or the romantic
vagaries of the brain. How little can we
exculpate our guilt in this refpeft by the ftale
pleas of natural propenfity, or irrefiftible
fomnolence; the fophiftry of floth !*
It, is true old age and illnefs make their
own apology, but the fame allowances will
not be granted to youth, no more than it
will plead fpr the foldier when the trumpet
calls to battle. Ah! ye votaries of pleafure
und eafe, who fpprt with time, and revel
' on

* Falfely luxurious, will not man awake;
And, fpringing from the bed of floth, enjoy
The cool, the fragrant, and the tilent hour.
To meditation due and facred fong .i*
For is there ought in fleep can charm the wife
To lie in dead oblivion, lofing half
The fleetirtg moments of too (hort a life ?
Total extinftion of the enlightened foul !
Or elfe to feverifh vanity aiive,
Wilder'd, and toffing thro' diftempcr'd dreams ?
Who would in fuch a gloomy ftate remain
Longer than nature craves ; when tvery Mufe
And every blooming pleafure wait without.
To blefs the wildly-devious morning-walk ?
Thomson.

( 134 )
on the brink of etef'nity,- (a's if your only
bufinefs were to dance away in giddy ^iper-
riment, or pick up ftraws with ideots) when
you know that ypu cannot call to-morrow
your own : How will ybu be able to give
Up your accounts with^gladnefs, fhould they,
that morrow be required' of ybu? And befides
this, how- can you anfwer ^ the expeftations
which the; world has 'already entertained in
your favour .^¦- A world, that has generally high
expeftations from' youth; efpecially from fuch
as have been fo happy as to give early indi
cations of great capaisities. ' What tho' it
may not be an eafy tafk to perform i' yet it is
a glorious ' one ' to finifli--— -to prevent the
wifhes, and anfwer the claims bf oUr believ
ing friends; by increafinig merit;! It is furelyj
a kind^of cruelty iri u§ tP jdefeat their noble
expeftations, and to oblige them to take up
a fimilar lamentation to .that .of the Prpphet,
and fay. We looked for grapes from that fair
hloo77iing tree— -rit irfpired U.ii :With hQp.es,, that
it would bend with its preciout' fruit to the hand
of the gatherer, and make glad the heart of
God and riiari;' h\xt hbw"!--roh howl has it
brought forth wild grapes !—r
But to rife higher than human expefta
tions, hbw ftrongly muft it provoke a juft
and jealous God, to take back the talent fo
ill employed, from him to whom it was lent,
and to beftow it on him who may improve it

( ^25 )
it better ? — For if a man will for,- nothins
in his vouth, what can he expeft to reap in
his age? How little does fuch a perfon de-
fen'e the gifts of reafbn, perception, and
thofe ofher noble faculties of the foul, who
ufes all the endowments he is diflinguifhed
by to the difhonour of the beneficent donor?
— and ho%v unwortliy to be tnifled with fuch
precious talents is a prodigal or a fluggard ?
— But now, on the other hand, if we are
fp truly wife as to employ all the powers of
our fouls and bodies in obeying and ferving —
that is, in ranernbring our great Creator, we
are affured by facred teffimony that v.e fhall
be rulers over ten cities. Nay, what is of
more importance to us tlian ten kingdoms,
we fhall rule over our own minds, and bring
our own hearts into fubjeclion, and fliall not
be brought under the bondage of fin. For
tlie foil having been early cultivated, good
habits have taken root, and then tliere is no
room for noxious weeds to grov>', and the
grand deceiver with all his wiles will not fo
eafily prevail againft our habituated and efta
bliflied virtue. His fopliiflry is in vain; we
are not to be found on his ground. Tempted
indeed we may be; for fb was our Saviour
liimfelf in the Wildernei? : but lie in the
diflrefs of nature refified the variou- pleas of
his fubtle enemy, and then the Devil left
him, andheL>:,'idavgeh came v.nd irdmHred unto
him. Tempted we may bc, — forfak:en we
fnall

( 136 )
fhall not be. And if fin do abound, God's
grace doth much more abound to overcome
and conquer it. — Let this then be our con
folation ; greater is he that is for us, than
he tli-at is againft us. — We have a Michael
ftill to fight our battles, which in the old
teftament, is a type of him that flied his
blood for us in the new. — In many parts of
facred writ we read, that the bleffed fpirits
above, have executed the benign office of
being guardians to us frail creatures here on
earth : and that the mild Angel, Gabriel,
was detached from the High Court of Hea
ven, to comfort the afflifted Saints in former
ages, with his confolatory embaffies. — And
why may we not alleviate the difficulties we
have to encounter with in mortal life, in
imagining that they are ftill permitted to pre
fide over us, to comfort us in trouble, and
guard us in danger ? What can be a ftronger
motive to a firm truft and reliance on the
mercies of our maker, than fuch pleafing
contemplations ?
Temptations, therefore, we muft ever
expeft as long as we continue in the warfare
of life : but thefe refifted and vanquifhed,
ferve only to adorn our triumphs. It cer
tainly gives virtue a new luftre to be fometimes
exercifed. For Abraham would never have
been called the father of the faithful, nor
Job the moft patient of men, had not their
different

^ 137 )
difterent virtues have been put to the tefl.
And God himfelf (boafting, as it were, of
a man — the creature of his own work and
power) gives this unerring teflimony of the
former. For I know him that he will command
bis children, and his houfehold after him : and
they fhall keep the way' off he Lcrd, to do jiifi-
tice and judgment, that the Lord rnay bring
7ipon Abraham that which he hath Jpclzcn of
him. And of the latter he faitli to Satan
himfelf. Haft thou co7 fidered nn\ fervant Job,
that there is 7ione like him in the earth, a per-
feSi and an upright {nan, one that feareth God
a7id eficheweth evil? And ftill he holdetb faft
his integrity, although thou movedfit me againft
bim, to defitroy hi7n without caufie. And there is
no reafbn to think that David was efteenied
tlie man after God's own heart, for any of his
great abilities, either in arms or civil life,
but becaufe he kept Gods tefitii77onies Jror7i
bis youth up, (one capital crime excepted,
for which alfo he deeply repented.) For
to an inflamed love, he added a mofi
acurate knowledge of the divine law>,, and
the importance of its facred truths feemed
frequently to abforb his ¦\\hole foul : 
hence it was that he broke out into that
humiliating exclamation. Who can tell bow
eft bc ofiendeth ?  Ob ! cleanfie thou me
from my fecret faults ! And what elfe is
the 1 1 9th Pfalm, but • repetitions of his
T own

( 138 )
own piety, and an exhortation to others
thereto ?
It has been obferved that youth is a chuf
ing,. and often a fixing time : and, furely,
if we make choice of religion firft, as the
governing principle of our aftions, we can
not be hurt by a fecond choice. Things can
never go amifs if we adopt the noble refo
lution of Jcshua, As for me, and my houfe,
we will ferve the Lord. To enforce which
pious refolution, I would moft earneftly and
repeatedly recommend the ftudy of the fcrip
tures, which can alone inculcate faving
knowledge  render, us truly wife unto
falvation — and caufe us in a fuitable man
ner, to remember our Creator in the days oJ
our youth.
There is often a laudable emulation in
the ingenuous mind of youth, to copy great
examples. Thefe have been found as emi
nent in dignified as in humbler ftations. Our
own hiftory furnifhes us with numerous pat
terns of this fort; of Kings and Queens who
filled the Britifh throne. Of Edward the
Sixth; who when he was crowned and pre
fented with three fwords, to fignify his trip-
pie power, declared that thefe could be of
no effeft, unlefs he could get a fourth, mean
ing the fword of the fpirit, the word of God. He

( '39 )
lie was the Josiah ofhis agc; and is a
bright inftance, how foon even amidft the
temptations of a court, ;grace may ripen a
man fi)r the celeftial diadem. Nor was his
fiicceffor, the Lady Jani', Gi^ay lefs emi
nent for her folid piety, than for thofe graces
of inind and pctfon, which feemed to chal
lenge a rivalfhip of excellence. While the
fchopls pf Athens had little tp teach her, the
love of CJoD, anti her bible triumph'd pver
all her human endowments. This it was
that gave her a Martyr's crown ! and led her
early in life, from the church militant to the
church triumphant ; leaving behind her a
name that rcflcfts equal honour on her reli
gion and lu-r fex.
And tho' flic was not called to fuffer iot
leligion, yet the cxainple of Queen Mary
(conlbrt to K. William) was no lefs an
ornament to it. The pious Bifliop Tillot
son attended her in her lateft hpurs; and
earneftly wiflied, that he himfelf might be
found equally fit to die, when he, fliould be
called to his long home. Such was that charm
ing Princcfs in the bloom of life!  The
inflances arc too numerous for recital of heroic
pcrfbnagcs, diflinguifhed by the gifts of na
ture ami Ibrtune, whom the flattering, and
fplendid pleafures of their rank and ftation,
rould not draw off from the purfuits of early
T 2 piety.

( 140 )
piety. So truly has it found Kings for its
nurjing fathers, and ^leens for its nurfing mo
thers ! Why fhould I fwell the bright cata
logue with the examples on facred record of
Joshua, David, or Daniel; of Samuel,
of Timothy, and others?. — they are too
well known to need a recital ; and will, it is
hoped, prove, what their hiftory intended,
noble excitements of generous emulation to
youth. The remembrance of our Creator, does
not cbhfift iri coftly facrifices, or. profufe ex
piations ;—<^^/6o/^7'(9 obey is better than facri
fice, and to hearken than the fiat of rams ! And
it may be truly faid of youth, that now is its
accepted time, now is its day of falvation;
when health is in its vigour — the faculties
are aftive-— and the intellefts clear.
' This duty is therefore, peculiarly enjoined
us in youth, while the. evil days come not, nor
the years draw nigh, in which we flail fay we
baveno pUdfure in them ;^-— thefe. I take to be
the years- of old age, in which we are inca^-
-pacitated' to: receive fatisfaftion, from the cir-
cumftariceS ' which are the comfort and plea-
¦furd'bf youth, Iam this day, faid good Bar-
si illaij' jfo«/y2'(?r^j>'^a'^-f'''^^> ^^d can I dif c ern
between 'good or evil? Can I tafte what I eat
Off, what I drmk ¦? Can 1 bear any more the voice
of finging' men or fiinging women?  No — fie
-yvell knew by experience the quick fenfe of
thofe

( 14^ )
thofe delights rapacious time had robbed him
of! — Nor can we be pleafed with thofe ob
jefts of fight that now entertain us, whe7i'
thofe that look out of the windows (the eyes,
thofe cafements of the foul) are darkened;
and in that advanced feafon of life nothing
of all our former pleafures, will delight us,
becaufe ma7i. goeth to his long hoi7ie. And can
this weak enervated ftate of nature, be a time
to begin fo difficult a work as that of rooting
out old habits, and planting new ? — Is this a
time to work a fecond nature in the foul,
when it can fearce animate the madhine to
which it is united ?- — Surely repentance muft
be a moft arduous tafk to be accomplifhed on
a, fick bed ? When they who have been moft
careful, not to entangle'" their unwary com
panions in fin, but to remember their Creator
i7i the days of their youth— '-\N\\en fuch come
in view of eternity ! — -when they are going
to be landed on an Uftknovv'ri fhore ! — when
all their omiffions and commifflbns ftare therii
in the face, — afk thefe whether repentance
be fo eafy a tafk, or fo much in our own
power as we commonly fuppofe it to be ?
With what difficulty then fliall they obtain
fo divine a gift from God, who have plunged
.others into ruin by making them their aflb-
ciates in wilful and premeditated guilt ? by
leading them into the broad way of deftruc-
fion, and by inftigating them to thofe deeds
¦¦ "" ¦ of

( 142 )
of darknefs, which it is a fhame once to
mention among Chriftians. If, as religion
teaches us, God will judge us, how dread
fully accumulated muft be their punifhment
who have the fins of others, together with
their own, to anfwer for ? It were better for
fuch that a mill ftone were hanged a'^out their
necks, and that they were drowried in the depth
of the fea. — Annihilation is too great a mercy
to hope for,— heavy and tremendous is the
fentence !
But if we endeavour to aft up to a con
trary charafter, in obferving God's command
ments, and fhall teach men fo to do ; the pracle
of truth affures us, we fhall be called greateft
in the kingdom ofi Heaven. In the great day
of recbmpence, when God fhall make up
his jewels, iho(e flail ffi7ie as the brightnefis of
the Firmament^ and they that turn many to
righteoufnefs, as, the ftars, for ever and ever.
And what more has the divine Being who
poffeffes all things richly to beftow, what
more to promife ?
Alas ! does not fcripture amply inftruft us
that the wages of fin is death ?— And who
would be flaves to a mafter, whofe wages
wfll not keep him from ftarving ? — Who
would be faftors for the infernal agent, who
is daily in wait to deftroy fouls ?— Or who
that has once given up the government of
himfelf.

( 143 )
himfelf, and thrown the reins on the neck
of lawlefs paflion, can fay to his defires.
Hitherto flail ye come and no further? — It is
well known, that repeated afts form an habit,
and habit is a fecond nature. Which ftrong
ly inculcates the importance of forming good
ones. It is thefe that render life pleafant,
and death eafy. Not that I would be under
ftood to imply rigid aufterity, which is a
difpofition truly improper for youth. Stdnd
off, I a77i holier than thou, is a language
equally arrogant and unchriftian ; and what
none but a felf-feeking, tho' a felf-condemn-
ing proud pharifee would ufe. For who
made us to differ from the vileft of men ?
Nothing but the grace of God whicli feal-
eth the faithful unto the day of rede772ption.
Which awful period has by many pious
chriftians been more defired than dreaded.
For the renovating grace and mercy of Jesus
difarms death of his fting, and gives him an
angel's face. Tho' we naturally fhrink from
this king of terrors, whofe univerfal power
fpares neither fex nor age, yet fome have
with exulting confidence, broke out in the
exclamation of St. Paul, O Death ! where
is thy fling ! — 0 grave where is thy viBory !
Even when the ghaftly monarch has been
ftalking towards them, they have laid hold on
the promifes of eternal life, and knew that the
God in whom they trufted, and endeavoured to

( 144 )
to ferve from their youth up, would not for
fake them in the hour of difliilution. He
has promifed for the fake ofhis Son, to blot
out their tranfgreilions, and not to remember
their fins. And tho' we muft pafs through
the adamantine gate of death to enter the
portals of heaven ; yet, when once arrived
there, all tears fliall be wiped from our eyes !
and for ought we know, we fliall be welcomed
on the immortal fliores, by Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; and be permitted to
take place among thofe, whom moft we
knew, and loved on earth. Thefe confola
tory hopes can alone fupport the good man,
to whom thefe refleftions are familiar. But
how can this reviving cordial, be adminif-
tred with fafety to thofe, who have neglefted
to re77ieinber their Creator in the days of their
youth. I fear, but feldom. For whatever
good refolutions may be formed at the Iafl,
they can only be refolutions ; not corrobo
rated by aftion. And is it not too often feen,
in returning health, that the foul was more
terrified by the apprehenfions of eternal mi
fery, than by real compunftion for fin ? —
And indeed in the languors of that weak
.flate, it is enough to flruggle with nature
only, without the more important care of
working out our falvation with fear and trem
bling. Therefore,

( 145 )
Therefore, be thou infiruBed, O Jerifalem !
left my fbul depart from thee, left I make thee
defiolate, a land not inhabited. For as a great
divine of our church expreffeth it, " Heaven
is not a place fo void of inhabitants, that like
fbme new difcover'd plantation it fliould taket
in all the refufe and fcum of mankind; no, as
defirous as God is of the falvation of all,
he will never fo far proftitute it's facred gates,
as to tlirov/ them v/ide open to fuch as only
fly there in the hours of extremity and dif-
pair. He hath no need of the finful man :
And thofe celeftial manfions are already filled
with thoufands of angels, and arch-angels,
v/lio are continually furrounding, with their
bleffed hallelujahs, their father's throne."
To what has been faid, I v/ould only beg
leave to add a remark or two.
That we may certainly infer, heaven
would not be heaven to thofe, fuppofing
they could arrive there, who are not prepared
for it, and fitted by purity of heart. For the
joys of that place are only joys to the good
and virtuous, and to fuch as bear thither fimi
lar difpofitions. For inftance, can the vo
luptuary or drunkard, pleafe their vitiated
appetites in thofe blifsful regions, where the
meat and drink of the inhabitants is to do the
will of their father ? U Again,

( 146 )
Again, what entertainment can the fen-
fualift find, in following the immaculate
lamb wherefoever he goeth, whofe bafe views
upon the weaker part of the creation, in this
life were only bounded by his power? It is
a well known obfervation, " iThat there is
but one Being in the univerfe, that can fport
with the mifery, which only his infernal arti
fice could create?" And who would lofe the
approbation of angels in heaven, and good
men on earth, together with the plaudit of his
own confcience, to be a tool in the hands
of fuch a diabolical mafter ? Who would rifk
his chance of happinefs hereafter on a mira-r
cle pf grace, for no greater triumph than
that of deluding a fellow -creature here?
which a pure and generous mind would think
it his duty to proteft, and not deftroy ! O,
therefore, that they were wifie ! that they iin-
derfitood this, that they would confider their
latter end! and aft up to the dignity of ra
tional and immortal creatures, by remembring
their Creator in the days ofi their youth, and not
lay up ftore for bitter repentance. For, let it
be remernber'd that men are to approve them
felves at an higher tribunal, than one of their
own erefting.
Thirdly, how can the harmony of Hea
ven, and the choir of the celeftial Hierarchy,
be delightful to him, who whilft in this em
bodied ftate, feldom or never took the name of

( 147 )
of God in his mouth, but In horrid and
prophane oaths ? A vice that has not one
plea to make in it's extenuation ! and fo hei
nous, enormous, and prevalent an evil it is,
that becaufe of it the land mourneth, and
falutaiy laws are enafted, tho' alafs ! in vain
to fupprefs it.
Lastly, how can thofe perfons find a
grateful or fublime pleafure, in joining the
affembly of the firft born in heaven ; who
here flight all divine ordinances, and feldom
or never tread the courts of their God ?
Here indeed, fome will plead want of me
mory to retain what they hear. But in the
parable, the ground was efteemed good, that
brought forth thirty ; as well as that which
brought forth an himdred fold. Where much is
given, there only is much required. But the
forfaking affembling ourfelves together in re
ligious worfliip, and making the fabbath a
day of worldly, or prophane pleafure, as the
manner of fome is, I fear oftener proceeds
from a depraved will, perverted by indolence,
impatience, or fome other fault, than a con
fcioufnefs of our defefts in underftanding:.
For that would bring us to our teachers for
better inftruftions.
May God of his infinite mercy grant,
that we may fo hear and read as to remember,
and fo re7nember as to praftice ! For

( 148 )
The conclufion of the whole matter
is this. To fear God and keep his command
ments, this is the whole duty of 7nan. Foi
God fliall bring every work into judgment,
with every fiecret thing, whether it be good, or
whether it be evil.

SERMON

SERMON VII.

Genesis, xiv. 4.
—I am Jofeph your brother, whom ye
fold into Egypt.
MONG all the narratives of particular
charafters, that we meetwith in the Old
Teflament, that of Joseph has been com
monly regarded as the moft curious and af
fefting. It has been the admiration even of
thofe, wliofe contenipt of the holy fcriptures
is fufficiently, notorious. Indeed it abounds
with fo great a variety of fuch furprifing as
well as interefting incidents, as mufi highly
recommend it to the perufal of every reader,
not deftitute of the feelings of humanity.
Nothing could be more finely conceived, even
tho' it were wholly .the produce of the ima
gination, and not an hiftory of real fafts.
It is a moft beautiful pifture of the conflifts
and triumphs of virtue. It agitates, by
turns, and interefts all the paffions. — What
terrors do we feel, when we find his brethren
confpiring againft his life ! And how great
is our indignation againft wretches, who
could

( 150 )
could aft a part as villanious as it was
unnatural ! I low rejoiced are wc to find he
has the good fortune to efcape this danger
ous plot ; and yet what anxiety do we feci,
when, inftead of being' reftored in fafety to
his fatlier, we fee that he is condemned to
be fold a bond flave to the Iftjinaelites ! What
pleafure does the humanity of Reuben yield
us ! And how deeply are we afflifted with
the grief of Jacob ! What a variety of emo
tions do we afterwards feel on the various
revolutions of Joseph's fortune! How are
we depreffcd at his unjuft condemnation and
imprifonnient ; and how elated at his enlarge
ment and promotion ! And how deeply
do we find ourfelves interefted for all the
various charafters, whofe hiftory is inter
woven with his ! In the laft place, how
highly are we pleafed to find that all thefe
feemingly untoward incidents terminate hap
pily, and are, in the iffue, produftive of the
moft important good to him, whom they
threatened with the greateft mifchief ! The
genuine and undifguifed truths exhibited in
this fimple relation, ftrike us with amazing
force ; and it muft indeed be allowed, that
we very feldom find ourfelves fo ftrongly af
fefted by any of thofe compofitions, which
are ftiled dramatic, although calculated for
the fole purpofe of moving the paffions, as
we are by this inartificial, tho' furprifing,
narrative. The

( M^ )
Tui: hillory of Joskpu is fb well known,
thai I need not here n-tapitulate thofe p-.irts
of il, which arc containctl iu the preceding
t'hapltrs ; I Ihall thcicfore oidy ohicrvc, that
ihi.'i, liom which my text is taken, coin-
mci\ccs with an aci't)unt ot his making him-
U-\{' known tu his brethren. He feems to
have oflcrcil great violnicc to his nature, in
rclbiiniiii' himlelf li) loup- from makintr this
dik-t)\'tTv. I Ic was iorcctl towithdraw himfcll",
liom their prcioncf, at two different times be-
lorc, in t)rdor to conceal from them the ctfctfs
ol" iholr ilrong cinolions, which, with his ut-
mofl ctforts, he could not wholly fupprefs.
Hut to wear the dilguilo any longer, was not in
his power. l'\ir il is faid that /'(• could not refrain
himfilf before all that fiood bv him. But that he
niighl bc the more at liberty to indulge every
inqndli.- o\ nature, anil cvcr\' diftate of affec
tion, he caufed all, except his own brethren,
{o witluhaw, and (hen wept aloud, ,tb that
/','''<• F.gvptiiins, and the houf ol Pharaoh heard
him. N.ilnrc, in proportion a,'^ it had been re-
flraiucd, like a torrent when flommed, became
the more irrciifliblc ; therefore the emotions
of it, as they had long been rcpreflcd, now
broke out with the greater violence. For
this reafon when )usrru would have wept
in lilcnco with his brethren, he wept aloud.
Conccrniu!; this very tender interview, the
ctmtovt then -.idds tho following particulars ;
and 'fof'ph faid unto his brethren, 1 am Jo-

( ^53 )
feph ; doth 77iy fiat her yet live? And— come near
to me, I pray : and they came 7iear, a7id he
then fiaid, in the words of my text, 1 am
Jofeph your brother, whom ye fold into
Egypt. In treating of thefe words, I fliall endea
vour, firft to fhew how vain and prefumptuous
it is for us, to judge of the methods of the
divine oeconomy, which may ftill be work
ing for our good, when to us it feems mofi
to oppofe it ; fecondly, to demonftrate the
ufe of affliftive providence ; and, laftly, to
fliew that Joseph was a type of our bleffed
Saviour. First, I fhall endeavour to fliev/, how
vain and prefumptuous it is for us, to judge
of the methods of the divine oeconomy,
which may ftill be working- for our good,
when to us, it feems moft to oppofe it. In
deed that the ways of God are unfearchable,
and that it is not in the power of man to
pronounce upon their iffue, is a truth that
requires no laboured proof, as is fufficiently
evident from the inftance before us. For
what human penetration could difcover, that
the perfecutions of Joseph were the imme
diate road to his future elevation ? Who
could forefee that a confpiracy formed againft
his life, fliould prove the mofi effeftual means
to preferve it ; and that the greateft cruelty ihould

( 153 )
fhould be produftive to him of an advantage,
which could not have been hoped for from
the greateft kindnefs ? ' Yet this, however
wonderful it may appear, Was really the cafe,
we find, in the iffucj — Indeed that a poor
Hebrew lad, bred up in all the iriexperience
of paftoral fimplicity, fliould become the firft
minifter of an Egyptian monarch, ftrikes us,
when confidered only as a mepr faft, . with
peculiar 'furprize. There is a variety of cir-
cumftarices, which firigularly enhance the
improbability of it, E'ven to. eat 'yvith an
Hebrew, was^ . an abomination to the Egyp-^
tians. To thefe, the. manners, cuftopis, oc-
cupatiouf and. religibn 'of the Hebrews^ were
as odipUs, as fvbni their own they were dif-
ferenti , There was ' rio, pebple in thei vv^prld
perhaps, to whom they- had fo ftrpngr art
aveiffiouj ; It feemed' therefore, hot -.pnly
highly improbable, but fcarcely ppffible,; that
an Hebr eWf's.nd he a friendlefs flave fhpuld
become the firft man, .next to the fovereign,
in the Egyptian court. But however great
our fuprize may be, when this matter is
confidered only as a fimple faft ; yet when it
is viewed in conjunftion with thofe circum
ftances by 'Which it was ;a66omplifhed,- it is
not mere furprize' tli^t '(vefeel; but the height
of aft^nifhmerit. Fbr ; all : the incidents,
which feemed . to threaten Joseph with : the
greateft' danger, proved tb him, in the, end,
the moft fortunate. While, in appearance,
r he

( ^54 )
he feemed pufhed down the precipice of'
deftruftion, he was, in reality, only thrull
forward in the high road to preferment.
Every attack upon his- life or charafter, every
attempt to injure him, every plot to deftroy
him, were juft fo many helps to haften and
fecure his promotion. Thus dark and im
penetrable are the chances and changes of
this mortal life ; thus fecret and infcrutable
arc the ways of providence ; nor is there any
man, ¦ however extenfive his knowledge, @r
deep his fagacity, who can pretend, touching'
the confequences of any one aftion, to fonrt
a certain eftimate. Indeed in a moral or
religious view, we all know that whatever
aftion is well meant, will, in the, ultimate.
iffue, be produftive of happy confequences,
becaufe, as it is ever pleafing to God, it;
cannot fail, in the next- world, of being duly
rewarded by him. But how far it may
anfwer or defeat our prefent purpofe, . we
cannot poffibly forefee. The fchemes or in
ventions, which, in the contemplation, we
are moft pleafed with,^ often prove,, in tho
execution, the moft- unfortunate;
Jacob, we may' Well fuppofe, was not
a little delighted, when- the happy device,
(as he deemed- it) bf adorning his fon- Joseph
with a coat of many colours, - firfl occurred
to his fond imagination ; yet this filly dif
tinftion, tho' "intended as- a mark of peculiar-
afteftion

( ^55 )
;Tfleftio]i for the child, had well nigh proved
fatal to him. For it was the fight of this,
that was the principal caufe of that dreadful
confpiracy, which was formed againft him
by his brethren in Dothan, when he was
,fent by his father into the fields to vifit them.
Indeed a variety of circumftances had unhap
pily concurred to render him fo highly ob
noxious to his brethren. But they may all
perhaps be eafily refolved into his father's
JU judged partiality for him. For very pro
bably his dreams, had it not been for their
pre-conceived averfion to him on that ac
count, would have been but little regarded
by them. But his father very unwifely, by
his late prefent, moft. fatally contributed to
revive and inflame all their accumulated ma
lignity. Therefore when they faw hi77i, ha
bited in the envied garb, afar off, even before
he ca7ne 7iear unto the77i, they co7ifipired againfl
him to fiay hi7n. Thus do our favourite
fchemes oft militate the moft againft our
peace, and, inftead of pleafure, produce
only pain.
Now the ftorms begin to thicken apace
about Joseph ; and the clouds affume a moft
indignant afpeft. But of this, though in
a few moments he will make the dreadful
difcovery, he is not as yet fenfible. For,
like the unwary bird, he perceives not the
fnare, 'till he is aftually caught in it. Un-
con fcious

( '56 )
confcious of guilt, he apprehends no danger.
We fee him therefore advance, in all the in
nocence and benignity of his heart, highly
rejoicing that he has at laft, after a tedious
and wearifome journey, found, his brethren,
and. hoping to receive a favourable account
of their ftate and v/elfare ; little thinking
that, tho' brethren in name, they are ruflians
in reality, who are glad to fee him indeed,
not to give him any teftimony of their aftec-
tion, but aftually to deftroy him. Fatal
partiality, and more fatal envy ! What pro
digies of villainy have ye not produced ! What
mifchief, diftrefs, and wretchednefs, have ye
not occafioned ! — Unwary Jacob ! haften to
the plains of Dothan, behold the horrid
tranfaftion, and, with grief, refleft what an
incendiary thou haft been in thbne ov/n
houfe. Confider, that fond parents, by their
capricious partiality, pften become the exe
cutioners of their own offspring efpecially
of that child, which is mofi the objeft of
their afteftion. But while we condemn the
imprudent, let us yet pity the unfortunate
father. Befides, we know not how far
Jacob may have been, with refpeft to this
point, in an error ; for Joseph might very
poflibly have given early proof of fuperior
merit, which will always not only juftify,
but require, fome fuitable degree of diflinc-
iion ; and his father may have had a much
better reafon for giving him the preference, than

( ^57 )
than the very unfubftantial one of his being
the child of his old age. But whatever his
error, or whatever his fault may have been,
his punifhment for it feems fufficiently fevere;
for he is doomed for a length of years, to
7770U7'n the living Jofeph, as the dead. A con
fpiracy is formed, and that too by thofe,
who had fprung from his own loins, -and
whofe duty therefore it was, to be the ftaft'
of his age, not only againft the life of his
darling child, but againft the peace of his
declining years. Inftead of receiving the
pleafing account he hoped for, that his fons
were all well, he receives a bloody garment,
the fatal proof, as he deemed it, that the fon
moft de-ar to him, was now no more. Who
therefore upon fo melancholy, fo affefting an
occafion, can refrain from weeping v/ith the
unhappy Israel !
But if we are diftreffed for the fire, how
much more diftreffed are we for the fon,
while furrounded with the terrors of death,
he lifts up his tender hands, and, in the
anguifli of his foul, fupplicates for mercy to
the ftern difpenfers of his future fate, who
now ftand ready to pronounce his doom !
With joy indeed we fee him refcued from the
jaws of deftruftion, but that joy is almoft
inftantly cancelled, when we perceive that
the utmoft lenity he can hope for, is excefs
of cruelty, and that inftead of inftant death, he

( 158 )
he is condemned to die daily, in all the
rigours of banifliment and of bondage. We
fee him, while hurried over the plains by the
favage Ifl:macliles, ftill ftretch out his arms
to Judah, and, in the moft moving accents,
implore his affeftionate interpofition, to pro
cure fome farther mitigation of his inhuman
fentence; and when too diftant to be any
longer heard, we yet fee him look back in
All the agony of diftraftion, and almoft wifh
ing he had found his grave, where he found
his brethren.
Here then -we ftand amazed, and arc
ready to aflc, where is Providence ? Is there
a God, that ruleth in the earth ? For if in
nocence has no proteftor ; if the wicked
may do, with impunity, even what they
chufe ; what reafon have v/e to believe that
heaven is interefted in the affairs of men ? A
cafe more peculiarly moving than the prefent,
we can fcarcely perhaps imagine to ourfelves.
Humanity fliudders at the contemplation of
it; and yet the deity feems v/holly uncon
cerned. Flere is the fury of the oppreffor ;
but v/here is the deliverer ? Forbear, rafli
man, forbear, and with patience wait the
iffue; {or floall 7iot the judge of all the earth do
right ? Nay, even tho' the righteous fliould
be as the wicked, and one fate, in this world,
fliould attend botli ; yet fuffer not thy confi
dence in God to be fliaken, but rather re-
folve,

( 159 )
fblve, with Job, to hold faft ; thy integrity
unto the end, aiid to truft in him, altho' he
fhould flay thee. , '. ¦ ' ¦
The good and virtuous, however, are not
idways deftroyed, when they feem, in this
world, to be caft, down. Their fun, only fet;;
for a. while, tp > rife , again mprc: glorioufly.
It is therefore as yyeak as it- is irnpious, for
fhort- fighted mortals to prefume. to arraign
the providence^ and 'perhaps to queftion the-
Being of God,! when events happen not to,
correfpond with pur expeftatipns, or when
things happen to wear an enftvarraffed or un.-,
toward afpeft. The , clouds indeed may be,
black, and the .ftprm formidable,; yet the
clouds may foon wear away, and, the , ftorm
may quickly ceafe. ¦ I>et us. only 'vyait a little,i
a very little while, ,and . tliC; fky -will be again,
ferene ; nay, . a .brighter profpeft perhaps wili.
foon appear, than. ^ 'any; iwe have- as yet dif-r,
cbvered. , The prefent is ajl -yye; ,fee.^ f5)r the
futnj-e is wholly -wiapt in pbfcurityi. . . J^uL^k,
the prefent affefts : -us only - jwith, i pain, , we
complain of it as eyil, altho' it ,be j^^^ meaji^
ordained,' after a , fhort intervaj, to procure
us the moft fubftantial good. Jcfeph fs nqi;^
and Simeon is noti faid: the venei^able.patriatch^
dnd i ye ' will, take ¦ Benjamin away, ,; , all , thef 'a
things are againfit^'mei But though hp. had
converfed with angels, and had (eew God,
he wasj in this point, totally miftaken. He
feems

( i6o )
feems here ''to judge and complain, as
perhaps moft other mortals, in his fituation
would have been too apt to do. But the truth
vyas, thefe things, fo far from being againft
him, were the moft fortunate that could have
befallen him.- For the lofs of Joseph,
however infupportable, was nothing lefs than
the prefervatiori bothof himfelf and his family.
But this' event was, as yet, a fecret to Ja
cob. His grief therefore was exquifite, and,
if poffible, would have been ftill more ex
quifite, had he known what barbarous treat
ment the innocent yoUth he lamented^ had
received from his- favage brethren. For how
could he have endured the thought of his
inexpreffible diftrefsy ' TO/^^"/;, in the an^uifl ofi
bis fioul, he befioiight thein, dnd they would \ not
hear? This Would fcarcely have failed,, in a
'very fhort' fpacev to briii^ doibn his grey hairs
indeed, with'- forrow, to the- grave. And to
perfuade him. When labouring under the
Weight of' fuch extreme -affliftion, that it
was intendetl for kindnefs to him, would too
probably ih'siyebe^ri' a Vain' attempt;' for he
would ftill have cried out, ' all th'efe thi7igs are
againfit mk'.' ^Biit fee the -goodnefs of God !
This tranfitory grief, O Jacob, will foon
be converted into lafting joy. Even tho'
brother confpire againft brother, it fhall, in
the end, prove a bleffing to both.
Joseph

( '6i )
Joseph indeed, in appearance, is no more;
he is fallen a viftini, not to the rapacity of
brutes, but to the cruelty of man; and is
fent, in all the ignominious circumftances of
flaveiy, into diftant exile; but there, by the
immediate hand of God, he is foon advanced
to the firft dignities in the ftate. He is made
Governor over all the land of Egypt, where
having made ample provifion againft the ap
proaching dearth, which he himfelf, by divine
revelation, had foretold, he fecures an afylum
both for Ifirael and his whole houfe, who
otherwife, it is highly probable, muft have
periflied by the dreadful famine, which it oc
cafioned. Thus Joseph becomes not only
a father to Pharaoh, but a father to Ja
cob, whom he refcues from a calamity as
formidable as it was extraordinary. He is
the happy means to prefierve him a pofterity in
the earth, a7id to fave him by a great deliver
ance. This, Joseph himfelf as humanely
as juftly obferves to his brethren, upon his
firft making himfelf known to them, when
he perceived their confufion at the difcovery.
God, fays he, did fiend 772e before you to pre
ferve life.
This indeed was the happy iffue, which,
by the intervention of a kind providence, the
blackeft of crimes was produftive of, even to
preferve the lives of the detefted authors of
it. The malignity of the aftion, however,
Y is

( ^62 )
is no way diminiflied by the felicity of it's
confequences. For the nature of every afti
on is founded in it's motives. But fuch is
the benignity of Joseph's temper, that, in
the prefent cafe, he overlooks the deed, and
pnly regards the iflue of it. Nay, to eafe
the diftrefs of the confcious crimin-als, he
would fain, as it were, annihilate their
agency, and confider the whole tranfaftion,
as the appointment of divine providence.
Therefore fays he to them, be not grieved nor
a7igry with y ourfielves ; it was not you, that
fient 7ne hither,, but God; a generofity as
great, as their cruelty had been unparallelled,
and fuch as, to fenfible minds, would have
occafioned a diftrefs, almoft equal to what
they would have fuffered from the bittereft
reproaches. Nor could they, however par
tial, prejudiced, or corrupt, now help feeing^
that Joseph was juftly entitled to far nobler
diftinftions, than any of thofe, for which
they formerly had fo bafely envied and perfe
cuted him.
But happily both for them and for Jo
seph, the fupreme difpofer of all events
was pleafed to caufe all thofe things, which
they had devifed for his deftruftion, to work
together for their general good. And this,
Jacob, the long-afflifted Jacob, lived to
fee. The clouds are at Iafl difperfed, and
the ftorm is over. The mourning of the fa
ther.

{ »63 )
ther, and the miferies of the fon, painful
as they were, are far more than recompenfed
by the felicity of their conclufion. Nay, fo
exquifite is the joy of the old Patriarch,
upon receiving the intelligence, that was
brought to him from Egypt, of his fon, that
.he feems lefs able to fupport it, than he had
been to bear all his grief. For his heart, it
is faid, fainted, a circuniflance which argues
¦him to have been more overpowered by it,
than we are told he was, at any period of
his mourning for him. This excefs of joy
indeed was but temporaiy, yet th.e founda
tion of it was permanent; and Jacob had
caufe, to the laft moment of his life, to
¦blefs God for a difpenfation, whicli though
melancholy and mortifying for a time, was
now to him the means of the greatefl bene
fit, and mofl fubftantial comfort. In the
Governor of Egypt, he found not only the
fon he had fo long lamented, but the pro
teftor he fo much wanted. For Canaan now
fainted by reafion of the fa7ni7ie; millions were
diftreffed, and thoufands periflied by it ; fo
great, fo alarming indeed, was the calamity,
that it threatened even whole nations with
deflruftion; but Ifrael, when the for rows of
death thus encompafj'ed him, found a deliverer,
as it were, among the dead. Joseph, who,
in his eftimation, was no longer among the
livina:, was vet alive; and by him, in this
tini'j

( 164 )
time of extremity, he was nourifloed with
bread, and his extenfive houfliold ; an event,
which even to Ifrael, who had long been
accuftomed to diftinguifhed mercies, muft
appear no lefs wonderful than happy. But
why fhould I dwell any longer on this head,
fince the ways of God are all as unfearch
able, as his difpenfations are gracious? I
fhall therefore proceed.
In the fecond place, to demonftrate the
ufe of affliftive Providence.
One capital ufe of affliftions is, to wean
us from a fondnefs for- the things below, in
order that we may fix our affeftipns on thofe
above. Nothing is more inconfiftent with
piety, nor produftive of greater mifchief to
mankind, than an immoderate attachment to
the things of this world. And yet fo very
eager are moft men in the purfuit of thefe
perifliing poffeffions, that there is fcarcely
any kind of fin which they will not commit,
any fpecies of villainy whicli they will not
praftife, for the obtaining only of the moft
contemptible portion of them. To this un
happy fource may eafily be traced all the
fraud, treachery, and oppreffion, all the de
ceit, bafenefs, and difhonefty, all the tyranny,
war, and bloodfhed, that diftraft the world,
and defolate the earth. If

( i65 )
If fuch then are the dreadful confequences
of fetting our affeftions on things temporal,
and of chufing them, and not God, for our
portion; nothing, it is obvious, can tend
more to our benefit than aflliftion?, a.s there
is nothing which can more conduce to dif-
engage us from them. This therefore is
one great end, for which they were appointed
by Providence. In the full tide of profpe-r
rity, men are apt tp forget God, and to
place all their confidence in their worldly
poffeffions. Thefe they adore, and not their
maker. Affliftions therefore become necef
fary, to teach them the vanity and impotence
of the Gods they have chofen, and to recal
them to Him, who alone can help them in
the time of need. Befiore I was aflUBed, fays
David, / went aftray ; but now have I kept
thy word. Hpwever wanton men may have
been before, however yain, foolifli, or in-
confiderate ; when diftrefs and anguifh have
arrefted them, they are inftantly forced tp
recolleft themfelves, to examine their con
duft, and to weigh their aftions. Confcience
will then dare to fpeak ; and it's faithful ad
monitions, however before defpifed, can no
longer be difregarded. Affliftions are of
peculiar efficacy to reftify the judgment, and
to enable a man to form a juft eftimate of
things. They remove from before the eye
that falfe medium, thrp' which it was wont
to view them; and prefent theni for infpec- tion

( i66 )
tion in their own proper colours. The fplen-
dor of worldly greatnefs fades in their pre
fence; and, like a magic wand, they have
an inherent virtue, to force all things fub-
lunary, to afliime their natural appearances.
They are the beft perfpeftive, thro' which
we can difcover the real worth of all that
we moft value in this life. By their means
the hoilownefs of pleafure, the emptinefs of
honours, and the impotence of wealth, are
all clearly feen. To the afflifted man they
.appear divefted of all thofe charms, with
which they impofe on the reft of mankind.
He views them not merely with indifference,
but contempt. For he nov/ difcovers how
little, how very little, of all the great things
they promife, they can really perform. lie
perceives that they can neitlier remove pain,
nor diminifh forrow; and is convinced that
he, who has it moft in his power to com
mand them all, may yet be miferable ; in
curably miferable. For wealth cannot recal
rhe dead, nor honours alleviate anguifh.
Splendid robes can yield no relief to the tor
tured limb, nor lofty palaces give ea:fe to the
aching heart. The feafts of joy have no
balm for a broken fpirit, nor the fongs of
mirth any remedy for a wounded mind. The
agony of difeafe cannot be intimidated by the
frowns of power; nor the throbs of grief be
fubdued by the found of titles. They arc
poffeffions, he finds, which, tho' great in
name,

( ^6; )
name, are but little in reality. They are
miferable comforters, powerful indeed tc^-
create evils, but impotent to remove them.
At the beft, and wLju moft capable of ferv
ing him, they are all, he fees, not worth-
even a fingle fin, if a fingle fin would pur
chafe them.. What therefore can be a more
effeftual antidote againft the too prevailing
folly, of preferring the things of this life to
thofe of the next, than affliftions ? If the
love of them, as in fcripture it is reprefented,
is the root of all evil, how very beneficial
muft thefe be, how worthy the appointment
of Providence, as they are fo highly condu->
Give to extinguifh it?
Another ufe of affliftions is to fubdue
pride, infoleiice, and inhumanity; and ta
teach men humility, meeknefs, and bene
volence. They, whofe eyes fiwell with fatnefs,-
who are lufty andfiro7ig, a7id who have riches
in pofl'effon, are apt to think qf themfielves more
highly than they ought to think, and to treat
thofe in lefs fortunate circumftances, in a.
manner, which,, inftead of alleviating their
wretchednefs, muft exti'emely aggravate it.
It is a common obfervation, that men are
generally as proud as they are profperous,,
and that the more free they are themfelves
from fufferings, the lefs compaflion they have
for thofe of others. He, on whom the
world fmiles, and who feems born only to
command

{ 168 )
command the treafures of it, is too often id
infatuated with 'his fuccefs, as to regard it,
not, as the free gift of Heaven, but as the
juft recompence of his own merit. If others
fail, it is only, he thinks, becaufe they de
ferve not a better fate. Their misfortune he
imputes to them as a crime ; and becaufe they
are unhappy, he regards them as contempti
ble. Thofe, whom Providence hath cafl
down, he therefore tramples on ; and inftead
of binding up their wounds, he makes them,
by his cruelty, to bleed afrefh. But if, by
a change of condition, the fcene is reverfed,
and from the fummit of felicity, he is re
duced to the extremity of diftrefs, his con
ception of things will be as different as his
circumftances. For affliftions will fcarcely
fail to make him as humble, as before he was
proud, and as compaffionate as he was hard
hearted. He, who is tortured with pain,
derided with fcorn, or pinched with want,
can feel, can pity, other men's fufferings as
well as his own. He is wretched himfelf,
and therefore interefted for all the wretched.
He is taught by his own calamity, that every
mode of it is hard to bear ; and much the
harder for being neglefted by thofe, in whofe
power it is to relieve it. This therefore de
termines him to befriend every man accord
ing to his ability, and to engage the benevo
lence of others by the exertion of his own.
The manfion of adverfity, is the fchool of
humanity ;

( i69 )
humanity ; fbr it's tendency to irnprove the
tempers of mankind, is no lefs evident than
that of profperity is to corrupt them. In
every place indeed affliftions are loudly com
plained of; but the vicioufnefs of the world
would, by no means, be fo great, nor it's
depravity fo confummate, were they ftill
more general, and more prefling. For they
are the parent of piety, and the guardian of
virtue. Again, affliftions are appointed, by pro
vidence, for the trial of men's faith, and the
manifeftation of their fincerity..; I'JT.bfs in
deed is the grand objeft, of a ftate'i of probaT
tion in general ; but the feverer difpenfations
feem evidently intended- for tfie rprpduftion
and illuftration of more diftinguifhed virt.ues.
All the heroifm of' faints. and martyrs^; could
only by thefe have.-ibeen called, tfwjth in t^
exiftence. Were it riot for thefe, '/all the
eminent inftances, upon ¦ record,- qf patience,
conftancy, and fortitude would .nejver liave
been heard of. Nor withput thefet; jcpuld
the efficiacy of faith, arid the iyigppr-.(jf") reli
gion, have been rendered, con fpicifou^tj Btit
I muft haften to cpnfider anpthei^,ufB> of -af
fliftions, which isjto encpurage men .tb excel
in virtue, by aii imitation of , thofe illuftifibus
examples of it, which they arp: calculatGd
to produce.
Z The

( 17° )
The languor of precept to operate upon'
the human mind, has been generally obferv
ed, and as generally lamented. The moft
eloquent perfwafives and animated exhortati
ons to any laudable purfuit, are notorioufly
of little weight, when not enforced by exam
ple. But men are almoft infenfibly drawn to
imitate, what they fee others praftice, altho'
they cannot be prevailed with, to perform
what they advife. Nor, in this cafe, are
they fb eafily deterred by difficulties ; for
moft men have fb favourable an opinion of
their bwn abilities, as to believe themfelves
capable 'bf thofe virtuous or heroick aftions
they fee others attain. Therefore the more
eminent an example is, the more extenfive
will be 'it's influence, and the more general
it's utility; But a charafter can only become
confpicuous, and cortfe(|uently an example
eminent;' by encountring trials, and vanquifli-
ing difficulties of an uncommon magnitude.
Hence therefore fhe celebrity of ABKAH.\^r
and Job', '6f the one for his patience, and of
the other for his faith ; and hence the. eleva
tion of ' all tho moft diftinguiflied charafters
both bf the Jewifli and of the chriftian
church. It is to perfecutions, the reproach
of humanity, that the wprld is indebted for
confeffors -and martyrs, the glory of religion.
The flames of malignity lighted up the flames
pf zeal J and the moft hpftile defigns againft the

, ( 171 )
the church, proved in the event, of the moft
important fervice to it, by producing fuch
illuftrious patterns of confummate virtue.
The laft ufe of aftliftions, whicli I fhall
mention, is, that they afford us, as they are
indifcriminately the lot of all men, whether
good or bad, a very important proof of the
certainty of a future ftate. The juftice of
God evidently requires that every man fliould
be recompenfed according to his works, and
that the condition of .each fliould be exaftly
(iiited to his conduft.. But this, we fee, is
by no means the cafe in the prefent ftate.
Nay, fo far is it indeed otherwife, that it has
often been the complaint of good men, that
the moft vicious are here the moft fortunate.
David, it feems, was fo fully poffeffed with
this notion, and fo deeply affefted with it,
that, before he had more maturely confidered
the matter, his faith, as he himfelf owns,
was extremely fhaken by it. My feet, fays
he, were almoft gone, my treadings bad well
nigh fiipt. And why ? I was grieved at the
ivicked ; I do alfo fee the u7igodly in fuch prof
perity. For they are in 7io peril of death ;
but are lufty and firong. They come in no 7nifi-
fortune like other folk ; 7ieither are they plagued
like other men. Job likewife, having, long
before David, made the. fame obfervation,
prefumes even to expoftulate upon it with
God. Wherefore,, faith he, do the wicked live.

( 172 )
live, becortie old, yea, are mighty in power ?
Their feed is efiablijhed in their fight with them,
and their offspring befiore their eye. Their
houfes are fafe from fear, neither is the rod of
God upon them. Equally remarkable are the
words of the Prophet Jeremiah on this
fubjeft, and equally paffionate. Wherefore
doth the way of the wicked profpsr ? Wherefore
are all they happy, that deal very treacheroufiy.
Indeed that the wicked are often profperous,
is a faft fo extremely evident, that we need
not have recourfe to fcripture for any proof
to eftablifh it. But whether they are in ge
neral, more profperous than the good, is not
fo clear. For tho' they fometimes efcape
evils, to whicli the upright are expofed by
their uprightnefs, yet they frequently fubjeft
themfelves, by their vices, to a multitude of
others, which the good are protefted from
by their virtue. And it might perhaps be
demonffrated that godlinefs, even with re
fpeft to things temporal, has confiderably the
advantage. But be this as it may, it is too
obvious to be made a doubt of, that good
men are not only cafl down, but even de
ftroyed in this world, that they are daily
afflifted and perfecuted, and that they fliare in
all the bittereft calamities, which are the por
tion of mortality. — -What then are we to
infer from this ? that there is no God, or
that he is not interefted in the affairs of men ?
Neither; but that there is a ftate to fucceed the

( "^72 )
the prefent, in which all thefe inequalities'
will be adjufted, and in which every man
will receive according to what he hath done
in this life, whether it be good or bad. 
There Joseph will be rewarded for his vir
tue, with treafures far more lafting than thofe
of Egypt, and with honours far more illuftri
ous than any which Ph AR aoh could beftow ;
and there he will find that the affliftions,
which he had been haraffed with in his paf
fage thro' this world, were all defigned for
his future as well as for his prefent good, as
they wrought for bim afar more exceeding a7id
eternal weight of glory,- — which wilL be con
ferred on him by Jesus Christ the righte
ous, of whom, in a variety of inftances, he
was a type, as I fliall, in the third and laft
place, endeavoured to fliew.
To point out all the particulars of this
ftriking refemblance, would far exceed the
limits of my prefent difcourfe; I fliall therefore
only take notice of a few of them, altho'
I think a fufficient number to eftablifli the
propofition. JosEHH, as we have already feen was hated
by his brethren, and that, as appears from
his hiftory, for thefe three reafons, — becaufe
he was peculiarly dear to his father, becaufe
he brought to him an evil report of his bre
thren,

( 174 )
thren, and accufed them of criminal beha
viour,  and becaufe he foretold them his
future exaltation and pre-eminence. — So like-
wife our Saviour was hated by the Jev/s, his
brethren according to the flefti, for being
declared the well-beloved fon of God, — for
reproving them for their fins, as he did du
ring the whole courfe of his miniftry, and
for foretelling, as he did, when he ftood,
immediately after his apprehenfion, before
the high prieft, that they fliould fee him fit
ting at the right hand of God.
Joseph was fent by his father to his bre
thren at a diftance, when they in return for
his affeftionate intention of ferving them, as
far as it lay in his power, confpired againft
his life. In like manner our Saviour was;
fent by God, his father, from his eternal
bofom, to the loft flieep of the houfe of
Isp AEL ; when the Jews, whom he had fed,
healed, and inftrufted, formed a defign of put
ting him to death.
Joseph was fold for twenty pieces of
filvcr, and given up into the hands of
flrangers by his brethren. Thus was our
Saviour fold for thirty pieces of filver, the
price of a flave, Exod. 21. 32, and deli
vered by the Jews into the hands of the
Romans. Joseph's

( 175 )
Joseph's garment was dipped in blood.— -
So the humanity, which our Saviour was
cloathed with, fuffered a bloody death.
Reuben pleaded ftrongly for Joseph's re
leafe;, but in vain. Pilate likewife moft
earneftly fought to releafe our Saviour, and
went out of the judgment-hall, three dif
ferent times, to expoftulate with his malici
ous enemies ; but to no purpofe. For in the
end they prevailed with him to . crucify the
Lord of life. .
Joseph lay three years in prifon, and
arrived at glory by fufferings. and humilia
tions. So our Saviour lay three days in the
grave, and underwerit all the rigour of
cruelty, fo that there, was no forrow like unto
his forrow, before his exaltation to the right
hand of power,
Joseph was fet over the houfe of Pharaoh,
and over all Eygpt, and PHARApnalone was
above him. Thus Christ was jBade the
head of the church, and every creature was
made fubjeft to him; ibut he hipifelf, as he
was man, was fubjeft. to God,.
Joseph was fent by Providence into Egypt
to provide a place for his brethren. So our
Saviour.' is. gpne into Heaven,,, tp. prepare
'-•'¦: a place

( 176 )
a place for all them that truly believe in
him. Joseph's peculiar affeftion for one of his
brethren, is well known ; fo alfo is our Sa
viour's affeftion for one of his difciples. He
was with him on the Mount of Glory; he
was with him in the Garden of Sorrow.
Joseph freely forgave his brethren their
barbarous and inhuman treatment of him,
and returned all their cruelty, with a feries
of the moft kind and beneficent -aftions.
Our Saviour did all this, and much more ;
for he not only forgave his enemies, and
intreated his father to forgive them likewife,
even in the hour of his crucifixion, but wil
lingly offered himfelf a ranfom for theiriguilt,
and for that of the whole world, which the
united hoft of Heaven could not have at-
toned for.
Through Joseph was application, to be
made to Pharaoh. So application is to be
made to God through Jesus Christ the
mediator, by whofe interceffion alone, we
can have accefs to the King immortal, and to
the throne of grace.
The parallel might be extended much
farther ; but whoever duly confiders the v/on-
derful

( ^77 )
derful co-incidence of fo many circumftances
as I have already related, and thofe in them
felves fo very different, will, I prefume, re
quire no farther proof, that Joseph was
intended by Providence as a type of the
Meffiah. From hence therefore his charafter
derives a peculiar dignity. For what can be
fo exalted a privilege, what fo diflinguifhing
an honour, as thus to reprefent the Son of
God, and the Saviour of men! But tho' in
this refpeft he is only an objeft of our ve
neration, in Pthers he is an objeft both of
our imitation and our love. While there
fore we revere the elevation of his charafter,
let us take care to cultivate thofe virtues,
which rendered him worthy to fupport it.
Let us remember that good men only are the
favourites of Heaven ; that piety is the beft
proteftion, and innocence the ftrongeft guard'.
And therefore let us always hold faft our in
tegrity, however fevere the trial, or powerful
the temptation. In adverfity let us be pa
tient, and humble in profperity ; let us, in
every ftate, be content, and refigned in every
condition. When trouble is hard at hand,
or dangers aftually befet us, let us calmly
repofe our confidence in God, who alone can
deliver us in the hour of diflrefs, and who
certainly, if patience be allowed to have it s
perfeft work, will caufe all things to work
together for our good. Whatever injuries we
receive, whatever perfecutions we endure,
A a let

( ^,78 ),
let us not fuffer ourfelves to be 'overcome of
.£vil, but let us overcome evil with good. Let
us freely forgive, generoufly befriend, and
heartily pray for, the authors of all our
wrongs ; and let us fully demonftrate that
their violence and inhumanity, tend rather
to excite our pity, than tp extinguiffi pur
benevplence. In patience let us poffefs our
fouls, and in wifdom guide aU our aftions.
Let us prepare for the fharpeft conflifts, when
we think ourfelves the leafl expofed to them;
and be as ready always to refift ternptatipns,
as we are liable to encounter them. Nor let
us efteem virtue the lefs, for the evils it may
fometimes occafion,; nor ,purfue it with the
lefs ardour for the dangers which attend it.- -
And though calamity fliould fucceed cala
mity, and our day of trial fliould prove as
tedious as it is fevere, let it neither weaken
our faith, nbr fliake our conftancy ; for in
due feafon we floall furely reap, if we fidirit
not.

F I N 2 S,.

This preservation photocopy was made at BookLab, InL
in compliance with copyright law. The paper
is Weyerhaeuser Cougar Opaque Natural,
which exceeds ANSI Standard
Z39.48-I984, 1992

YALE UNIVERSITY

3 39002 0P2216i+.5 6_b

YALE

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