XII. it would afford only a melancholy re- SERM. treat. The total extinction of being, is a thought which human nature, in its moft diftreffed circumftances, cannot bear without dejection. But, bleffed be God! far other profpects revive the fpirits of the aged, who have spent their life in piety and virtue. To them, death is not the extinction, but the renovation of the living principle: its removal from the earthly boufe of this tabernacle, to the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Having fought the good fight; having finished their course, and kept the faith; there is laid up for them the crown of righteousness. The Saviour of the world hath not only brought immortality to light, but placed it within the reach of their hope and truft. By making atonement for their guilt, he hath prepared their way within the veil; and fecured to them, the poffeffion of an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, referved in the heavens.Such are the hopes and profpects, which cheer the forrows XII. SERM. forrows of old age, and furmount the fear of death. Faith and piety are the only adequate fupports of human nature, in all its great emergencies. After they have guided us through the various trials of life, they uphold us, at last amidst the ruins of this falling frame; and when the filver cord is just ready to be loofed, and the golden bowl to be broken; when the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the ciftern; they enable us to fay, O Death! where is thy fting? O Grave! where is thy victory. SERMON And they faid one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we Saw the anguish of his foul, when he beJought us; and we would not hear : Therefore is this diftrefs come upon us. And Reuben anfwered them, faying, Spake I not unto you, faying, Do not fin against the child; and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold also his blood is required. THIS HIS book of Genefis difplays a more SERM fingular and interefting fcene, than was ever presented to the other hiftorical record. world, by any It carries us back to XIII. XIII. SERM. to the beginning of time; and exhibits mankind in their infant and rising state. It shows us human manners in their primitive fimplicity, before the arts of refinement had polished the behaviour, or dif guised the characters of men; when they gave vent to their paffions without diffimulation, and fpoke their fentiments without reserve. Few great focieties were, as yet, formed on the earth. Men lived in scattered tribes. The tranfactions of families made the chief materials of hiftory; and they are related in this book, with that beautiful fimplicity, which in the highest degree, both delights the imagination, and affects the heart. Of all the patriarchal hiftories, that of Jofeph and his brethren is the most remarkable, for the characters of the actors, the inftructive nature of the events, and the furprising revolutions of worldly forAs far as relates to the Text, and is neceffary for explaining it, the story is to the following purpose. Jofeph, the youngest, except one of the fons of tune. XIIL Jacob, was diftinguished by his father SERM, with such marks of peculiar affection, as excited the envy of his brethren. Having related to them, in the openness of his heart, certain dreams which portended his future advancement above them, their jealousy rose to fuch a height, that they unnaturally confpired his destruction. Seizing the opportunity of his being at a distance from home, they first threw him into a pit, and afterwards fold him for a flave; imposing on their father, by a falfe relation of his death. When they had thus gratified their refentment, they loft all remembrance of their crime. family of Jacob was rich and powerful; and several years paffed away, during which they lived in profperity without being touched, as far as appears, with the leaft remorfe for the cruel deed which they had committed. The Mean while Jofeph was fafely conducted, by the hand of Providence, through a variety of dangers, until, from the loweft condition, he rose at laft |