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SERM. joy which I have mentioned, would then operate; and their native effect on the mind, would follow. The profpects which religion opens, would gladden, and the affections which it infpires, would footh the heart. We serve, with pleasure, the benefactor whom we love. We rejoice in every study and purfuit, to which we are fincerely attached. If we ferve not God with pleasure, it is because we know him not, or love him not. If we rejoice not in virtue, it is becaufe our affection is alienated from it, and our inclinations are depraved. We give too evident proof, that either we believe not the principles of religion, or that we feel not their power. Exclude joy from religion; and you leave no other motives to it, except compulfion and intereft. But are these suitable grounds, on which to reft the whole of our obedience to the Supreme Being? My fon, give me thy heart, is the call of God. Surely if there be no pleasure in fulfilling his commands, the heart is not

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given him; and, in that cafe, the multitude SERM. of facrifices, and burnt offerings, is brought

to his altar in vain.

He

As religion, destitute of joy, is imperfect in its principle; fo in practice, it must be unstable. In vain you endeavour to fix any man to the regular performance of that, in which he finds no pleasure. Bind him ever fo faft by intereft or fear, he will contrive fome method of eluding the obligation. Ingenuity is never fo fertile of evafions, as where pleasure is all on the one fide, and mere precept on the other. may study to fave appearances. He may diffemble and conftrain himself. But his heart revolts in fecret; and the weight of inclination will, in the end, draw the practice after it. If perfeverance is not to be expected, ftill lefs can zeal be looked for, from him, who in his religious duties, trembles without rejoicing. Every attempt towards virtue which he forms, will be feeble and awkward. He applies to it as a task; he dreads the task-master; but he will labour no more than necessity Ee 2 enjoins.

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SERM. enjoins. To efcape from punishment, is his fole aim. He bargains for immunity, by every duty which he performs; and all beyond, he esteems fuperfluous toil.Such religion as this, can neither purify the heart, nor prepare for heavenly bliss. It is the refuge of an abject mind. It may form the ritual of the monk, or prescribe the penance of the idolater; but has no concern with the homage of him, who worships the Father in Spirit and in truth. His character is, that the joy of the Lord is his ftrength*. It attaches his heart to religion. It infpires his zeal. It fupports his conftancy; and accelerates his progrefs.

There is no man, but has fome object to which he cleaves for enjoyment; fomewhat that flatters him with distant hope, or affords him prefent pleasure. Joy is the end towards which all rational beings tends. For the sake of it, they live; it resembles the air they breathe, which is neceffary for the motion of the heart, and all the vital functions. But as the breath*Neh. viii. 10.

ing

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ing of infected air proves fatal to life; in SERM. the fame manner, joy drawn from a corrupted fource, is deftructive, both of virtue and of true happiness. When you have no pleasure in goodnefs, you may with certainty conclude the reason to be, that your pleasure is all derived from an opposite quarter. You have exhausted your affection upon the world. the world. You have drunk too much of its poifoned waters, to have any relish for a pure spring.

Eftimate, therefore, the genuineness of your religious principles; estimate the degree of your stability in religious practice, by the degree of your fatisfaction in piety and virtue. Be affured, that where your treasure is, there will your delight be alfo. The worldly man rejoices in his poffeffithe voluptuous, in his pleasures; the focial, in his friends and companions. The truly good man rejoices in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with the Lord his God. He is happy, when employed in the regular discharge of the great duties of life. Spontaneous they flow

ons;

from

heart. Not

SERM. from the affections of a pure heart.

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only from the keeping of the divine commandments he expects, but in the keeping of them, he enjoys a great reward:--Accordingly, in the fentiments of 'holy men recorded in fcripture, we find this spirit évery-where prevalent. Their language was; Thy ftatutes have I taken as mine heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart. They are my fongs in the house of my pilgrimage. They are sweeter than honey, and the honeycomb. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee. They did not receive the spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of adoption. They were filled with peace and joy in believing. They rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. As foon as the Æthiopian eunuch received from Philip the light of the Gospel, that light revived and cheered his heart. A new fun seemed to arife; a new glory to fhine around him. Every object brightened; and he went on his way rejoicing*. After the fame manner fhould every good man proceed

Acts, viii. 39.