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SER M. what the world prefents; where a more ferene fky fhines, and a sweeter and calmer light beams on the afflicted heart. In thofe moments of devotion, a pious man, pouring out his wants and forrows to an almighty Supporter, feels that he is not left folitary and forfaken in a vale of woe. God is with him; Christ and the Holy Ghoft are with him; and, though he should be bereaved of every earthly friend, he can look up in heaven to a Friend who will never die.

To these present confolations, the religion of Chrift adds the joyful profpect of that future state, where eternal reft remaineth for the people of God. This life they are taught to confider as only the houfe of their pilgrimage; the temporary mansion of painful though necessary discipline. But let them endure for a little, and the pilgrimage fhall end, the difcipline fhall be finished; and all the virtuous be affembled in those blissful regions which are prepared for their reward. Such a profpect chears the dark

eft

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eft hours of life; and affords a remedy S ER M. to every trouble. The fufferings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed*. They appear in this comparative view, as no more than a diftreffing dream of the night, from which one awakes into heath, and light, and joy.-Peculiar is, this high confolation to the religion of Chrift. It is what all nations had eagerly wished for; what all philosophy had anxiously fought to discover; but what no research, no philosophy were able to ascertain to mankind, till Christ brought the affurance of life and immortality from heaven; and conferred on his difciples this noble and inestimable gift.

THUS, on the whole, the Chriftian doctrine is found to be the great Medicine of life. It is the balm of human forrows and cares. In our prefent state, where so many are suffering actual dis

trefs,

Rom. viii. 18.

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SER M. trefs, of one kind or other, and where all have reafon to dread the approach of diftrefs, it is religion only that can alleviate the burdens of life, and smooth our paffage through this evil world. Let this view of religion perfuade us to improve the facred ordinance of our Lord's fupper for coming unto Chrift, in the way before explained: that is, joining ourselves to him as his disciples; his disciples, not in words and profesfions only, but in heart, and in truth; taking upon us his yoke, as is added in the words immediately following the text; and learning of him who is meek and lowly in heart. Let thofe who labour under the sense of remembered follies and crimes, come unto Christ with penitent difpofitions, and they fhall obtain pardon. Let thofe who labour under the suffering of prefent, or the apprehenfion of future forrows, come unto Chrift, and they shall receive consolation. All who are in any fense heavy laden, coming unto him, shall find reft to their fouls.

BEFORE

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BEFORE Concluding this difcourfe, S ER M. there is another fet of men, not yet mentioned, to whom I must also address the exhortation in the text: thofe I mean, who labouring under none of the distressful burdens of life, are furfeited with its pleasures; who labour under the burden only of languid ease, and the load of infipid profperity. You drag, my friends, but a miserable existence. Oppreffed by no forrow, you feel vacuity and diffatisfaction within; you are often weary of life; and in your folitary hours, are difpofed to confefs that all you have experienced is vanity. Wherefore should you any longer spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which fatisfieth not? Come to the waters which are now offered to you, and drink. Hear, and your fouls Shall live. Retreat from the corrupting vanities of the world, to Christ, to religion, and to virtue. New fources of enjoyment shall then be opened to you. A world yet untried fhall difplay itself to your view. You fhall be formed to a re

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SER M. lish for the quiet and innocent pleasures of piety and devotion; of friendship, and good affections; of useful knowledge, and virtuous activity; of calm fociety, and seasonable retirement; pleasures of which at present you have no conception; but which, upon trial, you shall find superior to the trifling, or turbulent amusements, in which you have hitherto paffed your days.-The true fatisfaction of the human mind is only to be found in religion and goodness; in a purified heart, and a virtuous life. All other plans of happiness are fallacious, and pregnant with disappointment. It is only by acquainting ourselves with God that we can find peace: And those who are weary and heavy laden now, shall be weary and heavy laden to the end, unless they come to him who only can give them reft.

SERMON