SERM. their misbehaviour by the inward mifery

I.

they fuffer, if they ftill continue to run the fame intemperate round, and to drain pleasure to the laft dregs, it shall come to pass, that they who now contemn life, and are impatient of its continuance, shall be the perfons most eager to prolong it. When they behold it in reality drawing towards a clofe, and are obliged too look forward to what is to come after it, they shall be rendered awfully fenfible of its value. They will then grafp eagerly at the flying hours; anxious to stop them if they could, and to employ every moment that remains in reparing their past errors, and in making their peace if poffible, with God and heaven. According as they have fown, they now reap. They are reduced to eat the fruit of their own ways, and to be filled with their own devices.

THERE remains still a third clafs of those who from difcontent are become weary of life; fuch as have embittered it

to

I.

to themselves by the confcioufneís of S ERM. criminal deeds. They have been, perhaps, unnatural to their parents, or treacherous to their friends; they have violated their fidelity; have enfnared and ruined the innocent; or have occafioned the death of others. There is no wonder that such persons should lofe their relifh for life. To whatever arts they may have recourse for procuring a deceitful peace, confcience will at times exert its native power, and shake over them its terrific fcourge. The internal mifery they endure has fometimes arifen to fuch a height, as has made them terminate, with their own hands, an existence which they felt to be infupportable.-To the complaints of fuch perfons no remedy can be furnished, except what arifes from the bitterness of fincere and deep repentance. We can do no more than exhort them to atone as much as is in their power for the evils they have committed; and to fly to the divine mercy through Jefus

II. Turn to perfons of another defcrip tion, and confider the fentiment in, the text as extorted by fituations of distress. These are so variously multiplied in the world, and often fo oppreffive and heavy, that affuredly it is not uncommon to hear the afflicted complain that they are weary of life. of life. Their complaints, if not always allowable, yet certainly are more excufable than those which flow from the fources of diffatisfaction already mentioned. They are fufferers, not fo much through their own misconduct, as through the appointment of Providence; and therefore to perfons in this fituation it may seem more needful to offer confolation, than to give admonition. However, as the evils which produce this impatience of life are of different forts, a diftinction must be made as to the fituations which can moft excufe it.

SOMETIMES,

SOMETIMES, the exclamation in the SERM. I/ text may be occafioned by deep and overwhelming grief. When they whom we had most affectionately loved, and in whom we had placed the felicity of our days, are taken away, our connec~ tion with life appears to be diffolved. "Why should we furvive those to "whom our fouls were tied? Would "to God we had died before them! "Now when they are gone, all plea"fure and hope is gone as to us. То "us the fun no longer fhines with his "usual brightness. No longer cheer"fulness invefts the face of nature. On

every object a fad gloom appears to "reft; and every employment of life is "become an oppreffive burden." With the feelings of those who are thus diftressed we naturally fympathife. They are frequently the feelings of the most. virtuous and amiable minds: And yet such persons must be told, that grief may be indulged fo far as to become immoderate and improper.

There are

bounds

SERM. bounds which prefcribed to it both by I. reafon and by religion. A Christian

ought not to mourn like those who have no hope. While he feels his forrows as a man, he should also study to bear them like a man, with fortitude; and not abandon himself to feeble and fruitlefs melancho-. ly. Let him have recourse to a strenuous discharge of the duties of his ftation, and confider it as incumbent on him to make the best improvement that he can of thofe comforts which Providence has still left in his poffeffion.

AGAIN; it fometimes happens that, apart from grief, great reverfes of worldly fortune give rife to the lamentation in the text. This was the cafe with Job himself. A fudden fall from opulence into indigence and want; fome undeferved difgrace incurred, or fome unexpected cloud thrown over former reputation and fame; the unkindness and defertion of friends, or the infolent triumph of enemies, are apt to overwhelm the minds of men with gloom, and to reduce them

to