SERM. Having no refource within themselves, VI. their spirits fink, and their very being

feems annihilated, till the return of their favourite pleasures awaken within them some tranfient sparkles of joy. -Idleness, ease, and profperity, have too natural a tendency to generate the follies and vices now defcribed. Becaufe they have no changes, faid the Pfalmift, therefore they fear not God*. They are the dark and folitary hours of life, which recal men to recollection and wisdom. They fhow to the unthinking what this world really is, and what may be expected from it. But the day that is always bright and unclouded, is not made for men. It flatters them with the dangerous illufion, that it is in their power to render life one scene of pleasure; and that they have no other bufinefs on earth, but to fpread the feaft, and call the harp and the viol to found. But the examples

are

* Pfalm iv. 19.

VI.

are fo frequent, of the dangers and the SERM. crimes which arise from an intemperate abuse of pleasure, that on this part of the subject it seems needless to infist any longer. I proceed therefore,

II. To confider the duties which men are accused of having neglected; and which, it is here fuppofed, if duly attended to, would have acted as the correctives of diffolute and irreligious luxury; these are, to regard the work of the Lord, and to confider the operation of his hands. By recommending fuch duties, I do not mean to reprefent it as requifite that the feaft fhould be turned into an act of worship, that the countenances of men should be always grave; or that, in the hours of amusement and of social festivity, no fubject may employ their thoughts and their discourse, except God and a future state. All extremes in religion are dangerous; and, by carrying aufterity too far, we are in hazard of only promoting hypocrify. But though some,

SERM. fome, in the laft age, might be prone to VI. this extreme; yet, at the present day,

there is not much occafion for warning men against it. What I now infift upon is, that all our pleasures ought to be tempered with a serious sense of God; that fcenes of gaiety and enjoyment fhould never make us forget that we are fubjects of his government, and have a part allotted us to act in his world; that on no occafion they should be prolonged fo much, repeated fo often, or fuffered to transport us fo far, as to lead us to break any of the divine laws, or to act inconfiftently with the character of men and Chriftians. A prevailing fenfe of God on the mind is to be ever held the fureft guard of innocence and virtue, amidst the allurements of pleafure. It is the falutary mixture which must be infufed into the cup of joy, in order to render it fafe and innoxious.

This fenfe of God fhould lead us, in the language of the prophet, to regard the work of the Lord, and to confider the

operation

VI

operation of his hands; which expreffi- SER M. ons may be understood as requiring us to have God upon our thoughts under two views; to regard his work, as the Author of nature; and to confider the aperation of his hands, as the Governor of the world. Let us attend more particularly to each of thefe views of the Supreme Being.

are in

In the first place, we are to view God as the Author of nature, or to regard the work of the Lord. With his works we every place furrounded. We can caft our eyes no where, without difcerning the hand of Him who formed them, if the grofsness of our minds will only allow us to behold him.-Let giddy and thoughtless men turn afide a little from the haunts of riot. Let them ftand ftill, and contemplate the wondrous works of God; and make trial of the effect which such contemplation would produce. It were good for them that, even independently of the Author, they were more acquainted with his works;

good

VI.

SERM. good for them, that from the focieties of loofe and diffolute men, they would retreat to the scenes of nature; would oftener dwell among them, and enjoy their beauties. This would form them to the relish of uncorrupted, innocent pleasures; and make them feel the value of calm enjoyments, as fuperior to the noife and turbulence of licentious gaiety. From the harmony of nature, and of nature's works, they would learn to hear sweeter founds than what arise from the viol, the tabret, and the pipe.

But to higher and more serious thoughts these works of nature give occafion, when confidered in conjunction with the Creator who made them. -Let me call on you, my friends, to catch fome interval of reflection, fome ferious moment, for looking with thoughtful eye on the world around you. Lift your view to that immense arch of heaven which encompaffes you above. Behold the fun in all his fplendor rolling over your head by day; and the moon, by night, in mild and ferene