: SERM. order of the world; and that therefore VI. you have done nothing which should awaken the fleeping thunder, and bring Look around the circle of your acquaintance, and observe, whether they are not the fober, the induftrious, and the virtuous, who vifibly profper in the world, and rife into reputation and influence; obferve whether the licentious and intemperate are not conftantly humbled and checked VI. checked by fome dark reverse either in s E R M. their health or their fortune; whether the irreligious and profligate are ever fuffered to efcape long, without being marked with infamy, and becoming ob→ jects of contempt.-I afk, to what caufe this is to be afcribed, but to that opera tion of the hand of God, which I am nový calling you to confider? Does it not obvi ously carry the marks of a plan, a system of things, contrived and fore-ordained by Providence, for rewarding virtue, and punishing vice in every form of its diforders? The Governor of the world need not for this purpose step from his throne, or put forth his hand from the clouds, With admirable wifdom he hath fo or dered the train of human affairs, that, in their natural courfe, men's own wickednefs fhall reprove them, and their backfli dings correct them; that they shall be made to eat the fruit of their doings, and to fall into the pit which themselves had digged. VOL. IV. Thefe I SERM. VI. These things have been always fo apparent to obfervation, that though a man may have been feduced into irregular and evil courses during his life, yet, at the close of it, it seldom happens but he difcerns their pernicious nature, and condemns himself for them. Never, perhaps, was there a father, who, after he had spent his days in idlenefs, diffipation, and luxury, did not, when dying, admonish the children whom he loved, to hold a more honourable courfe, to follow the paths of virtue, to fear God, and to fulfil properly the duties of their station.-To yourselves, indeed, I can confidently appeal, whether what I am now faying, be not confirmed by your own teftimony. After you have been guilty of some criminal acts, in the course of those riotous pleasures which you indulge, have you not, at certain times, felt the ftings of remorfe? Were you not obliged to con fess to yourselves that a fad mifery was opening before profpect of you, if fuch exceffes were to continue? Did you not hear VI. hear an inward voice upbraiding you for S ER M. having funk and degraded your character fo far below that of many of your equals around you?-My friends, what was this but the voice of God, speaking, as the Governor of his creatures, within your heart; teftifying loudly that your course of life was difpleafing to him; and warning you of punishments that were to follow? If his displeasure against you is already begun to be teftified, can you tell where it is to stop, or how long may continue to pursue you throughout future ftages of your existence? it Who knoweth the power of his wrath? To this awful, this warning voice, will you not be perfuaded reverently to listen? Impreffed by the dread authority which it carries, shall you not fall down on your knees before your Maker, imploring his mercy to pardon your paft offences, and his grace to rectify your future way? SUCH ought to be the effects of the confideration of God as the Governor of 1 VI. ry SER M. the world. It leads to thoughts of a veferious nature. When we regard the work of the Lord, and contemplate him as the Author of the universe, such contemplation prompts devotion. But when we confider the operation of his hands in providence, and contemplate him as the Governor of mankind, fuch contemplation prompts humiliation before him for The former ad offences committed. nations, |