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to be weary of life. To perfons under SERM. fuch calamities, fympathy is due. That fympathy, however, will be proportioned to the degree in which we confider them as free from blame in the misfortunes which they fuffer. As far as, through their own misconduct and vice, they have been the authors to themselves of thofe misfortunes, we withdraw our pity. The burthen which they have brought on themselves we leave them to bear as they can; and with little concern we hear them exclaim that their fouls are weary of life.-Not only fo, but even in cafes where calamities have fallen on the innocent, to the pity which we feel for them will be joined a fecret contempt, if we perceive that together with their profperity, their courage and fortitude have alfo forfaken them. To abandon themselves to dejection carries no mark of a great or a worthy mind. Inftead of declaring that his foul is weary of his life, it becomes a brave and a good man, in the evil day, with firmness to maintain

SERM. maintain his poft; to bear up against the

I.

ftorm; to have recourse to thofe advantages which, in the worst of times, are always left to integrity and virtue; and never to give up the hope that better days may yet arise.

It is good for perfons in fuch fituations to remark that, though Job was for a long while feverely tried by a variety of diftreffes, yet his condition was not left finally unhappy. On the contrary, the goodness of that God whom he had ferved returned at last, to fhine upon him with greater brightness than ever. His riches were reftored to him twofold. The loffes in his family were repaired by a new offspring. His name became again renowned in the Eaft ; and the latter end of Job, we are told, was more bleffed than the beginning.

BUT ftill, it may be asked, will not` the continuance of long and severe difease justify the exclamation in the text, My foul is weary of my life? To perfons

who

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who are forfaken by all the bleffings of s ER M. health, and who have no prospect left, but that of lingering under fickness or pain, Job's complaint may affuredly be forgiven more than to any others. Tho' it might be fuggefted to them, that even in old age and fickness, except in very extreme cafes, fome resources are always left, of which they may avail themselves for relief; yet it must be admitted, that lawfully they may wish their fufferings to be brought to an end. Still, however, they must remember, that refignation to the pleasure of heaven continues to be their duty to the last. As long as any part remains to be acted, as long as their continuance in the world can serve any valuable purpose, it is more honourable to bear the load with magnanimity, than to give way to a querulous and dejected fpirit. It remains,

III. To addrefs myself to another order of men, among whom, though more rarely than among those whom I have described,

SER M. defcribed, the fentiment of the text is to

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be found. They are perfons who have no particular complaint to make of the injuftice of the world, or the afflictions of their ftate. But they are tired of the vanity of the world, of its infipid enjoyments, and its perpetually revolving circle of trifles and follies. They feel themselves made for fomething greater and nobler. They are disgusted and hurt with the scenes of wickednefs that are often paffing before their eyes. Their hearts are warmed with the thoughts of a purer and more perfect existence defigned for man; and in the moments of afpiration after it, the exclamation breaks forth, My foul is weary of my life.--O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away and be at reft. Lo then I would wander far off, and remain in the wildernefs. I would hasten my escape from the windy ftorm and tempeft. For I have feen viclence and ftrife in the city. Wickedness is in the midft thereof; deceit and guile de

part

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part not from her ftreets*-In this view s ER M. the sentiment in the text may fometimes be that of a devout man. But fuch perfons I must admonish, that their devotion, how fincere however, is not altogether of a rational and chaftened kind. It was from this temper that, in former ages of the church, the numerous race fprung of anchorets, hermits, and all the various orders who voluntarily abandoned the world, to people the lonely defarts and the monaftic retreat. The ordinary course of things feemed below them as candidates for heaven. The concerns of the world appeared unworthy of their attention, and dangerous to their virtue. Breathing after a higher state, they imagined that they could not abftract themselves too much from every earthly amusement, as long as they were forced to remain in this place of exile.

VOL. IV.

B

Let

* Pfal. Iv. 6,-11.