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I.

SERM. Let us beware of all fuch imaginary refinements as produce a total difrelish of our prefent condition. They are, for the most part, grafted either on disappointed pursuits, or on a melancholy and fplenetic caft of mind. They are far from contributing to happiness, and are inconfiftent with all the active virtues of man. This life deferves not indeed to be put in competition with that bleffed immortality to which God has raised our hopes. But fuch as it is, it is the gift of God. It is the sphere in which his wisdom has placed us, and appointed us to act our parts. As long as it lasts, we must neither flight the duties which it requires, nor undervalue the innocent enjoyments which it offers. It belongs to a man to live among men as his brethren; which he who declares himself weary of life is not qualified to do with propriety.

THUS I have placed before you, in various views, the sentiment in the text;

and

I.

and have fhewn in what circumftances, S ER M. and from what causes, that difrelish of life arifes which is often found among mankind. On a review of the whole, we cannot but acknowledge, that it is oftener to be afcribed to our own vices and follies, than to any other cause. Among the multitudes in the world, to whom at this day life is burdenfome, the far greater number is of those who have rendered it so to themselves. Their idlenefs, their luxury and pleasures, their criminal deeds, their immoderate paffions, their timidity and baseness of mind, have dejected them in fuch a degree, to make them weary of their existence. Preyed upon by discontent of their own creating, they complain of life when they ought to reprehend themselves.

Various afflictions there doubtless are in the world; many persons with whom we have cause to sympathife, and whom we might reasonably forgive for wifhing death to close their forrows. But of the evils which embitter life, it must be admitted,

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I.

SER M. admitted, that the greater part is such as we have brought on ourselves; or at leaft fuch as, if we were not wanting to ourfelves, might be tolerably fupported. When we compute the numbers of those who are difpofed to fay, My foul is weary of my life, fome there are to whom this fentiment is excufeable; but many more among whom it is in no way juftifiable. I admit that, among the worthiest and the best, there may be dark moments in which some feeling of this nature may be apt to intrude upon their minds. But with them they are only moments of occafional and paffing gloom. They foon recall the vigour of their minds ; and return with fatisfaction to the difcharge of the duties, and to a participation of the enjoyments, of life.

One great cause of men's becoming weary of life is grounded on the mistaken views of it which they have formed, and the falfe hopes which they have entertained from it. They have expected a fcene of enjoyment; and when they meet

with disappointments and diftreffes, they S ER M. complain of life, as if it had cheated and

betrayed them. God ordained no fuch

poffeffion for man on earth as continued pleasure. Forthe wifeft purposes he defigned our state to be checquered with pleafure and pain. As fuch let us receive it, and make the best of what is doomed to be our lot. Let us remain perfuaded, that fimple and moderate pleasures are always the beft; that virtue and a good confcience are the fureft foundations of enjoyment; that he who ferves his God and his Saviour with the pureft intentions, and governs his paffions with the greatest care, is likely to lead the happiest life. Following these principles, we shall meet with fewer occafions of being wea

ry of life; we shall alway find fome fa- · tisfactions mixed with its croffes; and fhall be enabled to wait with a humble and contented mind till the Almighty, in his appointed time, finish our state of trial, and remove us to a more blessed abode.

SERMON

I.

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On CHARITY as the End of the COM
MANDMENT.

SERM.

II.

I TIMOTHY i. 5.

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good confcience, and of faith unfeigned.

It ap

appears from this chapter, that one defign of the Apostle, in writing to Timothy, was to guard him against certain corrupters of Chriftian doctrine, who had already arisen in the church. To their false representations of religion he opposes that general view of it which is given in the text. Such fummaries of

religion

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