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and his neighbour. It is indeed the ulti-S E R M. mate aim, to which the wishes of the wife and reflecting have ever been directed, that with a mind undisturbed by anxieties, cares, and fears, they might pass their days in a pleafing ferenity. They justly concluded that, by enjoying themselves in peace, they would enjoy, to the greatest advantage, all the comforts of life that came within their reach.

This happy tranquillity, the multitude conceive to be most readily attainable by means of wealth, or, at least, of an easy fortune; which they imagine would fet them above all the ordinary difturbances of life. That it has fome effect for this purpose, cannot be denied. Poverty and ftraitened circumstances, are often inconfiftent with tranquillity. To be destitute of those conveniencies that fuit our rank in the world, to be burdened with anxiety about making provifion for every day which paffes over our head; instead of bringing comfort to a family who look up to us for, aid, to behold ourselves furrounded

VOL. IV.

. S

S ER M. rounded with their wants and complaints, are circumstances which cannot fail to

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give much uneasiness to every feeling
mind. To take measures, therefore, for
attaining a competent fortune, by lauda-
ble means, is wife and
is wife and proper. Entire
negligence of our affairs, and indifference
about our worldly circumftances, is, for
the most part, the confequence of fome
vice, or fome folly.-At the fame time, I
muft obferve, that the attainment of opu-
lence is no certain method of attaining
tranquillity Embarraffments and vexa-
tions often attend it; and long experience
has shown, that tranquillity is far from
being always found among the rich.
Nay, the higher that men rife in the
world, the greater degrees of power and
distinction which they acquire, they are
often the farther removed from internal
peace.
The world affords fo many in-
ftances of miferies abounding in the
higher ranks of life, that it were need-
lefs to enlarge on a topic fo generally

known and admitted.

Affuming

Affuming it, therefore, for an un- SER M. doubted truth, that the mere poffeffion

of the goods of fortune may be confiftent with the want of inward tranquillity, we must look around for other more certain grounds of it. We must enquire whether any line of conduct can be pointed out, which, independent of external fituation in the world, shall tend to make us easy in mind; fhall either bestow, or aid, that tranquillity which all men defire. The remaining part of this discourse shall be employed in suggefting, with great plainness of speech, fuch directions as appear to me the most material on this important fubject.

THE first direction, which I have to suggest, is, that we imitate the character of the man who is described in this pfalm as walking uprightly, working righteousness, and fpeaking the truth, as he thinketh in his heart; that we study to preferve a clear confcience, and to lead a virtuous and honourable, at least an inoffenfive and innocent, life. Of such a man only it can

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SER M. be faid, that doing these things he shall ne

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of

ver be moved. So great is the power conscience over every human being, that the remembrance of crimes never fails to overthrow tranquillity of mind. Be asfured, that he who defrauds his neighbour, who has enfnared the innocent, has violated his truft, or betrayed his friend, fhall never enjoy within himself undisturbed quiet. His evil deeds will at times recur to his thoughts, like ghosts rifing up in black array before

him to haunt his couch. Even the fense of a foolish and trifling conduct, of a life paft in idleness and diffipation; by which, though a man has not been guilty of great crimes, he has however wasted his fubftance, mifpent his time, and brought upon himself just reproach; even this, I fay, is fufficient to create much uneafiness and difquiet to the heart. Let him, therefore, who wishes to enjoy tranquillity, study above all things, to act an irreproachable part. With comfort he will reft his head on his pillow at night, when he is confcious that through

out

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out the day he has been doing his duty S ER M. towards God and man; when none of the tranfactions of that day come back, in painful remembrance, to upbraid him. To this teftimony of a good confcience, let him be able,

In the fecond place, to join humble truft in the favour of God. As, after the best endeavours we can ufe, no man's behaviour will be entirely faultlefs, it is effential to peace of mind, that we have fome ground for hope in the Divine mercy, that, through the merits of Jefus Chrift, our defects fhall be forgiven, and grace be fhewn us by Heaven. This includes all the duties of faith and repentance that are required by the Gofpel; the faithful difcharge of which duties is abfolutely ne→ ceffary for delivering us from those fears of another world, which, if not allayed, are fufficient to banifh all tranquillity from the heart. Our religious principles muft at the fame time be found and pure; and carefully preserved from the