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of worldly policy are deep and intricate; s ERM. and experience fhews how often the XV. ablest persons are mistaken in the meafures which they adopt for carrying them on. But when men's intentions are fair and upright, it will be found that a moderate share of understanding and attention is all that is requifite, for conducting themselves with safety and propriety. Providence never intended, that the art of living happily in this world should depend on that deep penetration, that acute fagacity, and those refinements of thought, which few poffefs. It has dealt more graciously with us; and made happiness to depend on uprightnefs of intention, much more than on extent of capacity. For the most part, the first sentiment which ftrikes a good man, concerning what he ought, or ought not to do, is the foundest, and fuggests the best and wifeft counsel. When he hesitates, and begins to deliberate how far his duty, or his honour, can be reconciled to what seems his interest, he is on the point of deviating into a dan

gerous

6 ER M. gerous path.-At the fame time, it is of

XV.

great consequence, that he who seeks to furrender his conduct to the direction of integrity, should be well apprized of what true integrity requires. Let him guard against burdening conscience unneceffarily; left a fuperftitious regard to trifles lead him to relax in matters of higher obligation. Let him avoid minute fcrupulofity, on the one hand. Let him keep at a distance from loose cafuistry on the other. But when he is fatisfied that his confcience has been well informed, let him, without wavering, adhere to its dictates in the whole of his conduct. This will prove the trueft wisdom both for this world and the next. For he who walketh uprightly walketh furely. The path of the juft is as the shining light: And it fhall fhine more and more unto the perfect day.

SERMON

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-Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and fhall we not receive evil?

EW fubjects of religious exhorta-S ER M.

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tion are of more general concern XVI. than those which respect the diftreffes incident to human life. For no fociety, no family, no perfon, can expect to be long exempted from them; and when we speak of the profperous, we can only mean those who are more rarely fubject

to

XVI.

SER M. to them than others. Now, under those diftreffes, religion performs two offices: It teaches us how we ought to bear them; and it affifts us in thus bearing them. Materials for both are found in the words of the text, which contain a sentiment so natural and juft, as to carry conviction to every reasonable mind. They were the words of Job, at a time when, to his other calamities, this domeftic affliction was added, that one, who ought to have affuaged and foothed his forrows, provoked his indignation by an impious speech. Thou speakeft, Job replies, as one of the foolish women fpeaketh: What? fhall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?-Three inftructions naturally arife from the text: Firft, that this life is a mixed state of good and evil: Secondly, That both the goods and the evils in it proceed from God: And, thirdly, That there are just reasons for our receiving with patience the evils of life, from the fame hand which bestows its goods.

1

I. THIS

XVI.

I. THIS life is a mixed ftate of good SER M. and evil. This is a matter of fact, which will be denied by none, and on which it is not neceffary to beftow much illuftration. It is evident to the slightest inspection, that nothing here is unallayed and pure. Every man's ftate is checquered with alternate griefs and joys, disappointment and fuccefs. No condition is altogether ftable. No life pre

serves always the fame tenor. The viciffitudes of the world sometimes bring forward the afflicted into more comfortable circumstances; and often trouble the joy of the profperous. This is the train in which human affairs have ever been found to proceed; and in which we may expect them always to go on.

But though this be univerfally admitted in speculation, and often confesfed in difcourfe, the misfortune is, that few think of applying it to their own cafe. The bulk of mankind discover as much confidence in profperity, and as much impatience under the least reverse, as if Providence had first given them afVOL. IV. furance

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