XX. SERM. the foul, to impel its activity. But as their impulfe required regulation and reftraint, reafon was at the fame time, conferred as the directing power.-Of all our paffions, felf-love, and the defire of felf-prefervation, were, with the utmoft propriety made the ftrongeft, for a reafon which the meaneft capacity may comprehend. Every man is most immediately committed by Providence to his own care and charge. He knows his own fituation beft; and has more opportunities of promoting his own happiness, than he can have of advancing the happinefs of any other perfon. It was therefore fit and wife, that, by the strongest instinct, he should be prompted to attend to himfelf.-At the fame time, as no man standing alone is fufficient for his own welfare, it was neceffary that, by mutual fympathy and focial inftincts, we fhould be drawn to give aid to one another. Here it deserves our particular notice, that the force of thofe focial inftincts is, with admirable propriety proportioned by Providence XX. Providence to the degree of their use- SER M. fulness and importance*. Thus, that parental affection, which the helpless ftate of infancy and childhood renders so needful, is made the strongest of them all. Next, come thofe ties of blood, which prompt mutual kindness among those who are intimately joined together by brotherhood, and other family connections. To these fucceeds that valuable instinct of pity, which impels us to affift the diftreffed, whereever we behold them. To take To take part with others in their good fortune belongs to man's focial nature, and increases the fum of happiness. At the fame time, to take part with the profperous is less neceffary than to fympathise with the unhappy; and therefore the principle which prompts us to rejoice with them that rejoice, is made not to be so strong as that which impels us to weep with them that weep. But they are not only the laudable and important parts of our difpofition, See Serm. II. Vol. iii, SERM. which discover the wifdom of the Au L XX. thor of our frame; even our imperfections and follies, are by him rendered fubfervient to, ufeful ends.-Amidft thofe inequalities of condition, for inftance, which the ftate of human life required, where it was neceffary that some should be rich, and others poor, that fome should be eminent and diftinguished, and others obfcure and mean, how feasonable is that good opinion which every one entertains of himself; that felf-complacency with which he compares himself to others; and that fond hope, which is ever pleasing him with the profpect of future pleasures and advantages in life? Without those flattering fenfations, vain as they often are, how totally infupportable would this world become, to many of its inhabitants? Whereas, by means of them, Providence hath contrived to balance, in a great measure, the inequalities of condition among mankind. It hath contrived to diffufe pleasure through all ranks; and to bring the high and the low nearer to a level with each each other, than might at first be fup- SER M. XX. pofed. It hath fmoothed the most rugged tracts of human life; and hath gilded with rays of borrowed light its moft dreary scenes. One instance of Divine wisdom, in framing our nature, is fo remarkable as to demand particular attention; that is, the measure according to which, God hath dispensed knowledge and ignorance to man. There is nothing of which we are more ready to complain, than of our narrow and confined views of nature, and of Providence, and of all things around us: And yet, upon examination, it will be found, that our views extend on every fide, just as far as they ought; and that, to fee and know more than is allowed us, instead of bringing any advantage, would produce certain mifery *.--We pry, for instance, with impatient curiofity, into future events. Happily for us, they are veiled and covered up; and one peep behind See Serm. IV. Vol. ii and Serm. IX. Vol. iv, SERM. behind that veil, were it permitted, XX. would be fufficient to poifon the whole comfort of our days, by the anticipa tion of forrows to come. In like manner, we often with with eagerness to penetrate into the fecrets of nature, to look into the invifible world, and to be made acquainted with the whole deftiny of man. Our wish is denied; we are environed on all hands with mystery; and that mystery is our happinefs. For were thofe great invisible objects fully disclosed, the fight of them would confound and overwhelm us. It would either totally derange our feeble faculties; or would engross our attention to fuch a degree, as to lay us afide from the business and concerns of this world. It would have the fame effect, as if we were carried away from the earth, and mingled among the inhabitants of fome other planet. The knowledge that is allowed to us, was defigned to fit us for acting our part in our present state. At the exact point therefore, where usefulness ends, knowledge ftops, and ignorance commences. |