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Light shines upon us, as long as it ferves S ER M. to guide our path; but forfakes us, as foon as it becomes noxious to the eye; and falutary darkness is appointed to close the scene.-Thoughtless and ftupid must that man be, who, in all this furniture of the human mind, in this exact adjustment of its feveral powers to the great purposes of life, difcerns not the hand of adorable Wisdom, as well as of infinite Goodness.

IN the fecond place, Let us contemplate the fame wisdom, as exhibiting itfelf to us in the moral government of the world. We are informed' by revelation, that this life is defigned by Providence to be an introductory part of exiftence to intelligent beings; a ftate of education and difcipline, where creatures fallen from their original rank, may gradually recover their rectitude and virtue. Under this view, which is in itself perfectly confonant to all that reafon discovers, we fhall find the general courfe of human affairs, confused as it may fometimes appear, to have VOL. IV. E e

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SER M. been ordered with exquifite wisdom. -It was neceffary to fuch a state, that all the active powers, of man should be brought forth into exercise, and comtherepletely tried. It became proper, fore, that there fhould be a mixture of characters in the world; and that men fhould be fhewn in a variety of fituations*. Hence that diverfity of tempers and difpofitions which are found in society; those inequalities in rank and station, which we fee taking place; and those different talents and inclinations which prompt men to different purfuits. By these means, every department in fociety is filled up; and every man has some sphere prepared for him, in which he can act. He is brought forth as on a bufy ftage, where opportunity is given for his character to display itself fully.-His life is with great propriety, varied by interchanges of profperity and adverfity. Always profperous, he would become diffipated, indolent, and giddy: Always afflicted,

*See Serm. IV. Vol. iv.

he

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he would be fretful, dejected, and ful- SERM. len. There are few perfons, therefore, or none, whofe lot fhares not of both these states; in order that every difpofition of the heart may be explored, and every mean of improvement afforded. -As man is ultimately defigned for a higher state of existence than the present, it was not proper that this world should prove a paradife to him, or should afford him that complete fatisfaction which he inceffantly pursues. Disappointments, therefore, are often made to blast his hopes; and, even while the comforts of life last, they are always mixed with fome troubles in order that an exceffive attachment to this world may gradually be loofened. The course of things is evidently fo ordered by Providence, that occurrences fhall be always happening, to bring down the most profperous to a level with the rest of his brethren, and to raise up in their turn, the low and the diftreffed.

E e 2.

;

In

SERM. In the midst of thofe viciffitudes, XX. which are fo obviously conducive to improvement, both wisdom and goodnefs required, that the fupreme Governor of the world fhould be feen to protect the interefts, and favour the fide of virtue. But in the degree of evidence, with which this was to be shown, it was no lefs requifite, that a proper temperament should be obferved. Had virtue been always completely rewarded, and made happy on earth, men would no longer have had a motive for afpiring to a more bleffed ftate. In the cafe of every crime, had divine juftice interpofed to bring complete punishment on the head of the criminal; or had all the felicity which is prepared for the juft in a future world, and all the mifery which there awaits the wicked, been already difplayed to the view, and rendered fenfible to the feelings of men, there would have been an end of that state of trial, for which our whole condition on earth was intended, It was neceffary, therefore, that, at

prefent,

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prefent, we should fee through a glass ERM. darkly. A certain degree of mystery and obfcurity was, with perfect wisdom, left on the conduct of the Almighty*.-. But, amidst that obscurity, sufficient encouragement and fupport is in the mean time given to virtue; fufficient ground is afforded for the full belief, that it is what the Deity loves, and will finally reward. His approbation of it is fignified to every man by the voice of confcience. Inward fatisfaction and peace are made always to belong to it; and general efteem and honour, for the most part, to attend it. On the other hand, the wicked, in no fituation of life, are allowed to be truly happy. Their vices and their paffions are made to trouble their profperity; and their punishment to grow out of their crimes, Let any one attentively recollect the material incidents of his life; and he will, for the moft part, be able to trace the chief misfortunes which have be

fallen

*See Serm. IV. Vol. i.