SER M. and affuredly are edifying to the world.

IV.

It was neceffary, for moral improvement, that the beauty and excellence of virtue, and the deformity of vice, fhould be ftrongly impreffed on every intelligent mind. This could never be done with fo great advantage as by the striking contrafts of both which are produced by the living examples of evil men intermixed with the good. It is in this mirror that we clearly contemplate how much the righteous is more excellent than his neigh bour.

THE fame purpose of important instruction is farther promoted by the instances of mifery which the state of wicked men on earth affords. I admit that the worldly fuccefs, which fometimes attends them, may blind and seduce the unwary; but a little more reflection enables men to diftinguish between apparent fuccefs and real happiness. The condition of worthless men, whatever fplendor riches may throw around them, is

eafily

IV.

eafily difcerned to be a restless, and mi- s E R M, ferable one; and the mifery which they fuffer, to be derived from their vices. In that great corrupted crowd which furrounds us, what inceffant bustle and stir, what agitation and tumult take place? What envy and jealousy of one another? How much bitterness of resentment do we behold among them; mutually deceiving and deceived; fupplanting and supplanted; ever pursuing, but never satisfied? These are not matters of rare observation, or which require nice fcrutiny to discover them. We need only open our eyes to behold the wicked tormented by their paffions, and far removed from that fanctuary of calmnefs and tranquillity which is the abode of real happiness. Nay, when we appeal to bad men themfelves, after they have run the whole round of vicious pleasures, we will often find them obliged to confefs, that the wretched refult of their pursuits has been vanity and vexation of Spirit; and that the happiest days they have enjoyed were in

the

IV.

SER M. the times of innocence; before criminal defires and guilty paffions had taken poffeffion of their breafts. Such practical demonftrations as these of the infelicity of fin are yielded by the examples of evil doers whom we see around us. By attending to their fituation, the mifery, as well as infamy of guilt is realifed, and rendered fenfible to our apprehenfion.

THUS, upon a fair inquiry, you behold how the ways of God may, in this remarkable case, be justified to man. You behold what important ends are advanced, by permitting the tares at present to grow together with the wheat. The intermixture of evil men in human fociety ferves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good; by the diversity of characters among those with whom they have intercourse, it serves to bring forth and improve their active powers and virtues, and to enlarge the circle of useful occupations; it ferves to inftruct

IV.

instruct them in the temptations against SERM. which they are to guard, to reveal to them all the deformity of vice, and to make its miferies pafs confpicuously before their eyes. When we confider them as actors on the theatre of the world, they are thereby improved in the part they have to perform. When we confider them as spectators of what is paffing on that theatre, their minds are thereby inftructed; their views rectified and enlarged by the objects that are fet before

them.

FROM these important truths, several reflections no lefs important arife.

We are naturally taught, in the first place, never to be hafty in finding fault with any of the arrangements of Providence. The prefent permiffion of moral evil on the earth feemed, on the first view, to furnish a strong objection against either the wisdom or the goodness of the Author of nature. After beholding the useful purposes which are answered

VOL. IV.

F

by

SERM. by that permiffion, how cautious should

IV.

we be in advancing any of our rafh spe-
culations against his government and con-
duct! To our confined and humble fta-
tion it belongs not to cenfure, but to sub-
mit, truft, and adore; fatisfied that the
farther we inquire, the rectitude of his
ways will appear the
the more; thankful for

the discoveries of them which have been
imparted to us; and perfuaded that, where
our discoveries fail, it is not because
there is no more wifdom or goodness
to be seen, but because our present
condition allows us not to fee more.

In the fecond place, let us be taught with what eye we are to look upon thofe bad men whom we find around us in the world. Not furely with an eye of envy. Whatever profperity they may seem to enjoy, they are ftill no more than tares, the weeds of the field; contemptible in the fight of God; tolerated by his providence for a while on account of the righteous, to whofe improvement they are rendered