VII.

on account of their tendency to purify and SERM. elevate the mind. But when they are considered in connection with a revelation, which, upon grounds the most unquestionable, we believe to be divine, they are entitled to command, not attention only, but reverence and faith.-They present to us such high expectations as are sufficient to determine every reasonable man to the choice of virtue; to support him under all its present discouragements, and to comfort him in the hour of death. Justly may they excite in our hearts, that ardent aspiration of the Psalmist: My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; Oh! when shall 1 come and appear before him!-But, with this wish in our hearts, never, I beseech you, let us forget what was set forth in the first part of this discourse; that, in order to arrive at the presence of God, the path of life must previously be shown to us by him, and that in this path we must persevere to the end. These two things cannot be disjoined, a virtuous life, and a happy eternity. Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He only who hath clean

VII.

SERM, clean hands and a pure heart. Between a corrupted heart and the God of light and love there never can be any connection. But of this we may rest assured, that the path of piety and virtue, pursued with a firm and constant spirit, will in the end, through the merits of our blessed Redeemer, bring us to that presence, where is fulness of joy, and where are pleasures for ever

more.

SERMON VIII.

On CURIOSITY CONCERNING the AFFAIRS

of OTHERS.

JOHN, XXI. 21, 22.

Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou

me.

THE

VIII.

THESE words occurred in a conference SERM. which our Lord held with Simon Peter, after his resurrection from the dead. Conscious of the disgrace which he had incurred by his late denial of his Master, Peter must at this time have appeared before him with shame. Our Lord, after a tracit rebuke, implied in the question which he repeatedly puts to him, Simon,

son

VIII.

SERM. Son of Jonas, lovest thou me? restores him, with great benignity, to his office as an apostle, by giving the commandment to feed his sheep, and intimates also, that it should be his lot to suffer death in the cause of his Master. The apostle John, distinguished here by the denomination of the disciple whom Jesus loved, being present at this conversation, Peter, who was always eager and forward, looking to John, puts this question to our Saviour, Lord, and what shall this man do? What shall be his employment? what his rank and station in thy kingdom? what his future fate in life.-By what principle. Peter was moved to put this unseasonable and improper question to his Master; whether it arose from mere curiosity, or from some emotion of rivalship and jealousy, does not appear; but it is plain that our Lord was dissatisfied with the inquiry which he made; and presently he checks Peter's curiosity, by a severe reply; What is that to thee? What is it to thee what this man shall do; what shall be his rank; or what the circumstance of his life or his death? Attend thou to thine own duty.

Mind thy proper concerns. Fulfil the part SERM. which I have allotted to thee. Follow VIII. thou me.-The instruction which arises from this conversation of our Lord's with Peter, is, That all prying inquires into the state, circumstances, or character of others, are reprehensible and improper; that to every man a particular charge is assigned by his Lord and Master, the fulfillment of which ought to be the primary object of his attention, without officiously thrusting himself into the concerns of others. The illustration of these points shall make the subject of the present discourse.

THAT idle curiosity, that inquisitive and meddling spirit which leads men to pry into the affairs of their neighbours, is reprehensible on three accounts. It interrupts the good order, and breaks the peace of society. It brings forward and nourishes several bad passions. It draws men aside from a proper attention to the discharge of their own duty.

It interrupts, I say, the order, and breaks the peace of society. In this world we are linked together by many ties. by many ties. We are

bound