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SERMON VI.

CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.

IN

ECCLESIASTES ii. 17. (latter part.)

All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.

a former difcourfe we confidered the Reasons which induced Solomon to pass this melancholy Sentence upon Life and its Enjoyments. We found it to be occafioned by the refult of things which do not neceffarily lead to, or constitute real Happinefs. And, to prevent us from expecting too much from these things, or fixing our Affections too fondly upon them, the difcouraging Sentence was wifely intended. The royal Preacher estimates the value of these

these things very juftly when he afterwards fays-" I know that there is no good in them, but for a man TO REJOICE AND TO DO GOOD IN HIS LIFE." They are extremely tranfitory and uncertain, and therefore ought to be converted to the wifeft purposes while we have them. He did not mean that every thing was "vain," and ended in "vexation of Spirit:" that the whole of man's existence (notwithstanding his wishes for rational enjoyment) was a Scene of Disappointment, Disgust, and Diffatisfaction. Yet there are certain unhappy Mortals who have thus understood him, and endeavoured, with a gloomy kind of zeal, thus to make others understand him alfo. It is true, we are not to expect in this world an uninterrupted series of enjoyments: we are not to look for Happiness unalloyed with Mifery: neither are we to fuppofe that our journey to a perfect and eternal state of bliss lies through a wildernefs fhaded with the gloom of univerfal forrow. The life of man resembles the viciffitudes of Day and Night. The earth rapidly completes its revolution; and

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one half remains in darkness, while the other enjoys the light.

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Thus varying and changeful, a wife man will certainly look beyond this life, to that scene which is unfading and unchangeable. He will not fo confider his kingdom of this world," as to "fet his affections" on it, to the difregard of things above." He will undoubtedly, "feek firft the kingdom of God, and his righteousness:" will confider this his principal Object, and the attainment of it his grand Concern.

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But in fo doing, he will not totally neglect his temporal affairs, his earthly duties. And, this he must do if he confider those duties vain, thofe affairs vexatious.Will a man who is impreffed with the idea that all endeavours to fupport his Family are vain and abortive,-all attempts to make them comfortable, useful and good,-futile and vexatious—will he properly try to accomplish either the one or the other?

Those who decry Life, and paint it as a scene of Vanity or uninterrupted Wretchedness, adopt the fureft method

to

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to establish this Conviction; and thereby irremediably injure their fellow-creatures. That Divine Person whofe " steps" we are commanded to "follow," recommended by his Example-Activity, Chearfulness, and Contentment. In his gracious toils for our Salvation, he daily "went about doing good." He condefcended to appear as a guest upon one of the moft convivial Occafions; and, in one the most trying and diftressful, he evinced his Refignation.-Thofe, therefore, who are "weary in well-doing," who condemn others for enjoying the innocent divertisements of life, and who murmur against the decrees of Providence, mistake the true genius and defign of the Gospel: they know not what Spirit they are of," and entertain unworthy notions of their heavenly Father.

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For though religion is meant to be our chief, it is not meant to be our only Concern. It is not intended to give us fuch a diftaste for all other things, as to make us think them productive only of Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.”—On

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the contrary, Religion is calculated to increase our enjoyment of them; to make us derive a comfort and fatisfaction from them, which, otherwife, we should not feel and experience.-In one word— Religion was meant to chear us through Life, to give us Comfort in Death, and to make us happy through a blissful Eternity.

Such Religion is "more precious than rubies; and all the things we can defire are not to be compared with her. Length of days is in her right hand; and, in her left hand, are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantnefs; and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.-Forfake her not, and fhe fhall preferve thee: love her, and The fhall keep thee; exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou doft embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory fhall she give unto thee. She fhall cause thee to walk in thy way fafely, and thy foot shall not

ftumble.

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