not withhold any good thing from them that love him—and that the "light afflictions" which we may endure," are but for a moment," and are intended to work for us hereafter "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'."

Again; he will enjoy the blessings of life with more moderation and caution. Considering these good gifts, like all others, to be from above, he will reflect that they have a purpose to answer beyond his present gratification ;-that, like afflictions, they are meant to try his faith and godly resolutions. As, therefore, he is not overcome of evil, so neither is he carried away with good; but sees, in both, the trials with which it pleases his heavenly Father to purify his children, and prepare them for that crown of life which they that endure temptation here, shall inherit hereafter.

Lastly, having encountered the evils of life with patience, and enjoyed its blessings with moderation, he will meet its

1 2 Cor. iv. 17.

FATHER OF LIGHTS.

closing scene with consolation and hope. He who hath loved his own which are in the world, will love them unto the endin him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. And when the Christian, having fought the good fight, has finished his earthly course, he may lie down in the dust in full assurance that He, from whom every good and perfect gift proceeds, will grant to him hereafter his "perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in his eternal and everlasting glory"," through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Burial Service.

SERMON XIV.

NATURAL AFFECTION A MOTIVE FOR PIETY.

JOHN iv. 49.

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

THE wisdom of God is conspicuous in all his works; and in many of his acts, which appear to us at first sight indifferent as to the mode in which they might be effected, or which may seem to admit of considerable change without injury or even with benefit, we find, on consideration, a wisdom and a design which speak their heavenly Author; and are compelled to acknowledge that his ways are not as our ways, because our path is crooked while his is straight, and that his thoughts are not as our thoughts, because-who is able to fathom the deep things of God?

To mention one instance; with respect to the way in which God has communicated his will to man:-We might have expected, and, had we been consulted in the matter, should probably have suggested, a more methodical arrangement and a clearer expression of his will than that with which God has been pleased to furnish us. We should, no doubt, have wished to see what we are to believe plainly laid down under one head, and what we are to do under another; and every thing required from man by his Creator so distinctly stated, that there could be no possible room for ignorance or mistake. Very different, however, is the true state of the

case.

Instead of a methodical arrangement and a clear expression of the Divine will, we find but little apparent order in the way in which it is communicated; and many even of the most important doctrines of Christianity demand considerable thought and attention, in order that they may be fully understood. Instead of a broad distinction between what we are to believe and what we are to

do to be saved, they are continually mixed together; and so various are the interpretations which may be put upon even important parts of Scripture, that many wise and good men have differed essentially as to the meaning which they were intended to convey; and yet is it not clear, on consideration, that the way in which our religion has been conveyed to us is, notwithstanding these apparent difficulties, the very best that could have been adopted?-the best suited to our nature, and consequently the best calculated to produce its intended effects upon our hearts? Our Divine Teacher was not like a philosopher of old, laying down rules, plain indeed in words, but useless in practice; or dictating instructions respecting the government of a heart of which he was totally ignorant, and reforming a world of which he had no experience. He was in all points tried like those whom he came to instruct; he partook of the same nature, he endured the same hardships; his station in life was so low as to enable him to set an example to all; and so va