XI. SERM. is the beginning of wisdom; a good underStanding have all they that do his commandments *. The confiderations, already fuggefted, have prefented to us the conjunction of wisdom with fimplicity, as an inftrument for repelling evil, or for obtaining substantial good. Indeed, in this its principal excellence confifts. But, these united qualities are, befides, a pofitive fource of sweet and exalted enjoyment-of enjoyment independent of our corporeal frame, of human caprice, of the viciffitudes of fortune, and fuited to the dignity of our rational nature. The acquirements of intellect none ever undervalued, who had tafted their pleasure, and none ever poffeffed them, and regretted the pains and expence which they coft. But, far inferior still are these to the qualities of the heart, to integrity, to the love of God, and of mankind. These fill the mind with confcious delight, announce its own dignity, exalt the meaneft ftation, fhed a bright beam through the blackest cloud of adverfity, introduce unalterable tranquillity *Psalm cxi. 10. XI, tranquillity into the breaft. They give SERM. peace and joy in focial intercourse, affure us, by a ftill but articulate voice, of the favour and protection of God, and convey an undoubted pledge, through Chrift Jesus our Lord, of happiness in heaven, which shall be the perfection and eternity of that already participated. Splendid talents, and an improved understanding, without rectitude, become dangerous to others, and aggravate our own guilt. United with it, they difplay their real glory, and fhine with the luftre and beneficence of the luminary which vivifies and enlivens the face of nature, while it illuminates and colours it with its beams. I appeal to every wife and good man, if he would affume the contrary character for all the wealth, and fplendour, and enjoyments of the world; or if torture and death appear, to his tranquil reason, fufficient to induce him to abjure his faith! Independently of all confideration of futurity, no man can bear to view himself as a fool, or as a villian. Till I die, I will not remove my integrity from me: my righteouf X. SERM. ness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live * are fentiments both natural and wife. In fine, we have seen the folly and guilt of those who, however good their difpofitions may be, neglect any means of inftruction put in their power-and the horrid depravity of fuch as abuse their abili ties, and their opportunities of improvement. We have feen the various and dreadful evils which refult from the ignorance, or profligacy of men, or from both. Indeed ignorance, though, in many cafes, highly criminal, can never be fo much the fubject of reprobation, as perverted knowledge; nor can the fame degrees of knowledge be expected in all. In a Chriftian country, however, none can be entirely deftitute of the means of inftruction, and the generality have many more than they employ. Even thofe, who poffefs every advantage for the education of their children, feldom direct it to the improvement of the heart, to the implanting of found religious principles, and to the regulation 1 *Job xxvii. 5, 6. of of conduct-of all branches of education SER M. XI. the nobleft, the most important, and the most applicable to the purposes of life. As almost every occurrence furnishes fome means of inftruction of this kind; fo, it affords fome occafion for its exercife. But, amidft this facility of acquirement, and this demand for practical application, what a fhameful neglect prevails with regard to the science of life, fo much efteemed and ftudied, and cultivated among the polished nations of Pagan antiquity, according to the information which they poffeffed! From the whole of this fubject, difcuffed at confiderable length in this, and the two preceding dicourses, it appears that the best, the only effectual means of fecuring happiness, in every fituation and circumftance of life, is to refolve to follow, with inflexible firmness, the dictates of confcience, and to give all diligence to enlighten it, both by the exercise of our reason, and by the furer illumination of divine truth. Then, fhall we be enabled to pass through life with fecurity, dignity, and comfort. We shall partake X 2 SM. par ake of as much happiness, and of as XI. little mifery, as the general condition of humanity, and our own particular circumftances will permit. We fhall, at the clofing scene, look back on our conduct, through faith in Jefus Chrift, with a pleafure, in fome degree, refembling that which the Creator himself enjoyed, when he saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good *, and shall anticipate eternity, not with compofure only, but with exultation. We may then appropriate to ourselves the apoftle's words: I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; bave kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing t. In fimplicity, therefore, and godly fincerity, by the grace of God, have your conversation in the world. Get wisdom, get understanding §. Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Amen. * Gen. i. 31. 2 Cor. i. 12. + 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. I SERMON |