III. the gracious intentions of their Creator with SER M. regard to their future deftination, fhould cherish for each other the moft fincere benevolence. It is dictated by nature itself, that those whose prospects are extended fo far beyond the verge of this perishing world, fhould fo regulate their conduct, that the corruptible body may not degrade, and, as it were, reduce to matter the immortal fpirit. Such, my brethren, is the nature of that service which God requires, under the Christian difpenfation. I need not hesitate to affert that there is not, in this affembly, one individual who denies its reasonableness, and beneficial tendency. If I could, with the fame affurance, affirm that there is none, but whose conscience bears teftimony to the conftant and religious discharge of it, authorizing him, thence, to entertain firm confidence in the approbation and favour of him who is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things *, I should not scruple to apply, to you, the Apostle's exhortation; rejoice in the Lord alway, and again 1 Jay E * 1 John fii. 20, 21. III. SERM. I fay rejoice. For, what joy, short of heaven itself, can equal that which results from the teftimony of a pure confcience, and the confident affurance of the divine favour? What higher wish could the heart of man, panting after happiness, form, than to experience within itself, a perpetual calm unmoved by the ftorms of paffion, unmolefted by the intemperate cravings of appetite, untouched by the ftings of remorse, while it entertained the firm perfuafion that the whole frame of nature was under the dominion of it's decided friend? The ignorance of fuch a mind, with regard to the immediate caufes of events, creates no anxiety; for, it is under the protection of Infinite Wisdom. Its weakness occafions no fear; for, it is under the direction of Omnipotence. Its difappointments produce no vexation; for, it can be deftitute of no real good, nor fuffer any calamity which will not, in the end, contribute to the increase of its happiness! These are joys pure and fubftantial, fuited to the dignity of the rational nature, and independent of our brutal part. These can S ER M. never be carried to excess, never fucceeded by corroding reflexion. Pleafing once, they please and delight us, for ever. These neither birth, nor external events, nor the difpofitions of men, nor disease, nor age, can affect. They attend us in fociety, and forfake us not in folitude. When enemies perfecute us, they inspire us with courage, and endue us with ftrength. When false friends abandon us, they remain. They folace adverfity, and enhance, and adorn profperous circumstances. They lighten the burdens of life, and difarm death of his terrors! Compared with thefe, affluence is poor, grandeur is contemptible, fenfual pleasure is difgufting. External circumstances are appropriated to no inherent dignity of character, and are, often, the means of debafing it. But, religious and moral enjoyments are the peculiar privileges of the wife and good, who are not excluded from their fhare of worldly poffeffions, and can enjoy them with the higheft relish. Still, fhould thefe be with- E 2 III. SER M. held, fupported by their internal resources, III. by conscious integrity, by the exhilarating fense of the divine favour, and by the glorious profpect of a bleffed immortality, the piously wife muft, even in adverfity and afffliction, be poffeffed of a more abundant ftore of happiness than can belong to the impious and wicked, placed on the fummit of power, basking in the funfhine of profperity, and refounding the loudest strains of diffolute mirth. Like a rock towering above the deep, the man of piety and virtue beholds the ftorms of calamity roar around him, without fhaking his refolution, or impairing his ftrength. When the tempeft affails those of a contrary character, they are toffed, like the fand, from furge to furge, and, when the calm returns, fink under the weight of their own depravity! After all, I hear the modest and humble Christian pouring forth this complaint :"Of all caufes of joy, thofe which you "have mentioned are certainly the most III. "fo defirable, as that on which you have SER M. "juftly beftowed fuch high commenda ❝tions. But, I feel it belongs not to me. "For, inftead of calm and immutable ha"bits of virtue, of contentment and joy, "of felf approbation, and unshaken confi"dence in the divine favour,-I am op preffed with a sense of fin, and faint un"der continual failings, and infirmities, "which call for the deepeft repentance, "involve me in perplexity, and fome"times overwhelm me with despair!" But, difciple of Chrift! reflect that, under the gracious difpenfation of the gospel, God exacts not perfect obedience, while, in confideration of our Saviour's merits and atonement, he admits us, on fincere repentance, to pardon and reconciliation. Confider, alfo, that he is ever ready to affift us, by his grace, in the discharge of our duty. Thus, though we be guilty, God is, through Jefus Chrift, faithful and alfo juft to forgive us our fins *. Though we be frail and ignorant, he is able to enlighten our darkness†, to cleanse us from all E 3 * 1 John i. 9. Psalm xviii. 28. iniquity, |