12. that wealth and riches shall be in the house of him that feareth the Lord, Ps. cxii. 3. and delighteth in his commandments; Ps. cxii. 1. that blessings shall be upon his head; Prov. x. 6. that the house of the righteous shall stand, xii. 7. and the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish; xiv. 11. that it shall be well with them that fear God: Eccles. viii. 12. and in short, that Godliness hath the promise of the Life that now is, as well as of that which is to come; 1 Tim. iv. 8. we may certainly conclude, that a strict observance of the duties of the christian religion, is the most likely way a man can take to thrive and prosper in the world, and to make his life comfortable and happy.

Of this truth we may be convinced, not only from the testimony of Scripture, but from the reason and nature of things. For, let any one consider whether he who is just and true in all his dealings; honest and sincere in all his professions; and faithful to his word and promises; who is diligent and industrious in his calling; whe

makes it his constant rule to do to all men as he would they should do to him; and is so far from endeavouring to over-reach and defraud his neighbour, that he chooses rather to forego the greatest gain, than purchase it at the expence of the least injustice-I say, it is impossible for any person to reflect and not acknowledge, it is much more probable, that such a man should enlarge his fortune. in the world, than he who acts the very reverse, that practises all the arts of cheating and lying, of over-reaching and circumvention, and stoops to every thing, how base and dishonest soever, which he thinks will turn to his present profit; that considers not so much how honest and upright his actions are, as how profitable; and cares not what his neighbour suffers by his injustice, if he himself does but get by it. Such a man when he comes to be known (as he will not be able long to conceal himself), will certainly lose his credit and reputation; he will become hated and despised; and every person will be afraid to have any dealings with him. E

On the other hand, the honest and upright man (beside the blessing of God, which he cannot fail of) will be sure to meet with love and esteem of all that know him: he will have few, if any, enemies; but many friends, and those some of the wisest and best of men; who will be always ready to assist him, and glad of every opportunity of promoting his interest and happiness.

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2. Another great blessing of Life, and which gives a relish to all other enjoyments, is Health. And who is more likely to obtain this blessing than the religious man? for will not perance, sobriety, and virtue (duties which he constantly practises) conduce more to a sound and vigorous constitution of body, than surfeiting and drunkenness, lust and intemperance? the mischievous effects of which are too visible to be denied. Who hath woe? (said Solomon) who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babling? whọ hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine,, they that go to seek mixed Vine. Prov. xxiii. 29, 30. What pains

and diseases have some men brought upon themselves, merely by their excesses and debaucheries! diseases,

which have not terminated in their own lives, but have been entailed upon their unhappy posterity! and how can it be otherwise, unless it should please God to change the nature of things? for, if men will run into those excesses which inflame and corrupt their blood; it is no wonder that gout or dropsy, or some other immediately fatal distemper, should proceed from such disorders. And when a vicious or debauched parent has brought rottenness into his own bones; though the children may be free from the vices of their father, yet they frequently feel all their lives the mischievous effects of his transgressions.

3. Again: a cheerful and contented mind is another great blessing of Life; for, without it, nothing in this world can make us happy. And by what means shall a man obtain this desirable disposition, but by the practice of religion? That will teach him to resign his will to God, to submit to all the

dispensations of his providence, and to be patient and easy, cheerful and satisfied, under every disappointment and trouble he may meet with; as knowing that God is the sovereign disposer of all things; a being of infinite goodness, kindness, and love; that he does not willingly afflict the children of men, but makes every thing work together for good to them that love him. And how quiet, easy, and contented, must such a man be under all events! He has learned with St. Paul how to abound, and how to want; and as he is not puffed up with the one, so neither is he cast down, when it pleases God to send the other; but goes through the world with a calm, even, and contented mind, undisturbed by that inquietude, impatience, and discontent, from which a proud, envious, and ambitious man is seldom, if ever, free.

4. Peace is another great blessing, highly conducive to the happiness of Life and to this the religious man has the justest claim. He considers, that,

God so loved us, as to send his son to be the propitiation for our sins, we