III.

will. He who fitteth in the heavens laughs SERM. at the wisdom and the plans of worldly men. Wherefore boaft not thyself of to-mor row; for thou knoweft not what a day may bring forth. For the fame reason, despair not of to-morrow; for it may bring forth good as well as evil. Vex not yourselves with imaginary fears. The impending black cloud, to which you look up with fo much dread, may pass by harmlefs; or though it should discharge the ftorm, yet, before it breaks, you may be lodged in that lowly manfion which no ftorms ever touch.

In the next place, there are in futurity fome events which may be certainly forefeen by us, through all its darkness. First, it may be confidently predicted, that no fituation into which it will bring us, fhall ever answer fully to our hopes, or confer perfect happiness. This is as certain as if we already faw it, that life, in its future periods, will continue to be what it has heretofore been; that it will be a mixed and varied ftate; a chequered scene of pleasures and pains, of fugitive joys and tranfient

III.

SERM. tranfient griefs, fucceeding in a round to one another. Whether we look forward to the years of youth, or to those of manhood and advanced life, it is all the fame. The world will be to us, what it has been to generations paft. Set out, therefore, on what remains of your journey under this perfuafion. According to this measure, eftimate your future pleasures; and calculate your future gains. Carry always along with you a modeft and a temperate mind. Let not your expectations from the years that are to come rife too high; and your disappointments will be fewer, and more easily supported.

Farther; this may be reckoned upon as certain, that in every future fituation of life, a good confcience, a well-ordered mind, and a humble truft in the favour of Heaven, will prove the effential ingredients of your happiness. In reflecting upon the past, you have found this to hold. Affure yourfelves that in future, the cafe will be the fame. The principal correctives of human vanity and diftrefs, muft be fought for in

religion

religion and virtue.

III.

Entering on paths SERM. which to you are new and unknown, place yourselves under the conduct of a divine guide. Follow the great Shepherd of Ifrael, who, amidst the turmoil of this world, leads his flock into green paftures, and by the fill waters. As As you advance in life, ftudy to improve, both in good principles and in good practice. You will be enabled to look to futurity without fear, if, whatever it brings, it shall find you regularly employed in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with the Lord your God.

Lastly, Whatever other things may be dubious in futurity, two great events are undoubtedly certain, death and judgment. Thefe, we all know, are to terminate the whole course of time; and we know them to be not only certain, but to be approaching nearer to us, in confequence of every day that paffes over our heads. To thefe, therefore, let us look forward, not with the dread of children, but with that manly feriousness which belongs to men and Christians. Let us not avert our view from

them,

III.

SER M. them, as if we could place them at fome greater diftance by excluding them from our thoughts. This indeed is the refuge of too many; but it is the refuge of fools, who aggravate thereby the terrors they muft encounter. For be that cometh, fhall come, and will not tarry. To his coming, let us look with a fteady eye; and as life advances through its progreffive stages, prepare for its close, and for appearing before him who made us.

THUS I have endeavoured to point out the reflections proper to be made, when the question is put to any of us, How old art thou? I have fhewn with what eye we should review the past years of our life; in what light we should confider the present; and with what difpofitions look forward to the future: In order that fuch a question may always leave fome ferious impreffion behind it; and may difpofe us fo to number the years of our life, that we may apply our bearts unto wisdom.

SERMON

IV.

On the DUTIES belonging to MIDDLE
AGE.

I CORINTHIANS, xiii. II.

When I became a man, I put away
childish things.

IV.

To every thing, fays the wife man, there SERM. is a feafon; and a time to every purpose under heaven*. As there are duties which belong to particular fituations of fortune, fo there are duties alfo which refult from particular periods of human life. In every period of it, indeed, that comprehensive rule takes place, Fear God, and keep his com

VOL. III.

* Ecclef. iii. 1.

F

mand