In the ordinary courfe of events, we cannot better secure the valuable enjoyments of the prefent ftate, than by walking in the way of God's commandments. But let us fuppose, that the acquifition of eternal life and felicity fhould, upon fome occafions, prove inconfiftent with our gaining or keeping the riches or pleasures of this world; what in the ballance of impartial reafon, is the poffeffion of thefe, for thirty or forty years, when weighed against the perpetual poffeffion of the riches and happiness of the heavenly state? Or what are the pains and labours of felf-denial, compared with the everlasting rest of heaven, and the poffeffing there every fatisfaction fuited to rational and immortal beings? or what is the lofs of fame, and enduring the reproaches of illjudging mortals, if ballanced against the honour which cometh from God, and a crown of glory which fadeth not away? Or what is the parting with this mortal life, a few years fooner than we must have loft it in the natural course of things, when compared with the certain acquifition of eternal life, and our being introduced fo much the fooner to the glories of the Divine Prefence, and to the joys of angels?

'Tis then, you fee, perfectly reasonable, that if we feek to be bleffed for ever, *

* Matthew vi. 33. ·

we

hould

fhould feek it in the first place, and subject every other purfuit to this; and refolve that we will indulge to no pleasure, make or retain no profit, and be drawn into no practices, inconfiftent with the rules prefcribed by our heavenly guide; and that we will refufe no labours, which he enjoins us: convinced that if we are so happy as to make fure our calling and election to eternal bleffednefs, all it can coft us are really trifles. And 'tis as evidently rational, that we mind religion and the concern of our everlasting falvation, not carelefsly and formally, and no more, than we can accommodate to the fuccefsful pursuit of the riches, fhow, or pleafures of the body; but that this be attended as our great bufinefs through life; and that every thing elfe be made to ftoop to this. No difpofition but this correfponds to the infinite worth of eternal life; and none but this will carry us through the labours, temptations, and difficulties in our way to the promised hea

ven.

Let us now feriously afk ourselves, hath this been, or is it our temper in relation to life eterna!? Are we ftrongly apprehenfive of its immenfe value, and determined, at all events, and whatever may become of our other interefts, to be bleffed for ever? Do we every morning enter upon action, with this concern warm at heart, how may we best discharge the duties of the day, and reLI pell

pell temptations; how do moft good in our various relations, and most advance the improvement of our minds in goodness and piety, and thus grow more meet for heaven? Or do we begin one day after another, without exciting a ferious concern to be bleffed in eternity; and purfue through the day the dictates of fenfe, paffion, and example, of an ambitious or covetous temper, without reflecting seriously, whether we are in the road to life eternal, or to everlafting deftruction? Are our religious fentiments and refolutions, when we have any, cold, tranfient, and of little efficacy; while we are all ardour and earneftnefs in the chace of worldly pleasures and advantages? And Sirs, is this to feek eternal life, as perfons who reafonably hope to poffefs it? What would you think or fay of a man, who was only follicitous to spend one year in high pleasure, and who facrificed to this fcheme all the fatisfactions of thirty or forty years of following life? Would you not think him too grofsly foolish to be pitied, in his deserved diftrefs and mifery throughout all these years? And will you not abide by this reasoning when it is extended to eternity? Do the interefts and enjoyments of forty years deferve a greater preference in your attention and induitry to thofe of one year? And does not the happiness, I will not fay merely of forty thousand years, or millions of ages, but of

what

what is infinitely more than all thefe, of ETERNITY, deferve to be preferred to the fenfual indulgences, or feparate interests of this one fhort age, our mortal life? Does not the God who would reward your faithful obedience with this immenfe felicity, eternal life, deserve the preference in your love, devotion, and obedience; and will you not, for the future, give him the preference? Can you hope he will accept you if you do not? If you facrifice his offered heaven of divine and everlasting blifs to every trifle, to every flash of mean pleasure, or profpect of unrighteous gain, from which you muft foon be separated for ever?

Refolve then, you who are in the prime of life, that you will feek firft the kingdom of God and his righteousness; that when you have discovered the real conditions of tance with God, and of everlafting bleffedaccepnefs, you will make it the great bufinefs of your lives to fulfil thefe; and that every thing elfe fhall give way to the fecuring an eternity of bleffedness. If this be your temper, you should then apply for full inftructions to the gospel of Chrift, and are likely to receive them aright, and follow them with fuccefs.

May God bless what hath been offered to your thoughts, for making you fo wife and happy! Amen.

SERMON

ay!.

SERMON XXI.

Chrift the beft Guide to Eternal

Life.

JOHN vi. 68, 69.

Then Simon Peter anfwered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou haft the words of eternal life. And we believe and are fure that thou art the Chrift, the Son of the living God.

T

HE occafion of Peter's making this juft and hearty declaration, was this. Some of Jefus's difciples had juft forfaken him, being offended by what he declared in a figurative way, of the neceffity of his death, that they might obtain everlasting life: for they expected a Meffiah who would live and reign long and glorioufly upon earth. "Tis probable alfo, that they were influenced by refentment, at his reproving their infincerity. Upon this Jefus turned himself to the twelve, who were his moft intimate compa