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SERMON XI.

THE

GREAT IMPORTANCE

OF

INTEGRITY OF LIFE,

IN ORDER TO

MAN's HAPPINESS.

'JOB Xxvii. 5th and 6th.

'Till I die, I will not remove my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

JOB makes a resolution here of maintaining an unprejudiced mind, and keeping a conscience void of offence: he is resolved to behave himself prudently, and not to be guilty of any thing that would either sting his conscience, or wound his reputation, were it to be exposed to human knowledge.

And this resolution he takes in the height of adversity and disgrace; when his wealth and children were snatched away from him; when his servants and friends despised him; when he was afflicted with pains and ulcers, and had no place to lay his head. In the midst of this unhappy change of things it was, that this good man resolved to remain unmoveable, unshaken, to keep his ground even until death. For 'till I die, says he, I will not remove my integrity from me.

As if he had said, "Though it be my hard fate and the determined will of heaven, (which he knew he could not fathom) that I should be thus severely dealt with all my life; yet my chief care and study shall be to maintain an unprejudiced mind: not to repine under the dispensation of heaven, nor to be guilty of any thing that would offend my God, or lay me open to human censure.

Here is a pattern worthy of the imitation of all mankind! for it should be every man's care to carry such a temper of mind with him out of this world as may procure and improve his happiness in the next. Neither the prospect of wealth or honour should prompt him to the commission of any thing that is unjust: but in the whole course of his actions, and above every other blessing, he should value and prefer a good conscience; and (though in the height of misery and distress) he should renounce all external advantages, rather than forfeit so invaluable a blessing. a blessing. And now that I may enforce this upon your minds, I shall, from these words of Job, take occasion, in the

First place, To lay before you the great importance of integrity of life, with respect to man's present happiness in this world.

Secondly with regard to his eternal happiness in the world to come.

Thirdly, I shall shew, that by the grace of God, every man may (like Job) hold fast his integrity, if he will use his endeavours to do so.

Fourthly and lastly, I shall conclude with an exhortation, that you may be persuaded to hold fast your integrity to the end.

I am, in the first place, to lay before you the great importance of integrity of life, with respect to man's present happiness in this world..

And this will very soon appear if we consider that none of the riches, honours, nor pleasures of this world, can afford happiness to a man who is attended with an evil conscience; for let him go where he will, and do what he can, still he is attended with disquietude and anxiety of mind. Is he rich and prosperous? He can never enjoy his riches with satisfaction, nor his prosperity with pleasure. Is he in an honourable post, and attended with crouds of admirers? All this will not appease the stings of a wounded spirit. Perhaps he stifles the alarms of conscience with a continued round of sensual pleasures; at balls and feasts, in drinking and carousing, and every other fashionable amusement. But, alas! what will this avail in the day of adversity, or at the hour of death? What has he to support him, if he should be brought to the calamity of an adverse fortune? He has not the integrity of Job to befriend him. And, when he has a vast eternity in view, and feels himself sinking into the gloomy regions of darkness, how must the dire forebodings of his guilty soul make him tremble and quake, in expectation of meeting with the just reward of his actions?

It is impossible for me, or any one upon earth, to describe the agonies of conscience at

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