that hour, when the disconsolate sinner is brought to reflect upon an ill spent life.

But when a man, like Job, gives his heart no room to reproach him, and is determined to hold fast his integrity, he is prepared for all events of Providence.

If he is rich and honourable, he enjoys his riches with comfort and satisfaction, and his virtue gives a lustre and dignity to his high station. And though he has the opportunity of enjoying the pleasures of life as well as other men, yet he uses the good things of this world without abusing them. He is ever ready to adore his Creator, and perform all possible acts of kindness to his fellow creatures.

The integrity of his heart leads him (after the example of holy Job) to compassionate the distresses of the poor. He will not withhold from them their desire, but the fatherless shall partake of his bounty; neither will he suffer the poor to perish for want of cloathing, nor the stranger to lodge in the streets, nor the traveller to go without refreshment. By this he is a comfort to himself, a blessing to his family, and a friend to all mankind. And if he should happen to meet with adversity and affliction, he is resigned to the will of his Creator, and comforts himself with having acted uprightly.

For let it be considered, that no outward calamity can disturb that man who is attended with a peaceable conscience, which is perpetually echoing to him those comfortable words of well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast acquitted thyself as becomes a disciple of

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the Saviour of mankind; like him thou hast manfully resisted temptations, and courageously bid defiance to the frowns and to the flatteries of the world and the devil.

Happy, unspeakably happy, is the man that is in such a case; he has no need of company to replenish his mind and relax his thoughts; nor need he have recourse to drink to heal the wounds and drive away the stings of an offending soul: for he is always carressed, always attended with the pleasing reflections of a well spent life.

This was the consolation of Job during his adversity, under a most dismal and shocking change of things; when the world (that but a few hours before smiled upon him) seemed now to be bent upon his eternal ruin.

He found, upon a review of his life past, that he had walked uprightly with his God; that neither his wealth, nor strength of constitution, (which are great temptations) had led him to affront his Maker; and though (for reasons best known to the eternal Governor of the world) he was driven from the height of prosperity to the depth of affliction, yet thus did he comfort himself: My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Integrity of life yields a man the most solid and lasting peace and satisfaction, and is his friend in the greatest time of need. When he falls, like Job, into any great calamity, his greatest support is that of a good conscience; when he can apply those comfortable words,

of St. Paul to himself, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, he has had his conversation in the world; then all will be calm and serene within; the black clouds of melancholy and despair will be dispersed, and a bright sunshine will

ensue.

Amidst the greatest storm of adversity, a peaceable conscience spreads an inexpressible calmness over the mind; a serenity of temper refreshes and smooths it; every rising murmur is hushed, every repining thought quashed, and all the passions of the soul brought to an entire resignation to the will of Providence. And at the hour of death, how unspeakably reviving must it be to the drooping spirit to reflect upon a well spent life; to think that when this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, the soul will be received by the blessed Jesus into the blissful regions above.

It was a great comfort to St. Paul, when the the time of his departure was at hand, that he could with confidence say, I have finished my course with satisfaction; I have kept the faith in integrity of heart; and now I am ready to depart and be with Christ my righteous Judge, who hath laid up for me a crown of righteousness. What joy, what satisfaction can equal this? And may not this happy disposition of mind be attained by giving our hearts no room to reproach us? Yes, surely. This will be the happiness of every faithful follower of Christ, who hath, like Job, retained his integrity to that awful decisive hour, when he shall pass from

this transitory life to an endless eternity. He will then feel the unspeakable satisfaction of a well spent life, which will stand him in more stead than all the riches, and honours, and pleasures of this world. And this leads me, in the

Second place, To shew, that integrity of life is of the utmost importance with regard to our eternal happiness.

And this is very evident to any one that is acquainted with the Christian religion, which teaches us, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. For as heaven is a state of uninterrupted felicity, no evil thing can be admitted there, because that would be an interruption to the happiness of its blessed inhabitants; and as sin is the worst of evils, it of course can have no place in heaven: therefore, it nearly concerns every intelligent being to divest himself as much as possible of all impurity while he is in this life, that he may be the better prepared for the happiness of the next.

And how is he to do this, but by performing the conditions of the gospel? And they are repentance towards God, faith in the merits and satisfaction of the blessed Jesus, and a sincere obedience to the eternal law of truth and righteousness. Except we repent, Christ tells us, we shall all perish. Whosoever believeth in him (i. e. Jesus Christ) shall receive remission of his sins. And, Blessed are they who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life. These being the conditions by which we are to obtain eternal happiness, we must be

careful not only to resolve to observe them, but we must bring those good resolutions into action.

But men, in general, forget the obligations of Christianity, and seldom think seriously 'till they are thrown upon a bed of sickness. And how often do we see men who, upon their sick beds, have bound themselves under an obligation to become good Christians, if Providence should spare them their life; yet, as soon as they have been able to relish a pleasing, or to comply with a suitable temptation, they have basely renounced their promise, and sold their innocence for a trifle.

But we must take it for granted, that guilt can never be blotted out but by such a repentance as will produce a virtuous life; for no vice can be pardoned 'till it is mortified; and he who sees the error of his ways, resolves and prays against it, and yet still goes on in his wickedness, contradicts his own purposes and petitions, and all he gains by it is, that he is condemned; and he may, with as much reason, wish for life, whilst he cuts his throat, as pray his soul into heaven, whilst his morals are wicked.

If religion consisted in making fair promises, there would be but very few irreligious men; for, now and then, a man may be seriously disposed, and, without much difficulty, might promise a reformation hereafter. But this is not laying the axe to the root of the tree; for the lusts must be mortified, the passions subdued, and the flesh brought in subjection to