Men's being weary of Life.

can be furnished, except what arises from SERMON the bitterness of sincere and deep repent

ance. We can do no more than exhort them to atone as much as is in their power for the evils they have committed; and to fly to the divine mercy through Jesus Christ for pardon and forgiveness. Let

us now,

II. TURN to persons of another description, and consider the sentiment in the text as extorted by situations of distress. These are so variously multiplied in the world, and often so oppressive and heavy, that assuredly it is not uncommon to hear the afflicted complain that they are weary of life. Their complaints, if not always allowable, yet certainly are more excusable than those which flow from the sources of dissatisfaction already mentioned. They are sufferers, not so much through their own misconduct, as through the appointment of Providence; and therefore to persons in this situation it may seem more needful to offer consolation, than to give` admonition. However, as the evils which produce this impatience of life are of differ

I.

9

ent

had most

conn

most affectionately loved, a whom we had placed the felicity days, are taken away, our with life appears to be dissolved. "should we survive those to who "souls were tied? Would to G "had died before them! Now whe "are gone, all pleasure and hope i cr as to us. To us the sun no longer "with its usual brightness. No "cheerfulness invests the face of N "On every object a sad gloom a "to rest; and every employment " is become an oppressive burden.” the feelings of those who are th tressed we naturally sympathise. are frequently the feelings of the virtuous and amiable minds: A

such persons must be told, that gri be indulged so far as to become derate and improper. There are

·Men's being weary of Life.

I.

11

which are prescribed to it both by reason SERMON and by religion. A Christian ought not to mourn like those who have no hope. While he feels his sorrows as a man, he should also study to bear them like a man, with fortitude; and not abandon himself to feeble and fruitless melancholy. Let him have recourse to a strenuous discharge of the duties of his station, and consider it as incumbent on him to make the best improvement that he can of those comforts which Providence has still left in his possession.

AGAIN it sometimes happens that, apart from grief, great reverses of worldly fortune give rise to the lamentation in the text. This was the case with Job himself. A sudden fall from opulence into indigence and want; some undeserved disgrace incurred, or some unexpect ed cloud thrown over former reputation and fame; the unkindness and desertion of friends, or the insolent triumph of enemies, are apt to overwhelm the minds of men with gloom, and to reduce them to be weary of life. To persons under

such

have been the authors to themselv those misfortunes, we withdraw ou The burden which they have b on themselves, we leave them to as they can; and with little C we hear them exclaim that thei

are weary of life.- Not only so

even in cases where calamities have on the innocent, to the pity whi feel for them will be joined a secret tempt, if we perceive that together their prosperity, their courage and titude have also forsaken them. abandon themselves to dejection, no mark of a great or a worthy Instead of declaring that his soul is of his life, it becomes a brave and a man, in the evil day, with firmn maintain his post; to bear up again storm; to have recourse to those tages which, in the worst of time

Men's being weary of Life.

13

always left to integrity and virtue; and SERMON never to give up the hope that better days may yet arise.

It is good for persons in such situations to remark that, though Job was for at long while severely tried by a variety of distresses, yet his condition was not left finally unhappy. On the contrary, the goodness of that God whom he had served returned at last to shine upon him with greater brightness than ever. His riches were restored to him twofold. The losses in his family were repaired by a new offspring. His name became again renowned in the east; and the latter end of Job, we are told, was more blessed than the beginning.

BUT still, it may be asked, will not the continuance of long and severe disease justify the exclamation in the text, My soul is weary of my life? To persons who are forsaken by all the blessings of health, and who have no prospect left, but that of lingering. under sickness, or pain, Job's complaint may assuredly be forgiven more than to any others. Though

it