cure, nothing satisfying, nothing abiding in earthly riches. "The world indeed is God's great house, richly furnished, and we have all things liberally afforded us for our use; but they are not ours. God has therefore set death at the gate, to see, that as we brought nothing into this world, so we shall carry nothing out."* However necessary to supply our wants by the way, they must leave us at the end. Set not your affections then on sordid dust; you have capacities for the enjoyment of higher and nobler objects than earth can afford. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt; and where thieves do not break through nor steal."+ Ever remember the declaration of the Apostle, "They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil : which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." * Hopkins. † Matt. vi. 17, 18. 1 Tim. vi. 10. FAME. How much is popular applause sought after by many but what is it? Is it that which can ward off the ills of life? can it defend us from - the arrows of adversity? can it save us from slander and reproach? can it assure us that we shall be exempt from pain, sickness, and death? Alas! no. Reputation, or a good name, is indeed desirable by every one. Character is of the highest importance in society; and to excel in every good work is what we should all aim at. But popularity: what is it? It does not always arise from real excellence. It is not always the child of virtue. It does not always attend the wise and the good.* The best of * Herod was popular, but for what? for putting James to death: for when he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, to take Peter also. And Felix, though he knew Paul was innocent, yet in order to be popular with the Jews, left him in bonds. Inquisitors and persecutors have been popular at the expense of the blood of the saints and the excellent of the earth! characters have sometimes been treated as the worst; and the worst have been held up to public view as the best. So vitiated is the taste of mortals, that the fame of some men has been derived from the ignorance they have displayed; the bigotry they have manifested; the blood they have spilt; the towns and cities they have depopulated; and the multitudes they have destroyed. That there is a popularity highly deserved and very properly worn, by some useful men, cannot be denied; but it is well known that such are its attendants; such frequently its labours so numerous its cares, so great its dangers, that many have been almost glad to retire back again into the shade, and pass away the rest of their days in obscurity. For how many strong men hath it wounded. How few have been able to bear it with propriety. From this eminence how many have fallen down and been dashed to pieces. Look at Herod. The multitude said it was the voice of a God and not of a man; but this cost him his life. One confessed that for the sake of popularity he set fire to the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus; but this was his destruction. What is the lan guage of many an individual but this: “O could I but rise; could I be but known; could I be but popular; could I but command the multitude; I should be happy,-I should want no more." But are you certain of that? Are you sure you could bear it? do you know it is a slippery place? have you seriously thought.what manner of person you ought to be, when so many eyes are fixed upon you! O vain man, you know not what you ask. It is perhaps wisely withheld from you, because you of all others are least able to bear it. Reader, be not anxious then for this supposed good. It is of more consequence what you are thought of in heaven than on earth. The approbation of your Maker, and an interest in his favour, outweighs all the empty applause of mortals. Remember, that he who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person; he, whom all the angels in heaven worship he was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief! Besides, what is there so uncertain, so precarious, as popular applause! It is rendered so by the very weakness of our nature. A very small speck is discermble on a bright object. One single defect, one unguarded step, one rash word, one little circumstance may be magnified or misrepresented, so as to diminish respect, and cause our popularity to fade. And what so humbling, so distressing, as to be doomed not to obscurity only, but to contempt; not to sit on the lowest seat, but to stand at a distance, as if unworthy of regard, or even notice. But it is also precarious, if we consider the fickleness and inconstancy of human nature. One day they cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" the next, "Away with him, crucify him, crucify him!" How did the multitude exclaim, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" But how soon did they alter their tone, and pursued him from one place to another, so that his life was not safe in the land of Israel. Of Paul and Barnabas they said, "the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men!" They called the one Jupiter, and the other Mercury; and it was with difficulty they were prevented from offering sacrifice to them. But soon after we read, "that there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the peo |