bered with obfcure vifion, as through a glafs darkly, but to fee face to face, and to know even as we are known; to adore in extafy divine the all-abundant fource of every thing that is good: O happiness beyond comparison! O joy unutterable! Can this expected blifs be given up, or bartered, for any thing that this world can give? But yet thus do they who are called children of this world; who are not fure of, and who do really often lofe, the benefits for which they have given up fo much, for which they have paid fo dear. For how often do their most approved schemes fail in the iffue? Nay, if they do not, the foul continues ftill unfatisfied; and there is, and ever will remain that cruel fomething unpoffeffed, which imbitters and disturbs their greatest pleasures. But,

2dly, It is faid, that the happiness of a future ftate is at a distance.

This affertion must not be entirely allowed, for we know not how near we are to it. The distance, it is certain, is not great, and for aught we know the next hour may furprizingly shorten it, and bring us to our last home. But if it be great, would a wise man confider it as fufficiently great, and thereby

thereby run the risk of lofing his own foul for ever? Would he not rather chufe to live in pain, in forrow, for a term of years, provided that at the expiration of the term he might be happy for ever? But a virtuous life is not wretched, nor a vicious life happy. The reverfe is only true: for all the happiness of this world is to be found only in virtue, and all the mifery in vice. Vainly then do the children of this world boast of their fuperior forefight and fagacity, fince all their joy is vanity and vexation of spirit; and as they do not confider this life as a preparation for the next, they of course mistake the ends of their being, and do furely "treasure up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath." They cannot decide, that in another they will not be called upon to give an account of the things which were done in this world; and if fo, how dreadful must be even the doubtful confideration! To be condemned for ever, to be for ever excluded from complete blifs, when the foul, awakened to a true fenfe of its crimes, to a true fenfe of the happy opportunities which it hath for ever loft, ftands naked and helpless before the Lord, how

horrible

horrible the thought! What therefore can it profit a man, if he could gain the whole world, and thus lose his own immortal foul? Surely then the wisdom of the world is a deception, and most worthy of pity are they who adopt it.

Having thus confidered the fuperior wifdom of the children of light in the choice of their object, let us alfo confider how shameful and reprehenfible it is in them, as they have fo excellent an object in view, to follow it with languor and inattention. Let us therefore refolve for the time to come to pursue it with ardour, to keep a watchful guard over our minds against the blandishments of vice, and to defpife the glittering, but the falfe allurements of a licentious world. Let us all strive to enter in at the strait gate, and boldly and perseveringly press forward into that narrow path which leadeth to heaven. Let us put away all diffidence and inconftancy; be refolute, not halting between two opinions, and dividing our hearts between God and mammon; but let them there be unalterably fixed, where the pearl of great price is to be found, even in the bofom of the Lord Jefus. Let it, while we

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live, be our principal care to walk openly and worthily, as the children of the light, giving all diligence to make our calling and election fure." Let the shortnefs and uncertainty of the time allotted for this work excite our diligence in the performance of it, fo that we may completely finish it “before the night cometh when no man can work;" so that whenever our most mighty Lord and Mafter comes, we may, as faithful ftewards, give up our accounts with joy, and be received into glory with this most gracious welcome, “ Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

In the mean time, let us all, with one accord, pray to God, that, as he hath been pleased to call us out of darkness into his marvellous light, he would give us grace fo to efchew all fuch things as are contrary to our profeffion, and to follow all fuch things as are agreeable to the fame, that we may finally work out our own falvation, through the merits of Jesus Christ the Lord; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, be all honour and dominion, both now and for ever. Amen.

SER

SERM ON VII.

ON CONTENT MEN T.

PHILIP. iv. II.

I have learned in whatsoever ftate I am, therewith to be content.

T

HIS pious declaration of the apostle, is fo peculiarly the result of Christian philofophy, that whoever can truly apply it to himself, hath obtained the chief good of human wisdom. To be wife enough to obtain that peace and quietnefs of mind, which is established on a perfect trust in God, is to be truly happy nay, it is to be armed in proof against the dire calamities, and the delufive attractions of a wicked world. To be contented, like St. Paul, in whatsoever ftate we may happen to be, fuppofing al