"whom much is given, much will be required." Again, the variety of ranks and conditions which exist on earth, are often more connected in this point of view, than we might at first conceive. The hunger and misery of the poor, is his trial, but is not the same hunger and misery the trial also of his rich neighbour, for the one to suffer, and for the other to relieve? If we pursue this notion, and compare the wretchedness which others suffer, with our means of abating its severity, we shall find that in innumerable cases, the same event is a source of double trial, working in two different ways, to precisely the same end. Viewing then all around in a state of trial, and seeing that this trial both in its importance, and in its final account, rises with what we call, and justly call, the blessings of life; we shall see both the wisdom of God in the creation of various ranks, and his justice in proportioning a trial to the advantages of each.

In the duration of life, again, we find many difficulties; if to all men were appointed the same duration of life, the case would be easy, but under the mysterious providence of God, we see our fellow creatures cut off at various ages, and sometimes under circumstances the most perplexing. This is a difficulty for which no knowledge of ours can satisfactorily account; and for this reason, because we cannot see as the

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Almighty can into contingencies of future time. Taking however a state of trial as a ground, we may fairly suppose, that when the Almighty knows that a human soul has undergone a sufficient trial, he in mercy withdraws it from temptations to come. We are told by the Apostle, that the Almighty "will never suffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear, but will with the temptation find a means of escape;" and in cases of which his infinite wisdom is surely a competent judge, can there be a more merciful mode of escape, than a final deliverance? We often see the most amiable and heavenly among the children of men, entering into life with every virtue which can adorn, with every grace which can sanctify the soul, cut off in the very flower of age, in the vigour of their strength, in the very field of active and benevolent exertion. This is a case of such sad, and such daily occurrence, that as reasoners only, we must all have been perplexed with so evident a frustration of purpose. But when we take into our view the temptations to which these heirs of immortality might have been exposed, the allurements to which they, even they, might have yielded, shall we not justify and praise the mercy of God, who knowing all these things, has taken them to him self? Shall not the words of the wise man find both the reason and the mercy of such a dispen

sation?" He pleased God, and was beloved of him; so that being among sinners, he was translated, yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. He being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time, for his soul pleased the Lord, therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked." In these words we see the reason of God's dealings in one most important order of cases, made manifest ; we may apply, under due limitations, the same line of reasoning to almost every case, not presumptuously pronouncing on the mysteries of the Almighty Providence-mysteries, which from the contracted state of our understandings, we cannot expect should be now disclosed. It is well for us, however, to use the light which we have, and to apply this reasoning when it is applicable. We shall not indeed solve the difficulties of every case, but we shall have very frequent opportunities of tracing the dispensations of God to their proper source; of accounting even by sight for some of these, and by faith of referring them all to the same merciful and wise intentions.

From what has been said, the application of this subject to ourselves is a very easy one. In all the afflictions with which the Almighty is pleased to visit us, under these views, we trace the arm, not of an angry God, but a tender Fa

ther; we get rid of that delusive notion, both with respect to ourselves and others, that every tribulation is always a judgment. If it be a judgment, which sometimes cannot be denied, it is also a trial, and a discipline. The Almighty best knows what is the surest means of bringing our souls to him, of correcting those habits, and abating those passions, which threaten to separate us for ever from our reward. It is on this ground that disease is suffered to ravage our frame, disappointment to subvert our exertion, losses and afflictions not only to try our faith, but to correct and amend our hearts, and to withdraw them from those worldly objects which ever encroach upon our affections.

SERMON XI.

PSALM CXXX. 4.

For there is mercy with thee, therefore shalt thou be

feared.

Of all the attributes with which the majesty of God is arrayed, there is not one, of which our limited capacities can form so adequate an idea, there is none to which the mind of man, can so uninterruptedly direct its view, as to that of his mercy. Eternity and immensity, amaze our thoughts and bewilder our imaginations. Omniscience, while it commands our admiration, defies our comprehension. Infinite justice, clothed with infinite power, can be surveyed alone with astonishment and terror. The lustre of the divine purity, is of too intense a brightness for the eyes of a sinful creature to survey; the farther every way his unassisted speculations pierce the veil which is drawn between heaven and earth, the more awful sense will he feel, of the incomprehensible distance of the finite creature