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VII.

ranks, and try if you can discover one who SERMON will tell you that he has no complaint or uneasiness whatever, before you allow yourself to repine at your present situation. Do you presume to indulge discontent, merely because you are included in the common lot; because you are not exempted from bearing your share of the common burden? What is human life to all, but a mixture of some scattered joys and pleasures, with various cares and troubles?

You have, perhaps, set your heart on some one thing, which if you could attain it, you insist, would put an end to all your complaints, and give you full contentment.

Vain man! will no experience teach you wisdom? Have not you had the same opinion before this of some other object of your desire; and did you not find that you was deceived in the enjoyment? Will you not then at last be persuaded that all which cometh, like all that is past, is vanity?

Vanity, believe it, is the indelible character imprinted on all human things. As far as happiness is to be found on earth, you must look for it, not in the world or the things of the world, but within yourselves, in

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VII.

SERMON your temper and your heart. Let the world change into one form or another as it will, it will be a vain world to the end; and you, to the end will be discontented. It cannot give you what you seek. The sea saith, it is not in me; and the earth saith, it is not in me. Silver and gold are to no pur pose weighed for the price of it. The decree of the Almighty hath past, and cannot be reversed, that man should find his true contentment, under every condition, only in a good conscience and a well-regulated mind, in a holy life, and the hope of heaven.

·

You call yourself a Christian. Does not that name import that you consider yourself as a pilgrim and a passenger on earth; related in your expectations and hopes to a better world? Are you not ashamed to betray, by your discontent, a spirit so inconsistent with such hopes and expectations, and at the time when you profess to be looking towards the end of your journey, to shew so much uneasiness about all the little circumstances of accommodation by the way? Live by faith, my brethren, and you will live above this world and its discouragements. Dwell with God, and

VII.

with things divine and immortal, and you SERMON shall dwell with true wisdom. You will find nothing so great in worldly events, as either to elate or deject you. Resting upon a principle superiour to the world, you will possess your spirits in peace, and will learn that great lesson of heavenly philosophy, in whatever state you are, therewith to be

content.

SERMON VIII.

On drawing near to God.

[Preached at the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.]

SERMON

VIII.

PSALM 1xxiii. 28.

It is good for me to draw near to God.

IN

N this psalm the pious author describes himself as suffering a great conflict within his mind. His observation of the course of Providence, did not present to him such an order of things as was to have been expected from the justice and goodness of Heaven. The wicked appeared flourishing and triumphant, while the worthy were destitute and oppressed, and much disorder and darkness seemed to prevail in the course of human affairs. Hence his mind fluctuated

for

1

for a while amidst doubts and fears.

His SERMON

trust in the divine administration was even
so far shaken as to create a suspicion that in
vain he had cleansed his heart, and washed
his hands in innocency: till at last he went
into the sanctuary of God, and was there
taught to view the state of human things
in a juster and truer light. He then saw
the vanity of that earthly prosperity which
bad men appear to enjoy; and the happy
issue of all things at the last to the pious
and good.
He saw the divine presence
ever surrounding them, and though with
invisible guidance, yet with unerring hand,
bringing them in the end to glory. His
mind returned to tranquillity; and, struck
with compunction for his past errours, he
rose into those high and memorable ex-
pressions of devotion, which we find in the
verses preceding the Text. Thou shalt guide
me with thy counsel, and afterward receive
me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but
thee? and there is none on earth that I
desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart
faileth; but God is the strength of my heart,
and my portion for ever. His fixed prin-
ciple and resolution, upon the whole, he
VOL. V.
declares

M

VIII.

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