fering the happiness of his life to be thus disturbed by such a trifling incident, as the want of a bow from Mordecai the Jew. But yet the case is not so uncommon as to surprise us. There is something in human nature that teacheth us all to believe, we are of more consequence than we really are. Hence arise a number of those little quarrels and disgusts, and offence taken at trifles, which we often see among people even in the lowest stations. Few of us have that modest opinion of ourselves which we ought to have. There is nothing indeed so trifling, my good neighbours, which pride cannot turn into as ridiculous an offence, as the want of a bow from Mordecai the Jew.

Now, poorness of spirit which is recommended in the text, is the proper cure of all these evils. It renders us mild and gentle, and humble and contented. It is the very garb of a Christianthat wedding-garment, which every one of us must put on who attends his Lord.

Let us then close with the text-close with it in the fulness of our hearts-Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

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It is theirs in every sense of the words. Theirs is peace and quietness on earth-theirs is that holy disposition, which is the foundation of every Christian virtue theirs is all the happiness of this world and all those joys which are promised in the next.

SERMON

SERMON X.

MATT. V. 13.

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

WHAT our Saviour means by salt, is very plain. As salt is a preservative against corrup tion, whatever corrects the wickedness of the world, may be called the salt of the earth. This is easy; but there is rather a difficulty in ascertaining to whom the expression is applied. Some think Jesus spoke only to his immediate disciples; and in them, to the ministers of the Gospel. Others suppose, he addressed Christians in general. As all Christians, I conceive, may be of use to each other in correcting their several faults, I shall take the words in their more enlarged sense: and dividing mankind into higher and lower ranks, I shall, first, show you how the former;

and, secondly, how the latter are capable of being the salt of the earth.

We consider, first, the higher ranks. If any of these are such unthinking and ungrateful people, as to suppose God hath placed them in a higher station merely on their own account — or given them a right to spend on themselves alone what they enjoy, we argue no longer with them. They must settle all these accounts with God at the last great day. But if they have such humility and gratitude to their Almighty Benefactor, as to believe their superior stations are given them merely to be of use to others, we can then speak to them with confidence.

We are not however now inquiring so much into their general disposition to do good, as into the peculiar capacity, which their station gives them, of correcting the morals of those under their influence. This they may effect in three principal ways-by encouraging religion-by reproving wickedness- and by setting a good example.

When the man of wealth and power sees an orderly religious family in his neighbourhood, he takes it in a particular manner under his patronage. He does good offices, as he sees opportunity, sometimes to one part of the family, and some

times to another; and though he does not confine his good offices to such people, yet he encourages religion by showing his neighbours that he always makes a distinction, in his favours, between good and bad.

Again, in reproving wickedness, his discountenance alone will go a great way. He can oblige, and disoblige so many, that numbers look up to him, and are afraid of offending him. It is a melancholy reflection, (but a true one,) that man is often more respected than God. Of this, however, the rich man endeavours to avail himself, by discountenancing wickedness. Among such people as are more nearly connected with him, his reproof has still more the force of authority. "If 'you do not leave off swearing, or drinking, you "and I must part," is a reproof, it is to be feared, that will have a better effect than a text of Scripture.

But the rich man's example qualifies him still more than any thing else, for being the salt of the earth. An orderly family, in a great house, tends much to diffuse a sense of order around the neighbourhood. When the heads of a parish make a practice of going to church, for instance, the lower people commonly lay aside many excuses, which might otherwise be made for neglecting

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