are little known in the prosperous hour. He drinks the cup of the Lord, therefore, as the Lord intends.

When it pleases heaven to bless him; when his designs succeed; and his hopes dilate in some view of happiness before him, "Now is "the time," (he suggests to himself,) "when "I must guard my heart with double care. "Now is the time, when insolence, and wan"tonness, and pride, the attendants of a prósἐσ perous hour, are most liable to corrupt me. "Let prosperity soften my heart, instead of 'hardening it. Let me be humble, and mild, "and condescending, and obliging to all. In the "midst of my own enjoyments, let my heart "expand. Let me feel the misery of others; “and turn my plenty, to the relief of their necessity."

Again, when it pleases heaven to mix some bitter ingredients in his cup, still he has the same sense of acting under the will of God. "Now,"

he cries, "is the time, when I am to exercise

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patience and resignation. Now my religion "is put to the test. Shall I receive good at "the hand of the Lord, and not receive evil? "-Gracious God! grant that I may improve

my heart under this trial of my faith; and

"make

"make my sufferings through Jesus Christ, "the means of purifying my affections. Let "me for his sake bear a trifling part of what he "bore for me; and let me keep that great pattern of suffering resignation always before my 66 eyes."

Thus the Godly man drinks of the Lord's cup, and his draught, whether sweet or bitter, is wholesome to him. This blessed resignation of his own will in all instances to the will of God, regulates his affections-corrects his thoughtsand draws him back to the sober recollection of his station here; by checking each idea as it arises, of depending on worldly happiness. And yet though his pious resignation lessens the world in his eye, it is so far from interfering with his worldly happiness, that it sheds the sunshine of cheerfulness continually in his breast.-But most of all, when the world sinks under him, he feels its blessed effects. While life is extinguishing, it is a cordial to pain; and gives tranquillity to

death.

LET us then, after the Godly man's example, take the Lord's cup with all its ingredients fullmixed, into our hands. Let us always remember whose cup it is, and who pours it out. It is the

Lord himself. Whatever therefore the draught is, let us consider it as mixed and tempered by the great Physician of our souls. It may be unpalatable—but it is our own fault, if it be not beneficial.

SERMON

SERMON XVIII.

2 CORINTHIANS, vii. I.

NAVING THEREFORE THESE PROMISES, DEARLY BELOVED, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES

FROM ALL FILTHINESS

OF FLESH AND HOLINESS IN THE

FEAR OF GOD.

IN the preceding chapter the apostle reminded his Corinthian converts of the many sufferings, and distresses of his christian warfare. He informs them of stripes, and imprisonments; of tumults, and labours; of watchings, and fastings; implying at the same time, that what he had undergone, they must likewise expect to undergo. And in these things indeed the early professors of the christian religion were continually exercised.-Theirs was a warfare indeed. They had difficulties to struggle with, of which we know nothing.- -But people were then in earnest about religion; and thought it the great P4

concern

concern of their lives. They were readier to suffer for its sake the worst calamities of human nature; than we are to deny ourselves the pleasures of sin.But let these reflections pass at present.

To support the Corinthian disciples under the difficulties, which the apostle enumerates, be goes on, by calling to their remembrance, the promises, of God. God hath promised, he tells them, always to assist his pious servants. It is his constant language in scripture, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. I will be a father unto them; and they shall be sons and daughters unto me, saith the Lord. The apostle having thus encouraged them under their approaching difficulties, draws his conclusion in the words of the text: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I shall examine these words by shewing you first what the promises are to which the apostle refers and secondly the effect, which they ought to have upon us.

With regard to the first of these heads, the apostle only tells us (for he speaks to us, as well as to his Corinthian converts)—that if we are

obedient