SERMON and benevolence conciliate love and create

I.

warm friendship. The best character may indeed for a time be accidentally obscured and misunderstood. But the world commonly judges soundly in the end. After a man has acted his part for a while among his fellows, he is known upon trial to be what he is; and if his worth be real and genuine, his righteousness comes forth as the light, and his judgment as the noon-day.

This is what a good man has always ground to look for, even in evil times; and surely, there are few things which he can more desire, than the prospect of being valued and esteemed by those among whom he lives. This counterbalances many a disadvantage of outward fortune, and puts into his hand many opportunities of satisfaction and comfort. He is likely to possess many friends and well-wishers, and to have few enemies. The more he is known, the more will the favour of those who surround him grow; and the prospect is before him of having his hoary head crowned with honour.

THUS,

I.

THUS, in several instances, I have briefly SERMON pointed out what may, or may not, be expected from the world, when we look forward to the ordinary course of human affairs: Not an uninterrupted enjoyment of all the comforts of prosperity; not undisturbed satisfaction in our various intercourses with society; not grateful returns from all whom we have obliged or served: But what we may expect, if we keep a good conscience and study to do our duty, is peace of mind; a tolerably easy and comfortable state, amidst the vicissitudes of life; and the love and esteem of those with whom we are connected. The hope of the righteous shall be

gladness.

THE present subject has led me to consider only what the righteous man has to hope for in the ordinary course of the world. But I have now to observe, that he has before him a much higher object of hope than any which I have yet mentioned ; a hope which arises not from the ordinary course of human affairs, but from an extraordinary interposition of

I.

SERMON divine grace and mercy conveyed to us by the Gospel; even the hope which is laid up for him in heaven; the assured expectation of a better life, in a higher and better world. Put the case of the servant of God being overwhelmed with all the disappointments which the world can bring upon him, here is an expectation which will be always gladness; with which he can perpetually solace himself. Through the present state of existence he is no more than a passenger. If he can render it in any degree tolerable and easy to himself, it is well; it is all that he expects. His home, his place of rest, is in those habitations to which, through the merits of his Redeemer, he is taught and encouraged to aspire. He knows that in due season he shall * reap, if he faint not. That when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, he shall have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens †; for to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality, God will render eternal life. ‡

* Gal. vi. 9.

+ 2 Cor. v. .

+ Rom. ii. 7,

Hence,

I.

Hence, whether you consider him in this SERMON life, or consider him as looking forward to another, his hope is perpetual gladness, while the expectations of the wicked shall perish.

SERMON II.

On the proper DISPOSITION of the HEART towards GOD.

ACTs, vii. 28.

In Him we live, and move, and have our

Being.

'HERE is nothing which all nature

THE

more loudly proclaims, than that some Supreme Being has framed and rules this universe. Day uttereth speech of it to-day, and night sheweth knowledge of it to-night. Our birth and our life, our sensations and our actions, the objects which we behold, and the pleasures which we enjoy, all conspire to testify that some wonderful intelligence has disposed and arranged, and still supports and animates, the whole frame of nature. This is what scarcely any man of sober

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