the ground! wherever there was virtue, he might expect to meet a friend and a brother. And this is not merely speculation but fact, confirmed by numberless examples in life, of men falling into misfortunes, whose character and tried probity have raised them helps, and borne them up, when every other help has forsook them.

Lastly, to sum up the account of the temporal advantages which probity has on its side, — let us not forget that greatest of all happiness, which the text refers to, in the expression of all its paths being peace, peace and content of mind, arising from the consciousness of virtue, which is the true and only foundation of all earthly satisfaction; and where that is wanting, whatever other enjoyments you bestow upon a wicked man, they will as soon add a cubit to his stature as to his happiness. - In the midst of the highest entertainments, this, like the handwriting upon the wall, will be enough to spoil and disrelish the feast; but much more so, when the tumult and hurry of delight is over, when all is still and silent, when the sinner has nothing to do but attend its lashes and remorses;

and this, in spite of all the common arts of

diversion, will be often the case of every wicked man; for we cannot live always upon the stretch; our faculties will not bear constant pleasure any more than constant pain;

there will be some vacancies; and when there are, they will be sure to be filled with uncomfortable thoughts and black reflections. So that, setting aside the great after-reckoning, the pleasures of the wicked are over-bought, even in this world.

I conclude with one observation upon the whole of this argument, which is this.

Notwithstanding the great force with which it has often been urged by good writers, there are many cases which it may not reach, wherein vicious men may seem to enjoy their portion of this life, and live as happy, and fall into as few troubles as other men ;- and therefore it is prudent not to lay more stress upon this argument than it will bear: - but always remember to call in to our aid, that great and more unanswerable argument, which will answer the most dreadful cases which can be stated, - and that is, the certainty of a future life, which Christianity has brought to light. However men may differ in their opinions of the usefulness of virtue for our present pur

poses, no one was ever so absurd, as to deny it served our best and our last interest, when the little interests of this life were at an end: upon which consideration we should always lay the great weight which it is fittest to bear, as the strongest appeal, and most unchangeable motive that can govern our actions at all times.

However, as every good argument on the side of religion should in proper times be made use of, it is fit sometimes to examine this, by proving virtue is not even destitute of a present reward, but carries in her hand a sufficient recompense for all the self-denials she may occasion:- she is pleasant in the way, as well as in the end; her ways being ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace. But it is her greatest and most distinguished glory,—that she befriends us hereafter, and brings us peace at the last; and this is a portion she can never be disinherited of, which may GOD of his mercy grant us all, for the sake of Jesus Christ.

SERMON XXIX

OUR CONVERSATION IN HEAVEN

For our Conversation is in Heaven.

PHILIPPIANS iii. 20, 1st Part.

HESE words are the conclusion of the

THE

account which St. Paul renders of himself, to justify that particular part of his conduct and proceeding, his leaving so strangely, and deserting his Jewish rites and ceremonies, to which he was known to have been formerly so much attached, and in defence of which he had been so warmly and so remarkably engaged. This, as it had been matter of provocation against him amongst his own countrymen the Jews, so was it no less an occasion of surprise to the Gentiles; - that a person of his great character, interest, and reputation, one who was descended from a tribe of Israel, deeply skilled in the professions, and zealous in the observances of the straitest sect of that religion; who had their tenets instilled into him from his tender years, under the insti