our Notice, could only proceed from a most beneficent Being. The better to affect our Hearts, let us confider what a Condition we should be in, if we wanted any of the common Benefits which Providence hath provided for our Ufe and Entertainment; if we were deprived of the comforting Beams of the Sun, or had not the Moon to chear us in the Night-feafons if the Earth were not fo plentifully fucoifhed with Rivers and Fountains to supply us with Waters, or there were no Metals and Minerals in its Bowels, or Plants and Treds to adorn its Surface; or if Men's weberleft alones upon the Earth without any of the inferior Brute Animals to minifter to their Neceffities or Convenience oiftswewwete obliged to the Drudgery of eating hand drinking merely to fupport Life, without rever relishing any Pleature in the Gratification of our natural Appetites; or gifs de statedly wanted anyone of the Senfes which we are now furnished with. When this happens to be our Cafe for a Time, and Things are fo circumftanced, that we are fhut out from the Ufe and Enjoyment of any of the common Gifts and Bleffings of Providence, we then are made fenfible of the Advantage of them. But for the most part, through a ftrange Inattention or Infenfibility of Mind, because they are fo

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common, we pass them over with a flight. Regard: Whereas, the Commonnefs of them is what above all fhews the Extenfivenefs and the Riches of the divine Liberality. Let us guard against a Temper fo unbecoming reasonable and thinking Beings, and do all we can to cherish in our Souls the warm and lively Emotions of Love and Gratitude towards our heavenly Father, and conftant gracious Benefactor, and not fuffer every little Disappointment we meet with toomar the Relifh of the innumerable Benefits: we receive. We ought often to confider the Goodness of God, not only as extending to all Mankind in general, but as exercifed towards ourfelves in particular. How manifold are the Experiences we have had of his kind Providence watching over Jusrand taking Care of us in every Stage and Condition of Life, delivering us from Dangers, fupporting us under our Diftreffes, and providing for us out of the Stores of his Bounty! All the Bleffings of every Kind that we have ever received, or which we now enjoy, fpiritual and temporal, whether relating to our Bodies or to our Souls, syea, and the Acts of Kindness done us, and the Benefits we receive, by the Hands of our earthly Benefactors, are to be ultimately afcribed to the Goodness of a fovereign fuperintending Providence.

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It should therefore be our Language, as it was that of the devout Pfalmift, How precious are thy Thoughts unto me, O God! bow great is the Sum of them! If I fhould count them, they are more in Number than the Sand: when I wake, I am fill with thee. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits. And it should mightily enhance the Goodness of God towards us, to reflect that in many Things we all offend, and yet are daily receiving the Effects of his Goodnefs and Benignity. It is astonishing to think what heinous Sins are committed, what Indignie ties are offered to the divine Majesty, whofe Goodness ftill continueth to ftrive with the Perverfenefs of Men in this present States of Trial and Discipline, and poureth forth a great Variety of Benefits upon the dege nerate human Race. But above all it fhould fill us with the highest Admiration of God's infinite Goodnefs to confider the wonderful Methods of his Wifdom and Grace for the Salvation of loft Sinners, in fending his own Son to redeem us, and his Holy Spirit to affift, guide, and comfort us in this Pilgrimage State, and in promifing to crown our fincere, though imperfect Obedience, with a glorious Refurrection and eternal Life. This openeth to

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us a most marvellous and delightful Scene; in which God's infinite Love to Mankind fhines with the brighteft Glory. And now what should be the Effect of all this Goodness upon our Hearts? The propereft Return we can make, is to love him with a fuperlative Affection, and to manifest the Sincerity of our Love by the best Expreffion's of it that are in our Power, viz. not only by praising and bleffing his great and moft excellent Name, but by keeping his Commandments, and making it our continual Endeavour to please and serve him, and to glorify him in the World, and efpecially by imitating his fupreme Goodness and Benevolence, in doing Good to all as far as we have Ability and Opportunity, and even rendering Good for Evil. By fuch a Conformity to him in his infinite Goodness, we fhall be fitted for the Enjoyment of him, and for being happy in his Love to all Eternity.

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Laftly. I would conclude with warning you to beware of abufing the divine Goodnefs. There is nothing which aggravateth the Evil of Sin fo much, as that it is committed against the Love and Goodness of the best of Beings, our most gracious and bountiful Benefactor. To take Encou ragement from the Mercies of God, to pers

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fift in a prefumptuous Oppofition to his Authority and Laws, has fomething in it fo ftrangely bafe and difingenuous, that it exceedeth, the Power of Language to defcribe the Malignity of it. If any Man fhould in exprefs Words, because declare God is infinitely good, and is daily loading us with his Benefits, therefore I will offend and difhonour him, I will dif obey his Laws, and caft Contempt upon his Government: I fay, if we fhould hear any Man openly declare this in fo many Words, it would appear fo monftrous, that it would be apt to fill our Souls with Ho ror. And yet thus it is that Sinners act whatever they may profefs in Words, this is the real Language of their Practice, They prefume upon his Mercy and Indulgence, and flatter themfelves that he is fo good that he will not be fevere to punish their Tranfgreffions; and therefore they al low themselves to violate his holy Com mands, and fly in the Face of his Au thority and Government; and instead of being led by the Bleflings he vouchsafes them to love and obey him, employ them in making Provifion for the Flesh to fulfil the Lufts thereof. Thus they defpife the Riches of his Goodnefs and Far bearance, and Long-suffering, not knowings