ROOTED OPINION NOT EASILY

ERADICATED.

"OW difficult you will find it to convince a miferly heart, that any thing is good which is not profitable! or a libertine one, that, any thing is bad, which is pleasant!

SERMON XXIII. P. 163.

THERE

DEATH.

HERE, are many inftances of men, who have received the news of death with the greatest ease of mind, and even entertained the thoughts of it with, fmiles upon their countenances; and this, either from ftrength of fpirits and the natural cheerfulness of their temper, or that they knew the world, and cared not for it-or expected a better yet thousands of good men, with all the helps of philosophy, and against all the affurances of a well-fpent life, that the change must be to their account,-upon the approach of death have ftill lean'd towards this world, and wanted fpirits and refolution to bear the fhock of a fe paration from it for ever.

"

SERMON XVIII. P. 37.

S

SORROW.

WEET is the look of forrow for an offence, in a heart determined never to commit it more!

upon that altar only could I offer up my wrongs.

SERM. XVIII. P. 64.

SIMPL

SIMPLICITY.

IMPLICITY is the great friend to nature; and if I would be proud of any thing in this filly world, it fhould be of this honeft alliance.

SERMON XXIV. Þ. 187.

་་་

COVETOUSNESS."

O know truly what it is, we must know what mafters it ferves;they are many, and of various cafts and humours, and each one lends it fomething of its own complexional tint and character..

This, I fuppofe, may be the cause that there is a greater and more whimsical mystery in the love of money, than in the darkest and most nonfenfical problem that ever was pored on.

Even at the best, and when the paffion feems to feek fomething more than its own amufement,there is little very little, I fear, to be faid for its humanity. -It may be a sport to the mifer,-but confider,—it must be death and destruction to others.-The moment this fordid humour begins to govern-farewel all honest and natural affection! farewel, all he owes to parents, to children, to friends!-how fast the obligations vanifh! fee-he is now ftripped of all feelings whatever: the fhrill cry of juftice-and the low lamentation of humble diftrefs, are notes equally beyond his compafs.-Eternal God! fee!-he paffes by one whom thou hást just bruised, without one pen\ five reflection:he enters the cabin of the widow whose husband and child thou hast taken to thy felf, -exacts his bond, without a figh!-Heaven! if I am to be tempted-let it be by glory,-by ambition,-by fome generous and manly vice: if I muft fall, let it be by fome paffion which thou haft planted in my nature, which shall not harden my heart, but leave me room at last to retreat and come back to thee!

SERMON XIX. P. 81.

K

HE

HUMILITY.

E that is little in his own eyes, is little too in his defires, and confequently moderate in his purfuit of them: like another man, he may fail in his attempts, and lofe the point he aimed at;-but that is all, he lofes not himself,-he lofes not his happinefs and peace of mind with it :-even the contentions of the humble man are mild and placid.—Blessed ' characters! when such a one is thrust back, who does not pity him? when he falls, who would not stretch out a hand to raise him up?

SERM. XXV. P. 193.

PATIENCE AND CONTENTMENT.

IPATIET

ATIENCE and Contentment,-which, like the treasure hid in the field, for which a man fold all he had to purchafe-is of that price that it cannot be had at too great a purchase, fince without it the best condition in life cannot make us happy,—and with it, it is impoffible we should be miferable even in the worst.

SERMON XV. p. 16.

HUMILITY CONTRASTED WITH PRIDE.

HEN we reflect upon the character of Humility, we are apt to think it stands the

WHEN

moft naked and defenceless of all virtues whatever,the least able to fupport its claims against the infolent antagonist who seems ready to bear him down, and all oppofition which fuch a temper can make:

Now, if we confider him as ftanding alone,-no doubt, in fuch a cafe, he will be overpowered and trampled upon by his oppofer;-but if we confider the meek and lowly man, as he is-fenced and guarded by the love, the friendship, and wishes of all mankind, that the other ftands alone, hated, difcountenanced, without one true friend or hearty wellwisher on his fide: when this is balanced, we shall have reafon to change our opinion, and be convinced that the humble man, ftrengthened with fuch an alliance, is far from being fo over-matched as at first fight he may appear:-nay, I believe one might venture to go further, and engage for it, that in all fuch cafes where real fortitude and true perfonal courage were wanted, he is much more likely to give proof of it, and I would fooner look for it in such a temper than in that of his adverfary. Pride may make a man violent, but Humility will make him firm:-and which of the two, do you think, likely to come off with honour?-he who acts from the changeable im