Poor unfortunate creature that he is! as if the causes of anguish in the heart were not enow -but he must fill up the measure with thofe of caprice; and not only walk in a vain shadow,but difquiet himfelt in vain too. We are a restlefs fet of beings; and as we are likely to continue fo to the end of the world,the best we can do in it, is to make the fame use of this part of our character, which wife men do of other bad propenfities when they find they cannot conquer them,-they endeavour, at leaft to divert them into good channels. If therefore we must be a folicitous race of felf tormentors, let us drop the common objects which make us fo,and for God's fake be folicitous only to live well. SERM. XXIX. P. 145. ROOTED OPINION NOT EASILY ERADICATED. HOW TOW 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 ! . SERM, XXIII. P. 163. DEATH. THE D EAT H. 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 counte nances, 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 feparation from it for ever. SERM. XVII. P. 37. SWE 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. SIMPLICITY. SIMPLICITY. IMPLICITY is the great friend to Nature, SIMPL filly world, it would be of this honeft alliance, SERMON XXIV. P. 187. T 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 beft, and when the paffion feems to feek fomething more than its own amusement, there is little-very little, I fear, to be faid for its humanity, it may be a sport to the Mifer, but confider,-it niuft be death and deftruction to others.The moment this fordid humour begins to govern-farewell all honest and natural affection! farewell, ali he owes to parents, R parents, to children, to friends !-how faft the obligations vanith! fee-he is now stripped of all feelings whatever: the fhrill cry of jufticeand the low lamentation of humble diftrefs, are notes equally beyond his compafs.Eternal God! fee!-he paffes by one whom thou haft joft bruifed, without one penfive reflection :he enters the cabin of the widow whose husband and child thou haft taken to thyself,-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 fhall not harden my heart, but leave me room at last to retreat and come back to thee ! SER. XIX. P. 81. HUMILITY. E that is little in his own eye, is little too in his defires, and confequently moderate in his pursuit 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 happiness and peace of mind with it, even the contentions of the humble man are mild and placid-Bleffed character! when fuch a one is thrust back who does not pity him? when he falls, who would not stretch out a hand to raise him up ? SER. XXV. P. 193. PATIENCE AND CONTENTMENT., ATIENCE and Contentment,-which like PAT the treasure hid in the field for which a man fold all he had to purchase-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 fhould be miferable even in the worst. SERMON XV. P. 16. HUMILITY CONTRASTED WITH PRIDE. WE HEN we reflect upon the character of Humility, we are apt to think it ftands the muft naked and defencelefs of all virtues whatever, the leaft 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. t 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 stands alone, hated, discountenanced, without one true friend or hearty well-wisher on his fide-when R 2 this |