always wasting, and soon

away.

dies totally SERMON

LET him, therefore, who retains any sense. of human dignity; who feels within him that desire of honour which is congenial to man, aspire to the gratification of this passion by methods which are worthy of his nature. Let him not rest on any of those external distinctions which vanity has contrived to introduce. These can procure him no more than the semblance of respect. Let him not be flattered by the applause which some occasional display of abilities may have gained him. That applause may be mingled with contempt. Let him look to what will dignify his character as a man. Let him cultivate those moral qualities which all men in their hearts respect. Wisdom shall then give to his head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to him. This is an honour to which all may aspire. It is a prize, for which every one, whether of high or low rank, may contend. It is always in his power so to distinguish himself by worthy and virtuous conduct, as to command the respect of those

VOL. III.

C

around

I.

SERMON around him; and, what is highest of all, to I. obtain praise and honour from God.

LET no one imagine that in the religious part of this character there is any thing which casts over it a gloomy shade, or derogates from that esteem which men are generally disposed to yield to exemplary virtues. False ideas may be entertained of religion; as false and imperfect conceptions of virtue have often prevailed in the world. But to true religion there belongs no sullen gloom; no melancholy austerity, tending to withdraw men from human society, or to diminish the exertions of active virtue. On the contrary, the religious principle, rightly understood, not only unites with all such virtues, but supports, fortifies, and confirms them. It is so far from obscuring the lustre of a character, that it heightens and ennobles it. It adds to all the moral virtues a venerable and authoritative dignity. It renders the virtuous character more august. To the decorations of a palace it joins the majesty of a temple.

He who divides religion from virtue, understands neither the one nor the other.

It

I.

It is the union of the two, which consum- SERMON mates the human character and state.

It

is their union which has distinguished those great and illustrious men, who have shone with so much honour in former ages; and whose memory lives in the remembrance of succeeding generations. It is their union which forms that wisdom which is from above; that wisdom to which the text ascribes such high effects; and to which belongs the sublime encomium given of it by an author of one of the apocryphal books of Scripture: with whose beautiful and emphatical expressions I conclude this discourse: The memorial of virtue is immortal. It is known with God, and with men. When it is present, men take example at it and when it is gone, they desire it: It weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever; having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards. Wisdom is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty. Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her. She is the brighness of the everlasting light; the unspotted mirror of the power of God; and the image of his goodness. Remaining in herself, she

C 2

;

maketh

and in all ages en

SERMON maketh all things new; and in all
I tering into holy souls, she maketh them friends

of God and Prophets: For God loveth none
but him that dwelleth with Wisdom. She is
more beautiful than the sun; and above all the
order of the stars. Being compared with
light, she is found before it *.

*Wisdom of Solomon, iv. 2, 3.-vii. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

SERMON II.

On SENSIBILITY.

ROMANS, xii. 15.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

il.

THE amiable spirit of our holy reli- SERMON gion appears in nothing more than

in the care it hath taken to enforce on men the social duties of life. This is one of the clearest characteristics of its being a religion whose origin is divine: For every doctrine which proceeds from the Father of mercies will undoubtedly breathe benevolence and humanity. This is the scope of the two exhortations in the text, to rejoice with them that rejoice, and to weep with them that weep; the one calculated to promote the happiness, the other to alleviate the