which either appears, is publick: and the Choice, how Life fhall be fpent, is always important in the fame Degree, as the Perfons are who make it. Such therefore, of all others, should not take it hastily for granted, that an immoral Courfe is right. To begin with Virtue, at leaft till fair Inquiry rejects it, is evidently the fafe Part. No one ever bitterly condemned himself, that he had spent his younger Years foberly: many have, that they did not. Then, fome Degrees of Vice are owned to produce Mifery: and every Vice leads on to worse Degrees of itself, and Variety of others. Or, though a vicious Perfon could depend on fuffering no prefent Harm; yet he cannot fail of doing a great deal and a Man would not choose, that the chief Traces, which he leaves behind him, to mark out his Paffage through Life, fhould be fo many Injuries done his Fellow-creatures. At least no one would venture upon this, till he were fure there is no fuperior Inspector of his Conduct. Now there cannot be Certainty against Religion: and there are fuch Evidences for it, as must require more than a few flight Cavils, or bold Jests, to overturn them. A careful Examination then it justly demands. And if upon fuch Examination it prove true, as undoubtedly it will; remember it is a moft ferious Truth, in which the foremost of Mankind is equally concerned with the meaneft. Therefore in a Cafe of fuch Moment, let no falfe Shame, nor favourite Paffion prevail over you; but give your

7

Hearts

Hearts early to the Lord that made you*. Lay the Foundation of your Lives here, on the firm Ground of Christian Faith; and build upon it whatever is just and good, worthy and noble, till the Structure be complete in moral Beauty. The World, into which you are entering, lies in wait with Variety of Temptations. Unfavourable Sentiments of Religion will foon be suggested to you; and all the Snares of Luxury, falfe Honour, and Interest, spread in your Way; which with most of your Rank are too fuccefsful, and to many fatal. Happy the few, that in any Part of Life become fenfible of their Errors; and, with painful Refolution, tread back the wrong Steps, which they have taken! But happieft of Men is he, who, by an even Course of right Conduct, from the first, as far as human Frailty permits, hath at once avoided the Miseries of Sin, the Sorrows of Repentance, and the Difficulties of Virtue ; who not only can think of his present State with Composure, but reflect on his past Behaviour with thankful Approbation, and look forwards with unmixed Joy to that important future Hour, when he fhall appear before God, and humbly offer to him a whole Life spent in his Service!

Ecclus xxxix. 5:

SER

SERMON II.

Preached in the Parish Church of St. James, Westminster, January 30,

1733-4.

IS A. XXVI. 9..

When thy Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteoufness.

TH

HE gracious and wife Creator of this Univerfe continually upholds it by the Word of his Power*: and governs each Part of it suitably to its Nature. The Motions of the inanimate World proceed intirely from him. The Actions of intelligent Beings are indeed their own. But, as God forefees from Eternity what every Agent, in every poffible Situation, will do or intend; he must be able to influence, direct, and temper their Conduct, by many Ways that are conceivable, and doubtless by many more; fo as not only to affift and protect Perfons in doing what is lawful and right; but alfo to make even the worst of Wretches, in the worst of their Crimes, undefigning Inftruments of his righteous Purposes. And it being evidently as wor

Heb. i. 3. + Ezek. xviii. 27.

thy

thy of him, as it is easy for him, to act thus; the Reason of Mankind hath ever difpofed them to believe, what Revelation hath fully confirmed, that a never failing Providence ordereth all Things, both in Heaven and Earth *. Whatever befalls us therefore, profperous or adverse, being what our Maker judges and determines to be, on one Account or another, fit and proper; Events of both Sorts may justly be called his Judgments. But as, through the Wickedness of the World, he hath much oftener Occafion to decree Punishments, than Rewards: this Name generally denotes the feverer Exercises of his Power; the Sufferings, that he inflicts on Men; or, in other Words, that they bring upon themselves. For the ftrong Connexion, which we experience, of our Follies and Sins with Diftrefs and Misery, is one Thing, that proceeds from the just Judgment of God; from that Order and Course of Things, which he hath established.

Amidst the vast Variety of providential Difpenfations, fome are, to human Faculties, unfathomable Depths. We can only fee in them the awful Exertion of his Authority, who is Lord of all; and learn the important Leffon, of humbling ourselves before him, and submitting meekly to his Will.; in firm Expectation, that whatever may look diforderly and wrong at prefent, will prove in due Time to be wisest and best. Other Things there are,

* Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

capable

capable of affording further Inftruction: concerning which, however, it is eafy for partiality, or Inattention, to make dangerous Miftakes. For the fame Events being often permitted to befall very different Perfons, for as different Ends; whoever will judge according to the first Appearance, will be far from judging righteous Judgment *.

But ftill Multitudes of Occurrences remain, which convey convey fuch obvious and clear Informations and Warnings, that Providence must intend we should apply them to our own Benefit. For God doth not punish merely for the Sake of Punishment. Even his Severities are the Effects of Goodness: and always directed to the Advantage, either of thofe who feel them, or at least of others; that they may bear and fear, and do no more Wickedness +. Looking back on the Tranfactions of past Ages, without a moral Intention in doing it, is only gratifying an ufelefs Curiofity; or acquiring Knowledge, full as likely to be ill ufed, as well. But it is a moft ferious and profitable Employment, humbly to trace the Footsteps of infinite Wisdom, in the Government, as well as Creation, of the World; and think over the various Scenes, and wonderful Viciffitudes, of mortal Affairs; in order to learn a true Senfe of our Condition here, and right Notions of behaving in it. All Things, that have ever happened to Men,

John vii. 24. + Deut. xiii. I.