our happiness, which takes in the whole compafs of our interefts both natural and fpiritual, which hath respect both to body and foul, and which extends its influence through time into eternity. And fuch is the nature of religion. O that men did but believe it! O that by the grace of God they were perfuaded to make trial of it! Here then we might take a view of the many advantages, which attend the experience and practice of religion in the prefent life, and in that which is to come; and fhew how admirably it is adapted to promote the real interefts of perfons of every age, in every relation, and in every condition.

I might difcourfe of its utility to the young; to check the violence of their par fions, to restrain their inordinate defires, to regulate their aims and pursuits, to fortify them against the fnares of life, to animate them to the duties of it, to infufe a fweetnefs into the enjoyments of it, and to add a real beauty to their character and deportment in the view of all. - I might represent the importance of it to perfons of riper years; to qualify them for the various fervices to which providence calls them, to direct them in emergencies of the most cri

tical and trying nature, to hold them steady to their best interests in seasons of imminent temptation and danger, and to render them both refpectable and useful in their day and generation. And hence I might go on to a defcription of the many bleffings it pours upon the hoary head; what chearfulness it fpreads over the countenance, when the vigor and sprightliness of youth abates; what firm support it yields the heart, when the animal fpirits are almost diffolved and broken by the infirmities of nature; and what weight it adds to the inftructions and counfels then given, when the capacity and judgment of former years are in other respects greatly on the decline.

I might farther enlarge on the importance of it to perfons in every relation of life; to magiftrates and to subjects, to mafters and to fervants, to parents and to children, to brethren, to friends, and to neighbours: how needful to teach men their duty, to animate them to it, and to affift them in it.

From hence I might go on to represent the advantages resulting from it to persons in every condition: in profperity, when the world fmiles upon them, and they have an affluence of all outward good; to fecure

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their hearts from an immoderate fondness for prefent enjoyments, to inspire their breasts with thankfulness, and to difpose them to usefulness and in adverfity, when providence frowns on them, and they are encompaffed on every fide with perplexity forrow and trouble, to reconcile them to the will of God, to alleviate their affliction, and to render it fubfervient to their real advantage.

In like manner I might proceed to shew you how needful true religion is in a time of fickness and death, when all the fcenes of life are paffing away from before our eyes, when the king of terrors is nearly approaching, and when eternity with all its awful realities is immediately in our view; how needful it is then to banish fear from our hearts, to reconcile us to that most certain event, and to diffufe ferenity and joy through our minds, when nature itself is diffolving and dying away.

In a word, to finish the scene, I might represent to you the never-fading honors, and immortal pleasures of the heavenly world; the large and fair inheritance there provided for the fons of God, the crowns of glory which shall be placed on their heads, the palms of victory which shall be put into their hands, the robes of joy and gladness

they fhall wear, and the reft the happinefs and renown they shall poffefs to all eternity. But however inftructive and animating these fubjects are, I forbear at present to enlarge any farther upon them.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE IV.

PART II.

M

Y defign is now to evince the impor

tance of real religion, from a contemplation of the mifery and danger to which the want of it neceffarily expofes us. And if it can be made appear, that without it we lie open to the greatest evils in lifeto the utmoft anguish in death—and to the wrath of God in the world to come; it will, it must be acknowledged, that it is the one thing needful. Here then we will,

FIRST, Take a furvey of the unhappy condition of a man void of religion in the prefent life. To this end let us view him. on the one hand triumphing in profperity, and on the other laden with adverfity: events these which are alike common both VOL. I. L

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