ward recompence which is always infeparable from virtue and take a wiew of the outward advantages, which are as infeparable from it, and which the Apostle particularly refers to, when 'tis faid, Godliness has the promife of this life, as well as that which is to come-and in this argument it is, that religion appears in all its glory and ftrength-unanswerable in all its obligations--that befides the principal work which it does for us in fecuring our future well-being in the other world, it is likewise the moft effectual means to promote our prefentand that not only morally, upon account of that reward which virtuous actions do entitle a man unto from a juft and a wife provi

dence, but by a natural tendency in themselves, which the duties of religion have to procure us riches, health, reputation, credit, and all those things, wherein our temporal happiness is thought to confift,-and this not only in promoting the well-being of particular persons, but of public communities and of mankind in general, agreeable to what the wife man has left us on record, that righteousness exalteth a nation :-infomuch, that could we, in confidering this argument, fuppofe ourselves to be in a capacity of expoftulating with God, concerning the terms upon which we would fubmit to his government, and to chufe the laws ourselves which we would be bound VOL. IV. M

to obferve, it would be impoffible for the wit of man to frame any other propofals, which upon all accounts would be more advantageous to our own interests than thofe very conditions to which we are obliged by the rules of religion and virtue.-And in this does the reasonableness of chriftianity, and the beauty and wisdom of providence, appear moft eminently towards mankind, in governing us by fuch laws as do moft apparently tend to make us happy,and in a word, in making that (in his mercy) to be our duty, which in his wisdom he knows to be our intereft,-that is to fay, what is moft conducive to the eafe and comfort of our mind,-the health and strength of our body,the honour and profperity of our state and condition, the friendship and

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good-will of our fellow-creatures ;to the attainment of all which, no more effectual means can poffibly be made use of, than that plain direction, -to lead an uncorrupted life, and to do the thing which is right, to use no deceit in our tongue, nor do evil to our neighbour.

For the better imprinting of which

truth in your memories, give me leave to offer a few things to your confideration.

The first is, that juftice and honefty contribute very much towards all the faculties of the mind: I mean, that it clears up the understanding. from that mist, which dark and crooked designs are apt to raise in it,-and that it keeps up a regularity in the af

fections, by fuffering no lufts or byends to disorder them.-That it likewife preferves the mind from all damps of grief and melancholy, which are the fure confequences of unjust actions; and that by fuch an improvement of the faculties, it makes a man fo much the abler to difcern, and fo much the more chearful, active and diligent to mind his business.— Light is fown for the righteous, fays the prophet, and gladnefs for the upright in heart.

Secondly, let it be observed,-that in the continuance and course of a virtuous man's affairs, there is little probability of his falling into confiderable disappointments or calamities;-not only because guarded by