in our own power, and owing to ourselves: fo far from it, that they are the free gift of God, merited by our Lord Jefus Chrift, for all fuch as in the fincerity of their hearts do pray for them.

To this place we come one day in feven, to pray for these graces and bleffings. Thefe, and all other bleffings which we stand in need of, God will furely grant us, if we ask them with a fincere purpose of glorifying him in our lives and converfation; ever remembering, that a Chriftian profeffion without a Christian life, is like a tree that makes a great fhew, and flourisheth with leaves, but beareth no fruit, and therefore is fit only to be cut down and burnt.

May we all lay these things to heart, that when we come to the house of God, we may fo hear, fo pray, so praise his holy name, and purpose fo to live, às that we return home every Lord's day with his bleffing.

And this we beg for Jefus Chrift his fake; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON XXXII.

THE SUCCESS OF ALL OUR LABOURS DEPENDS UPON GOD's BLESSING.

LUKE V. 4, 5, 6.

NOW WHEN HE HAD LEFT SPEAKING, HE SAID UNTO SIMON, LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP, AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS FOR A DRAUGHT. AND SIMON ANSWERING, SAID UNTO HIM, MASTER, WE HAVE TOILED ALL THE NIGHT, AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING: NEVERTHELESS, AT THY WORD I WILL LET DOWN THE NET. AND WHEN THEY HAD THIS DONE, THEY INCLOSED A GREAT MULTITUDE OF FISHES, AND THEY FILLED BOTH THE SHIPS.

ERE is, good Chriftians, a very inftructive paffage of holy fcripture. Here are people toiling and taking pains, and in an honest way, and yet without any fuccefs. This will teach us, that the fuccefs of all our labour and pains depends upon the will and pleasure of God. We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.

Then here is, in Simon Peter, an instance of great refignation to the will of God; no fretting at their bad fuccefs, but waiting with patience for God's good time. Here is alfo

an example of a well-grounded faith in God's power to favour thofe that depend on him, even when they have the leaft hopes: At thy word I will let down the net. And this fhould teach us never to diftruft the power or the goodness of God, but to live in a conftant dependance upon him, even then when our honeft endeavours do not fucceed.

For obferve what follows; When they had let down the net, they inclofed a great multitude of fishes; fo many, as to fill both their fhips; which no doubt did convince them, and fhould convince us, that man liveth not by bread alone, not by his own labour and industry only, (though these are necessary) but by the word of God; that is, by the bleffing of God upon his labours.

Lastly; here is an inftance of great piety and gratitude for this great bleffing. St. Peter falls down at Jesus' feet, faying, Depart from me, for I am a finful man, O Lord! that is, I am verily unworthy of fo great a favour; I acknowledge thine infinite power, and infinite goodness; for nothing lefs than infinite power and goodness could work fuch a miracle.

But now, however plain and instructive these things are; and though in general every Christian owns, That without the bleffing of God no man can profper;—that except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; that it is but loft labour to rife up early

and

and take late reft, unless God be favourable unto their endeavours; that we are bound to depend upon God at all times; and to adore him, even when he withholds his bleffings; and that it is our bounden duty to be thankful when he bestows them upon us. Though this is owned by every Chriftian, yet there are but too many who do not confider what this obliges them to.

Christians do not, for instance, always confider, that if we depend upon God's blefsing, then should we never fail to ask his bleffing; then should we never undertake any business which we have reafon to believe he will not be pleased with; that we should never fret when we are disappointed in our expectations; and that we should never make an ill use of God's favours, whenever he fends them.

That these things are not well confidered, is too plain from the practice of the world; where it is feldom enquired,-Am I in the way of my duty? May I beg God's bleffing upon this work or undertaking? Shall I injure no man by it? Shall I break none of God's laws, nor do difhonour to my Chriftian profeffion, if I fucceed in it? A Chriftian, who dares not afk himfelf fuch questions as thefe, may depend upon it, that whether he fucceeds or not, he is in a bad way; he is doing that which he will one day repent of.

Now

Now it being certain, that every body wishes that his labours may be blessed with good fuccefs, and that most people are impatient when they are disappointed in their expectations; it being certain alfo, that very many, who do fucceed in their labours and wishes, are not always the better for it, and that it would have been a mercy to them if God had not anfwered them in their expectations; it will therefore be of use to us to enquire into these particulars:

ift. Why our expectations are not always anfwered, and our labours are not at all times bleffed with good fuccefs? And,

2dly. What are the most likely means to prevail with God to blefs all our honest endeavours?

Now, in the first place, though industry in our feveral callings be a duty, and a bleffing is promised to it in feveral places of holy fcripture, and, generally fpeaking, it is attended with good fuccefs; yet this is always to be understood with this condition, that God fees it meet, that it will be for his glory, and for our greater good. For God may, and very often does, deny fuccefs to our endeavours, for very many reasons.

To make us fenfible of our own weakness and inability to help ourselves without his bleffing; and to let us fee that neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth, (in comparison) but God, who giveth the increase.

God