SERMON XVIII.

On the Government of Human Affairs by

Providence.

PROVERBS, XVI. 9. A man's heart deviseth

his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.

SERMON XIX.

On Prayer.

Page 378

PSALM 1XV. 2. O Thou that hearest prayer,

unto Thee shall all flesh come!

SERMON XX.

On the Last Judgment.

-

398

2 CORINTH. V. 10. For we must all appear

before the judgment-seat of Christ, that

every one may receive the things done in

his body, according to that he hath done,

whether it be good or bad.

427

SER-

SERMON I.

On HOPES and DISAPPOINTMENTS.

PROVERBS, X. 28.

The hope of the Righteous shall be gladness; but the expectation of the Wicked shall perish.

ATTACHMENT to futurity has a re- SERMON

markable influence on the operations

of the human mind. The present, whatever it be, seldom engages our attention so much as what is to come. Remembrance of the past may sometimes occupy our thoughts; but what for the most part fills them, is the anticipation of the future. The present is apt to be considered as an evanescent scene, just about to pass away; and

VOL. V.

B

I.

SERMON and in the midst of wishes and desires, of

I.

hopes and fears, which all respect futurity,
we may be said to dwell. As on these
the life of man is so much suspended,
it becomes a very material part both of
wisdom and of duty to attend to any
regulations by which they may
be pro-
perly conducted. For if expectations and
hopes on one hand, and fears and alarms
on the other, are suffered to arise with
groundless precipitancy, and to acquire
an undue ascendant, it is evident that they
will produce much delusion in conduct,
and often will engender much vice and
guilt. As there is a hope of the Righteous
which shall be gladness, so there is an expec-
tation of the Wicked which shall perish.
The anticipations of the former, conducted
by prudence, and regulated by piety, mis-
lead him not from his duty, and afford
him satisfaction in the end. While the
expectations of the latter, arising from
fantastic imaginary prospects, delude him
for a while with vanity, and terminate in
misery. It will therefore be an useful sub-
ject of meditation, to consider, in a few
instances, of what we may, and of what we

may

I.

may not, reasonably expect from the world, SERMON when we look forward to what is most likely to happen, in the ordinary course of human affairs.

I. WE are not to expect the uninterrupted continuance of any measure of health, prosperity, or comfort, which we now enjoy. There is the greater reason for beginning with this admonition, as there is a strong propensity in human nature to imagine that what we at present possess, is always to remain. When no warnings of any approaching change appear, we are all inclined to look forward to futurity with a smile; and to indulge the hope that to-morrow shall be as this day, and even more abundantly. Hence, in the lives of thoughtless men, there breaks forth so much folly and presumption, so much pride and levity, and often so much impiety and contempt of religion. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or what profit shall we have, if we pray unto him? Our mountain stands strong; and shall never be moved.

On the lot of some men Providence is pleased to bestow a longer continuance of prosperity

B 2

SERMON prosperity than on that of others.

I.

!

But

as the term of that continuance is hidden from us, all flattering and confident expectations are without foundation. At one period or another, it is certain that the calm is to be troubled, and the dark cloud is to arise; and how soon that period is to come, you cannot tell. In your health, or your fortune, or among your connexions and friends, be assured that some trial awaits you. For human life never stands still for any long time. It is by no means a fixed and steady objects like the mountain or the rock which you always find in the same situation; it is a river continually moving and flowing. Neither is it the still and smooth stream which glides along with the same constant tenour; but a river which for a time may hold a regular course within its banks, till, being interrupted by rocks, it foams into a torrent, or, swoln by foreign currents, it lays waste the neighbouring plains. Amidst such vicissitudes of time and life, who has any title to reckon upon the future ?-To faults, all are subject; to troubles, all are exposed. As that man is the most virtuous who can be

charged