VIII.

and difcover in the character of those SER M. among whom you live. By lifting your view to fo high a standard, you will be preserved from defcending to those futile and corrupting employments of thought, which Occupy the idle, the vain, and the malignant. It is incredible, how much time and attention are thrown away by men, in examining the affairs of others, and difcuffing their conduct. Were their time and attention thrown away only, the evil would, in fome degree, be lefs. But they are worse than thrown away; they are not merely fruitless, but productive of much mischief. Such a habit of thought is connected with a thoufand vices. It is the conftant fource of rash and severe cenfure. It arises from envy and jealousy. It foments ill-nature and pride. It propagates misunderstanding and difcord. All thofe evils would be prevented, if the reproof which our Lord adminifters in the text came oftener home, with proper authority, to the reflection of men: What is that to thee? Each of us have more material and important business of our own to fulfil. Our task is affigned; our part alVOL. IV. lotted.

M

VIII.

SERM, lotted. Did we fuitably examine how that part was performed, we fhould be lefs difpofed to bufy ourselves about the concerns. of others. We should discover many a dif order to be corrected at home; many a weed to be pulled out from our own grounds; much remaining to be done, in order to render ourselves useful in this. world, and fit for a world to come. Wherefore, inftead of being critics on others, let us employ, our criticifm on ourfelves. Leaving others to be judged by Him who fearcheth the heart, let us implore his affiftance for enabling us to act well our own part, and to follow Chrift.

SERMON

IX.

On our Prefent IGNORANCE of the

WAYS of God.

JOHN, xiii. 7.

Jefus anfwered and faid unto him, What I do, thou knoweft not now, but thou shalt •know hereafter.

IX.

THESE words of our Lord were oc- SERM. cafioned by a circumftance in his be-. haviour which appeared myfterious to his difciples. When about to celebrate his laft paffover, he meant to give them an inftructive leffon of condefcenfion and humility. The mode which he chose for delivering this inftruction, was the emble matical action of washing their feet. M 2

When

Simon

Simon Peter faw his Mafter addreffing himfelf to the performance of fo menial an office, he exclaims with the greatest furprife, Lord, doft thou wash my feet? Our Lord replies, in the words of the text, What I do, thou knoweft not now, but thou fhalt know hereafter. My behaviour in "this inftance may feem unaccountable

to you at prefent; but you fhall after"wards receive a fatisfactory explication "of the intent of that fymbol which I "now employ."

The expreffions of a divine perfon, on this occafion, can very naturally and properly be applied to various inftances, where the conduct of Providence, in the adminiftration of human affairs, remains dark and myfterious to us. What I do, thou knoweft not now. We muft for à while be kept in ignorance of the designs of Heaven. But this ignorance, though neceffary at prefent, is not always to continue. A time fhall come when a commentary fhall be afforded on all that is now obfcure; when the veil of mystery fhall be removed; and full fatisfaction be given to every rational mind.

Thou

IX.

fhalt know hereafter. This is the doctrine SERM. which I purpose to illuftrate in the following discourse.

I. OUR Savicur's words lead us to observe that many things in the conduct of Providence are at prefent myfterious and unintelligible. The truth of this obfervation will not be called in question. It is indeed very readily admitted by all; and ever fince the beginning of the world has been the foundation of many a complaint, and of much fcepticifm concerning the government of Heaven.-That human affairs are not left to roll on according to mere chance, and that Providence interpofes in them to a certain degree, is made evident by various tokens to every candid mind. But the perplexity and trouble of the thoughtful inquirer arifes from obferving that Providence appears not to purfue any regular or confiftent plan. An unaccountable mixture of light and darkness prefents itself to us, when we tempt to trace the affairs of the world up to any wife and righteous adminiftration. We fee juftice and order begun;