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from either causing the woes of contention to himself or others. Oh, if there were more godliness on earth, this gloomy earth of ours, gloomy because of sin, would brighten into heaven. The fair fruits of heaven, love, mercy, and kindness would gladden the face of nature, and it would appear with far greater evidence than it now can do, because godly men are so rare to be found, that "godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is," as well as "of that which is to come."

If there be one earthly blessing more valuable than another, it is health. I will not say how far it may please the Most High to try, even godly men, with much sickness. But as their day is, their strength shall be, if it be thus; and all things shall work together for their good. But surely the godly man has far the advantage of the ungodly, in this respect. Need I say what thousands have perished in the bloom of life, through drunkenness and lewdness! What shattered constitutions too many vicious men carry, perhaps, to the verge of old age!--Miserable souls! This world's enjoyments they looked for alone; and what can men enjoy without health? Wretched contrivers! to manage for yourselves in such a way, as to lose both worlds, and to bring upon yourselves the pains of both.

But the godly man is temperate in diet, sleep, and in the whole regimen. I might add also he is laborious. And what fine advantages for health result from labour and temperance united? Hence, is he enabled to redeem much time; to go through the work which God hath set him, with cheerfulness; and to be useful to his fellow-creatures. I might

add, he is more free than others from that dejection of spirit, and all the melancholy with which this world abounds. Do not, O young persons! trust profane people when they tell you, that if you seek after the new birth unto righteousness, it will make you melancholy. Look about you, and see who are more cheerful than the godly. Among what sort of people are the gloomy-minded to be found? Is it not very commonly among persons well known to be void of godliness? Oh, then, cast in your lot among God's people, if you would know what true pleasure is.

If you attend to matter of fact, you will see no manner of foundation in another censure of wicked men, that the following of religion makes men neglect their worldly business. Look around, and see it to be far otherwise. Who follow their business with more regularity, and usefulness to their families, and society in general, than the godly? Nay one might appeal to wicked men on this head. With whom would you sooner choose to do business than with men who are conscientious in religion?

I wish christianity were better known amongst us. Certain it is, the more it is known, the more amiable it appears. The better it is practised, the more good results from it, even of a temporal nature. What, is it no advantage to a family, to a town, to the regular and succesful pursuit of business, that men are temperate, chaste, sober, and not busy bodies in other men's matters? But such is the godly man; and those parts of the land where godliness prevails, there temporal advantages, in abundance, are the result. What think you? When the

godly man devotes that leisure time, from business, to public means of grace, or to private meditation and prayer, which ungodly men devote to places of gaiety, or gaming, whether of the two is the most likely to thrive, even in this world? Nay, indeed, it seems to be confessed that godliness has its advantages for this life, while wicked men with a sneer observe, that they take care of the main chance as well as other people. This is a confession, that the declaration in the text is fulfilled, "godliness has promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come." The christian owns it to the glory of his God; and yet these worldly things are not his God, his portion, his chief joy. His real riches, seen now by faith, are laid up sure in heaven; by patience waited for, in the way of self-denial; oft enjoyed here by anticipation, and fully hereafter, "when Christ shall appear;" for then shall he 66 appear with him in glory."

It is a great comfort to a person to have some suitable entertainment, with which innocently and profitably to amuse his spirits, and employ his leisure time. Who has this advantage like the godly? Men of pleasure are improperly named. Their excess of amusement renders amusement itself a burden. And yet they cannot bear to be alone, nor to think alone. But the christian has a God to go to, in his hours of privacy; the promises of the Bible wherewith to regale his mind; the comforts of the Holy Ghost wherewith to cheer his spirits, when his God sees needful; the strength of the Almighty to support him, when his flesh and his heart fail; and the expectation of Jesus's second coming to complete

his salvation, as real, as certain, as it is that God is true. Want you entertainment, to refresh the mind withal, when weary; to sweeten the temper withal, when likely to be soured by adversity? Oh, young men! make Christ your friend, while you may. How many have regretted, even in this life, their following the ways of sin! But none ever repented his following of Christ.

What a damp does it strike on the hearts of those, who live for this world only, to think, "this house, this estate, this prosperous trade, these agreeable connections, will one day forsake me." What a sting is there in death! What a damp does it cast on all earthly joys! But the christian looks beyond death with pleasure; beyond death lies his complete happiness. Here is an advantage: it cannot be said how great it is. "In the world to come he shall have everlasting life; but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment."

I have, in this discourse, confined my regard to the temporal advantages of godliness. Oh, young persons! look here to Christ. He is the He is the way of pleasure, here as well as hereafter. Oh, that you might effectually believe in him, and prove by experience the truth of what has been said.

SERMON XXIII.

THE USE AND ABUSE OF HEARING SERMONS.

1 Cor. iii. 5, 6, 7.

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the inSo then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

crease.

A VERY great, but common evil, had infected the Church of Corinth. The people were grown very wise in their own conceits; heard their pastors with a critical and curious spirit; were "puffed up for one against another;" and hence had among them envying, and strife, and divisions.

It affords no small ground of patience to faithful pastors, in every age, to find, that if they be treated contemptuously and ungratefully by their people, it is what St. Paul himself met with. And yet he could say, "though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." To the same purpose, in the chapter next to that of the text, he addresses the Corinthians, who it is evident had encouraged a number of other pastors, to the prejudice of the Apostle.

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