SERM. life in which he is placed; whether XVI. thefe be of a public nature or private; focial and domeftic, or relating particularly to the exercises of religious worship and devotion. To attain this spirit, of considering the discharge of our duty as our pleafure and happiness, is certainly not incompatible with our present state of infirmity. It is no more than what good men have often attained and have teftified of it; that their delight was in the law of God; that his ftatutes were sweet to their tafte; that they had taken them as an heritage for ever, for they were the rejoicing of their heart. I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart*-According to the proficiency which men have made in virtue, will be the degree of fatisfaction which they receive from the performance of it but where no pleasures or fatisfactions of this kind are known, men have much ground to diftruft their pretenfions to godliness or chriftianity. *Pf. xl. 8. cxix. 111. XVI. It is therefore of high importance, SER M. that all proper means be employed to form our internal tafte to a proper re For it is much is lifh for this joy of the Lord. fpiritual fpiritual enjoyments, we must forbear XVI. polluting ourselves with grofs and guil SERM. ty pleasures; we must even refrain from indulging worldly pleasures that appear innocent, in a profuse and intemperate degree, left they fenfualize and debafe our feelings. By preferving a wife and manly temperance in lower pleasures and pursuits, we will then allow those of a higher kind to occupy their proper place; and fhall be in a fituation fairly to compare the pure fenfations of pleasure which arife from the consciousnefs of discharging our duty, with the tranfient and turbid gratifications of fin and the world. To fuch endeavours of our own, for rectifying and improving our taste of pleafure, let us join frequent and fervent prayer to God, that he may enlighten and reform our hearts; and by his spirit communicate that joy to our fouls, which defcends from him, and which he has annexed to every part of religion and virtue as the Atrength of the righteous. SERMON XVII. On the Folly of the Wisdom of the World. i CORINTH. iii. 19. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. THE HE judgment which we form of s ERM. ourselves, often differs widely from XVII. that which is formed of us by God, whofe judgment alone is always conformable to the truth. In our opinion of the abilities which we imagine ourfelves to poffefs, there is always much self-flattery; and in the happiness which we expect to enjoy in this world, there is always much deceit. As there is a worldly happiness, which God perceives to be no other than concealed : mifery as there is a worldly honour, VOL. V. which Cc XVII. SERM. which in his estimation is reproach; fo, as the text informs us, there is a wifdom of this world, which is foolishness with God. Affuredly there is nothing in which it imports us more that our judgment should agree with the truth, than in what relates to wisdom. It is the qualification upon which every man is inclined to value himself, more than on any other. They who can with patience fuffer imputations on other parts of their character, are ready to lose their temper, and to feel fore and hurt when they are attacked for deficiency in prudence and judgment. Wisdom is justly confidered as the guide of conduct. If any capital error fhall take place refpecting it; if one fhall mistake that for wifdom which at bottom is mere folly, fuch a mistake will pervert the firft principles of conduct, and be perpetually misleading a man through the whole of life.-As the text plainly intimates that this mistake does often take place in the world, and as it materially concerns us all to be on our guard against great a danger, I fhall endeavour to fhow, |