us tells us, in the filent language of nature, that there is a GOD,-there is a Creator and Governor of the world. And how does our prospect brighten up when we change the view, and confider ourselves under the care and tutelage of a GOD, by whose providence all things are conducted; whofe mercies are over all his works; who has all events in his hands, and can do whatsoever pleaseth him, but never pleaseth to do but what is right and good! How may we congratulate ourselves, that we are under the protection of so much goodnefs! how rejoice, that HE to whom all things in heaven and earth are obedient, deigns to confider us as objects of his care! What though we are beset with dangers, exposed to numberless accidents, to many known, many unknown evils? Yet we are fure, that we are befriended by infinite goodness, and protected by omnipotent power: we know, that an all-seeing eye watcheth over us, and that an almighty arm defends us as with a fhield. This confideration ought always, in every fitua

tion, and in all circumftances, to fupport our hopes, and fpeak peace to the mind. If there is a GOD; if he is the fovereign of nature, and holds the fceptre of the univerfe; however gloomy appearances may be, there is always room for confolation and hope. If God be for us, it imports little who is against us; if he is on our fide, we need not fear what man, what the whole world, can do unto us. -But let it be remembered, that, in order to recommend ourselves to his protection, it must be our habitual endeavour to render ourselves worthy of it; to demean ourselves as good fubjects of his government; to live in a faithful allegiance and dutiful fubmiffion to him, the great King of all the earth; and to pay him the homage of a constant attention to his will, and the tribute of a willing obedience to his laws. Then may we hope to live fecure under his government and protection, whilst we are in this world; and when we depart, to be received into mansions of fupreme felicity, into his eternal kingdom;

where

where we fhall be for ever happy in his prefence, for ever be the blessed objects of his goodness, as he will be of our praise; and where we fhall join in concert with the heavenly hoft, in joyful and perpetual adorations of the Sovereign of the univerfe.

SER

SERMON II.

Duty of CONSIDERATION.

PSAL. CXIX. 59.

I called mine own ways to remembrance, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies.

WE

E are defigned by the Author of our being, and difpofed by the frame of our nature, not implicitly to follow the guidance of fenfe, instinct, propenfities, or paffions, but to form and regulate our whole deportment by the fuperior principles of reafon and duty. We ought, confequently, often to call our ways to re

membrance, to examine and review our

conduct, and confider what behaviour reafon and duty require from us.

The Au

thor

thor of our nature conferred on us the privilege of reason, in order to give us a juft difcernment of good and evil, to point out the different paths of virtue and vice, and the oppofite regions of happiness or mifery to which they lead. And to fhow us ftill more diftinctly the consequences of our actions, God has added the light of Revelation to that of Reafon; which clearly acquaints us with the measure of our duty, and with the final event of our conduct. It highly becomes us to attend to this light, which he has held out to us; it infinitely concerns us to live up to its directions. And as, amidst those scenes of pleasure which are continually paffing before us and foliciting our affection, we are but too apt to be inattentive, to lofe fight of our duty, and fometimes to fall through the deceitfulness of fin; the only method of maintaining or recovering our integrity is, to commune with our heart, and call our ways to remembrance; to ftand still sometimes, and observe whither the path we are in will lead us;

if

we