of infinite wifdom falls to his fhare? for if SERM. VII. any one in that cafe might reasonably complain, every one might; and then the reafon of the divine counfels, and the reafon of men would contradict each other, which is an abfurdity.

But to what purpose are murmurings? and why should man contend with his Maker? He* determines the things that are appointed for us, and there is no poffibility of altering his counfels, as Elihu fays very reasonably †, Should it be according to thy mind, he will recompence it whether thou chufe, or whether thou refufe. The truth is, men can only feel and torment themselves by repining against providence, and bearing chastisements impatiently, they cannot make their condition better. The prophet || thus defcribes the state of obftinate incorrigible finners, by a' very fignificant comparifon, They are like a wild bull in a net, full of the fury of the Lord, the more they impotently refift and rebel, the more uneafy still they make themselves, far from leffening their pain. Or, as it is ex-. preffed in the prophecies of Jeremy, they are like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, which, the more impatient he is, only galls him the VOL. II.

O

Job. xxiii. 14, + Ibid. xxxiv. 33

more,

Ifa.li. 20.

SERM. mofe, and fits the heavier upon him. PaVII. tience indeed is a merciful prefcription, cal

culated for our intereft and advantage, as well as it is a duty which, we owe to our fupreme and perfectly wife governor. It is the only effectual way to make the best of our condition, and give us all the happinefs we can poffibly enjoy in fuch circumstances. Since it is not in our power to alter our state, and fince the very fting of affliction is the uneafinefs and perturbation of our own minds under it; for as the moralift juftly obferves, it is not fo generally events that trouble men, but their own opinions and ways of thinking, concerning them, what remains, but that it is the wisdom of every man to bear quietly and peaceably what he cannot avoid? to calm the tempefts of his mind by the confiderations of religion and virtue? to retire within himfelf, collect all his ftrength, and fuinmon all the powers of his foul to attend fuch an im portant office as enquiring what fund of confolation remains from within, and what fupports independent on all external occurrences? for there is the only fure remedy, and it is all fummed up in patience.

But let christians look to the captain of their falvation who was made perfect thro' fuffer

ings; to Jefus the author and finisher of their SERM.) faith, who endured the cross, defpifing the shame; VII. let them confider him who endured the contradiction of finners against himself, left they be weary and faint in their mind. The bleffed author of our religion has given us an example of suffering patiently, that we should follow his feps. If we profefs to be his difciples, and fay we abide in him, we ought to walk as he walked, and endure the crofs in imitation of him. It is not poffible for us to equal him in the generous principles and motives of his fufferings; his zeal for the glory of God, for the cause of true holiness and virtue, and his charity to men are altogether unparallel'd; but the greater compaffion he fhewed in fuffering for us, and while we were yet enemies reconciling us to God by the blood of his cross, with the greater chearfulness should we, in obedience to his will, and for his fervice take up our cross and follow him. The difciple is not above his mafter, nor the fervant above his lord. If he, then, our Lord and Mafter, who was boly, harmless and undefiled, and Jeparate from finners, did in pity to us, and for our redemption, voluntarily fubmit to reproaches and indignities, to the moft grievous paflion and exquifite tortures, why fhould we obnoxious

2

Heb. xii. 2, 3.

SERM. noxious to the difpleasure of God, by our own VII. fins, and liable to calamities of many forts, as

the natural confequence of our own folly, according to the established courfe and conftitution of things; why fhould we repine at far lefs degrees of sufferings, wifely difpensed by our gracious heavenly Father, for his honour and our good, especially fince we are affured of a happy event, that as Christ is now fet down at the right hand of God, he has prepared manfions there for his fervants, that he will bring them out of all their tribulations, and if they fuffer with him, they shall also reign with him, and be glorified together?

SER

SERMON VIII.

Of Godliness.

G

2 Pet. i. 6.

And to Patience, Godliness.

Odliness is sometimes in fcripture taken SERM. in so large a sense as to comprehend VIII. univerfal righteousness, all the difpofi

tions of mind and habits, every course of action which are morally good, and to which God has annexed the promise of acceptance. Thus it is to be understood in St. Paul's exhortation to Timothy, * Exercife thy felf unto godliness which is profitable to all things, having promife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. For furely it is not to piety alone in the ftricteft fenfe, thofe rewards are promifed, but to all the branches of religious virtue. And when the fame infpired Author gives.

0 3

1 Tim. iv. 7, 8.