the will of God, which is perfect rectitude, it is ennobled. To be like-minded with God, is the highest honour we can ever possess; to furrender ourselves to his pleasure, is the purest act of obedience we can ever perform. It is the effence of holiness, to do what God loves, and to love what God does. And as nothing can be more pious, fo nothing can be more wife than such a resignation. If your will correfponds with the will of God, you may be always fure of its accomplishment: "commit thy works unto the Lord, and "thy thoughts fhall be established." This is the only way to be happy in a miserable world; on this all your satisfaction depends. He knows what things you have need of, and what will be for your advantage. Depend on Him. Follow Him. Secure His favour; refer all to Him, and leave all with Him. "It is vain for you "to rife up early, to fit up late, to eat the bread of "forrows for fo he giveth his beloved fleep." "Be « careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer "and fupplication with thanksgiving, let your requests "be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which paffeth all understanding, fhall keep your hearts and minds through Chrift Jesus."

Thirdly, Let the subject infpire you with consolation. Make use of the question to repress all the uneafineffes which you would otherwife feel when you contemplate the diverfity of human affairs. Remember it when you think of the world, and your imagination is bufied in fchemes of revolution and reformation. Remember it when you think of the state of the nation, and deplore many things which appear de plorable, and defire many things which appear defira

ble.

Remember it when you think of the condition of the church; when you ask, "why fuch diversities "of opinion among its leaders? why fuch frequent perfecution of its members? why are they generally "fo poor and afflicted? Why are they all the day long plagued, and chaftened every morning; while their "ungodly neighbours abound in affluence and indulgence? Should the finner live within, clothed in "purple and fine linen, and faring fumptuously ev

ery day; while the faint lies at his gate, a beggar "full of fores?" Remember it when you think of the circumstances of the family; when driven in from a troublesome world, and hoping to find an afylum there, you are forced as you enter to sigh with David,

my house is not so with God;" or what success in business, what servants, what children, what relations? Remember it when you think of your refpective cases as individuals; of perplexities and fears; of losses and vexations; of pain of body; of imperfections of mind; of continuance in this world-" Should it be accord"ing to thy mind," or "according to the purpose of "Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will;" and "who is wonderful in counsel, and "excellent in working?"

Finally, Let all this lead you forward, and draw forth your expectation of another, and a more glorious economy. Beyond this vale of tears lies a land flowing with milk and honey. You are now in a state. of probation and discipline; but trials and corrections will not be always necessary. The denials and restraints, to which the heir of glory submits while he is a child, cease when he comes of age. You now walk

by faith, and not by fight; soon you will walk by fight, and not by faith. What you know not now, you will know hereafter. You will then find yourselves infinitely more happy by the divine disposition of all your concerns, than you could have been, had you always enjoyed your own wishes. When from the top of the holy hill of Zion, you shall look down upon the winding path of Providence, by which you ascended, you will praise Him for the means as well as for the end, admire his wisdom as well as his kindness, and say, "He hath done all things well."

Some of your friends and relations are gone before you. In his light they see light; to them the whole mystery is now explained. Blessed spirits, how we envy you! We see Him through a glass darkly; and half our time cannot spy Him at all; you see Him face to face; you know even as you are known. Well, christians, they are waiting "to receive us into ever"lasting habitations:" we shall soon join them; we shall soon unite in their acknowledgments and adorations, and this will be our eternal theme: "Marvel"lous are thy works, Lord God almighty! just and right are all thy ways, O thou King of Saints."

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SERMON IX.

THE SECURE ALARMED.

AMOS vi. 1.

WOE TO THEM THAT ARE AT EASE IN ZION.

MY Brethren, there is something very

agreeable and desirable in EASE. Even external ease is valuable; and we are ready to pronounce the man happy, whose connections and affairs are all prosperous and peaceful. But what is external ease without bodily? Pain will produce anguish, which neither riches, nor palaces can relieve. An aching head, a jarring tooth, will destroy all the sensations of pleasure arising from worldly things. Enter the house of af fiction; observe thy neighbour; "he is chastened "with pain also upon his bed, and the multitude of his "bones with strong pain; so that his life abhorreth "bread, and his soul dainty meat; his flesh is consu"med away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out; yea, his soul draweth near "unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers." Perhaps some of you have been in a similar condition; "soul hath it still in remembrance;" you said, your "I am made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome

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nights are appointed to me: when I lie down I say, "when shall I arise, and the night be gone? I am full "of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of day; "my bed does not comfort me, nor my couch ease my "complaint." O how delicious is health after sickness, and ease after pain! But what is bodily ease without mental; "The spirit of a man may sustain his infirmi"ty, but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Can a man be happy while corroded with care, fretted with envy, burning with malice, perplexed with doubts, tormented with fears? Think of a man who carries lodged within him a troubled conscience; "he eats ashes like bread, "and mingles his drink with weeping," "his life hangs "in suspense before him, and he has none assurance "of his life;" "he trembles at the shaking of a leaf;" "terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest steal"eth him away in the night?" "he is scared with

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dreams, and terrified with visions." O what can be precious as peace of mind; a calm within! And yet so strange as the declaration may appear, this tranquility is too common; and to disturb it, is the design of this discourse; a design, not only justified by inspired example, and demanded by ministerial fidelity, but required even by love to your souls. For though it may wear the appearance of harshness, it is in reality the kindest expression of friendship; it is the severity of one who rushes forth, and breaks in upon your pleasing reverie, when you approach the brink of a dreadful precipice; it is the severity of one, who should knock loudly, and interrupt your repose, when he perceived your house becoming the prey of devouring flames, and saw you had scarcely time to escape, for your