of his infinite goodness, we have only to retrospect our past lives, and we will find, that goodness and mercy has followed us all our days; and if we have been unhappy, it is because we have refused to walk in the path which leads to happiness, and which has been pointed out to us by the finger of God. Even in this world, virtue carries her reward in her bosom contempt of covetousness insures repose, temperance secures health, benevolence produces the most exquisite of all earthly delights, infinitely superior to the libertine's, or the epicure's most sanguine gratification. The first delight is divine, the last beastly and sensual; humility begets assurance of safety, and removes fear, for the man cannot fall far, who is at the bottom of a valley; gratitude produces confidence in God, and "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ;" and "faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death," over which the good man securely walks and fears no evil. Some will complain, that God has made an unfair distribution of his gifts; to the

rich he gives too much, to the poor too little. This I contend is a wrong conclusion, and an unjust insinuation: the poor man has a better chance for hap piness here, and glory hereafter, than the rich man; which I think I will be able to demonstrate, before I conclude this department. It is well known that abundance cloys, of riches, women or wine, the three things men are most eager to obtain; while mediocrity satis fies the calls of nature. The shade of obscurity is safer than the sunshine of glory. The colours of a flower in my sequestered enclosure, are more pleas. ing to me, than the brilliant diamonds in the diadem of Bonaparte, are to him. The assurance I have in the affection of my faithful friend William Turton, at present a missionary to the Bahama Islands, gives me more real pleasure, than all the flatterers with their fulsome adulation, who surround the throne of the grand mogul, can ever give him. The confidence the poor honest man has in the confidence and virtue of his wife, is more satisfactory to him, than the

grand mogul's seraglio of 350 women is to him. The docility, beauty and swiftness of my horse, are far more gratifying to me, than the prancing and neighing of one thousand Arabian steeds, which he has in his stables, are to him! And I might go on to mention many other gratifications, which the mediocrity of my situation permits me to enjoy, and of which the wealthy are deprived, because they are ungrateful to the Author of all their mercies. With my menial and corporeal gratifications I am contented, because I well know, that they are given by the hand (if jus tice took place without mercy) that should have long ago struck me to hell! This consideration enhances every favour, and sweetens every blessing. But if any child of misfortune should say, "Alas! I am both destitute of mental and corporeal delight, both of the blessings of society and nature," to such I would say, the privations of this life frequently produce eternal glory in the next. When fawned upon by the world, we forget God; but when persecuted

by it, we flee to him for rest and refuge. Affliction is without doubt the parent of virtue. An humble Lazarus is happier even in this world, than a proud Dives: although the chilling hand of poverty, and the iron arm of despotism, should follow the good man to the very margin of the grave, yet should he not for one moment, harbour a doubt of the impartiality of Jehovah, but trast in him to the last; for most assuredly, death will be the boundary of all his sorrows. Nothing will so soon soothe a soul to peace, as resignation to the will of God.

Although it is a paradox, yet I will state it as a fact, that even the ills of nature are necessary to drive us to God. He employs this method, to cause us to take refuge under the shadow of his wings, as the hen calls her brood to shelter at the approach of a thunderstorm. He well knows the dangers to which we are exposed, and therefore uses every means, consistent with his attributes and our free agency, to win us to our own happiness. As for the

real evils in society, it is both unrea. sonable and ungenerous, to impute them to nature they are produced by man, (and not by God) who is continually counteracting the gracious designs of his Creator. But will he always pati ently endure this flagrant infringment on his rights? it is impossible. We see him loading the most ungrateful rebels with blessings every day; while those who love and endeavour to please him, are beset with ills, and covered with misfortunes. But is this not a positive proof of a future state of rewards and punishments? We see every day, both nations and individuals, receiving from the liberal hand of God, super-abundant blessings, while they only disseminate the ills of life; but a just re-action of those ills will sooner or later take place. In order to consolidate this assertion, I need not point to ancient history, modern will suffice; one positive proof is better than all the negative proofs in the world. I will pass by many in stances, and only mention two, which