are directed by wisdom, choofing the beft SERM. time, and the best manner for making the

objects of it happy.

Hitherto I have gone no further, except in mentioning the example of Christ, than reason itself and the principles of natural religion will direct us. It must be confeffed they leave clouds and darkness upon the future state, yet not without ftrong though general intimations of an hereafter, and of a retribution to come, which have wonderfully fupported fome great men, even among the heathens, in the last extremity, and the agonies of death itself. But, now, our Lord Jefus Chrift hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel; the way is opened into the holiest of all, into heaven itself by his blood, fo that we have clear and full affurance, that he who findeth wifdom fhall obtain favour of the Lord; for he fhall obtain the inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; that crown of glory, and of righteousness, which the righteous judge hath promised to them who love his appearing, which is the best and most complete evidence and effect of the divine favour.

V.

SIRM.

V.

I fee no reason why this may not be comprehended in the meaning of the text; for though the Old Teftament writers speak but darkly of the future felicity in comparifon of what the gofpel doth, the covenant God made with Ifrael being founded on other and inferior promifes, yet in those ancient authors we have fome ftrong intimations concerning it, befides what the principles of natural religion fuggefted; you know our Saviour argueth convincingly against the Sadduces, who denied that there are any fpirits, and, confequently, that men are capable of fubfifting in a future ftate, from thefe words of God to Mofes, I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Since God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, it is a juft inference, that these eminent patriarchs did not altogether perish when their natural lives ended, but that they fubfifted in another state, and therein enjoyed the most perfect accomplishment of that glorious promife, that God would be their God. Some of the later prophets speak yet more clearly of the future glory, and even of the refurrection of the dead; and fince fo ancient a believer as Job expressed his hope in these strong terms, I know that

my redeemer liveth, and that he shall ftand SER M. at the latter day upon the earth; and though V. after my skin worms deftroy this body, yet in my flesh fhall I fee God, Job xix. 25. It is

reasonable to think that Solomon alfo underftood it, and that he had it in his view when he spoke of the favour of the Lord as the full reward of wisdom.

But however that be, what will moft obviously occur to a chriftian's thoughts, as the compleat reward of religion, and the perfect enjoyment of God's favour, are those things promised in the gofpel, which eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, which God hath laid up for them that love him. Let us then, my brethren, meditate on those excellent descrip-tions which the inspired writers give us of the future state. They not only affure us that if we be stedfaft and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, our labour Shall not be in vain; and that in due time we shall reap, if we faint not: They not only reprefent the state of the faints after death, as perfectly free from all uneafiness, which is the negative part, yet absolutely neceffary to felicity, there fhall be no more bunger, or thirft, no more forrow, and figh

SERM. ing, no more pain; they not only represent V. it in fuch general terms as fhew it to be exceeding glorious and happy, as when it is fet forth under the notion of a kingdom, a crown, a royal palace, and building of God; but they explain the particular ingredients which, to a serious compofed mind, must appear the nobleft enjoyments that a rational nature is capable of, fuch as the society of angels, and the perfected spirits of the just, an entire deliverance from temptation and fin, the perfection of knowledge and of charity, being like God, and feeing him as he is; and all the bleffed exercifes and fruitions of the foul not to fuffer any abatement by its re-union with the body, which in the present state lays fuch weight upon it, and cramps its afpiring powers, but as confummated, rather, at the refurrection; the body then immortal, and spiritual, fashioned like unto the glorious body of Jefus Chrift, being every way a well qualified companion to the mind in all its high entertainments, and fo to continue through all eternity. We may confider, at the fame time, the strong affurances God hath given his fervants for the confirmation of their faith and hope; not only we have his faithful word to rely

on, but, as the apostle faith, Heb. vi. 17, 18. SERM, Being willing more abundantly to fhew unto V. the heirs of promife the immutability of his counfel, be confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impofible for God to lye, we might have strong confolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope fet before us.

I shall now, in conclufion, only make two practical reflections on what hath been faid. First, we may fee what is the noblest end of life, the worthieft of our affections, our choice, and of our moft diligent and conftant endeavours, that we may attain it. If life be in the favour of God, if his lovingkindness be better than life, and imports in it fo many and great bleffings, then it is certainly reasonable for us to purfue it by all methods in our power, and in preference to all other things. Men can never be juftified to themselves, nor have inward peace in fuch a wrong choice and course of action, as feeking those things which are mean and unworthy, in comparison, and neglecting that which must appear to themselves best. Thus the prophet preffeth finners, and it might be thought any one would eafily apprehend