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SERM. port and prefervation. In the 9th and 10th VI. verfes the apoftle adds, This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, for therefore we labour and fuffer reproach, becaufe we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, efpecially of them that believe; plainly enough intimating that we are not to expect an exemption from troubles, or to enjoy a life of external ease and fplendor; for he faith expreffly, we labour and fuffer reproach; but only that God, whose providence preferveth the lives of all men, taketh a fpecial care of fincere chriftians. But that outward profperity is not intended to be the reward of religion, and that the promise of it is not the sanction of the law of faith, or of christianity, but the promise of eternal life, is evident, because there is no neceffary connexion between the condition and the promise. No man who rightly understandeth, and seriously confidereth the ftrain of the New Teftament, and withal reflecteth on the general course of providence which in this point explaineth it, can believe that riches and honour are annexed to the exercise of godliness as the proper recompence of it; for then they ought to follow it conftantly, and uniformly, and in exact proportion, which it is cer

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tain they do not; as the bleffedness of the SER M. future ftate is always awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge, to them who seek it by patient continuance in well-doing, and who love his appearing.

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But though what hath been faid on this fubject is strictly true, and it was neceffary to obferve it, that we may rightly underftand the fcriptures, and know upon what foot religion standeth according to the gofpel; nay, even under the Old Teftament itself, the promises of profperity to good men were not to be taken fo abfolutely, but that the cafe of perfecution was always to be excepted, which sometimes proved fo violent a temptation to the best men, as to shock them in the belief of the reality and advantage of religion, which we find was the cafe of the Pfalmift, the prophet Jeremiah, and others: Notwithstanding all this, if we obferve the ordinary methods of divine pro vidence, and the general course and state of things, with their connexion and dependence in this world, we fhall find that, for the moft part, the practice of the christian virtues hath a tendency even to our outward advantage, and to promote our present interest, rather than the contrary. The obfervation holdeth more univerfally with reL 2 spect

SERM. fpect to communities, fome of which have VI. rifen from very fmall beginnings, to great

and powerful nations, by induftry, frugality, the exact diftribution of justice, fidelity, and other virtues; as, on the other hand, the history of all ages fheweth, that the most opulent and flourishing kingdoms have been precipitated into ruin, by avarice, oppreffion, luxury, and injuftice. So true is that proverb of Solomon's, that righteousness exalteth a nation, but fin is the reproach of any people.

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But, though in the cafe of private perfons, the diftinction is not often fo remarkable between the good and the bad, in the prefent administration of providence, the righteous and the wicked being involved in the fame common calamities, and the former fometimes fuffering by the vices and the cruelties of the latter, which God doth not interpofe to reftrain, intending to fet all things right, which feem now irregular, in a future ftate of retribution; yet, bad as the world is, wisdom is better than folly, and men, generally speaking, make their way in it to all the happiness it affordeth, by fobriety, godliness, and righteousness, much better than by a courfe of iniquity and vice; which I fhall endeavour, in the remaining part of this difcourfe, to illuftrate.

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The first, of wisdom's gifts reprefented as in her right hand, whereby is fignified its being principal in its kind, and preferable to other temporal advantages, is, length of days. Life must be allowed more valuable than any of the various enjoyments of this world, because it importeth the capacity, and is the foundation of them all. Death puts an end. to all our pleasures, gains, and honours the rich and the poor, the great and the small, lie down together in the filent grave; and with enjoyment, the diffolution of life concludes our hopes and projects; Job xvii, 11. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. And ver. 15. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who fhall fee it? So that if there be any thing here worthy of our esteem and our choice, any advantage which we would defire to continue poffeffed of, or any change for the better to be expected, length of days is to be valued in the first place, I would not be understood to raise the value of life fo, that we should be exceffively fond of it, than which nothing can be more dangerous to integrity, and even to happiness, for it often betrayeth men into the most unworthy actions, and layeth a foundation for the greatest miseries they can fuffer, in the perL 3 pétual

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SERM. petual diftracting fears and discontent of their VI. own minds : But it is certain Solomon judg

eth rightly, when he placeth it in the right hand of wisdom, for it must have the preference of riches and honour, though not of an approving confcience; and especially, if the present be confidered as a state of preparation for eternity, wherein we have the opportunity and the means of providing for an unchangeable hereafter, fuch a duration of life, in which that great work may be brought to a happy conclufion, must be accounted by us a great bleffing; and, generally fpeaking, I do not fay always, length of days is upon this account defireable,

But, that a religious or a virtuous courfe of life naturally tendeth to prolong our days, we may be convinced by experience. If we compare the state of mankind at different times, I mean with respect to health and longevity, we fhall find that always, in those nations and ages wherein regular virtue was most practifed, nature itself was in the greatest vigour, and life drawn out to the longest period, Whereas vice, and a licentious diffolution of manners, constantly corrupted the ftrain, bringing on a multitude of mortal difeafes, which shorten the days of men, rendering their condition unhappy,

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