and therefore the happiness that refults S ER M. from his favour can never fail. If we

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could fuppofe any time in which he did not exist, or in which he might be fubject to change, or variable, this indeed would leffen our hopes of happiness from him. For to be in the happiest state, and to have apprehenfions that it will come to an end, though at the most dif tant time, would greatly diminish our fatisfaction in the prefent enjoyments. Such is the nature of our fouls, that we can never be fully contented with any thing that is not for ever. Eternity can only fill the mind; and we can never be truly happy, but when we can extend our views through its endless ages. Now God is an eternal fountain of happiness, he lives for ever; and of the pleasures and joys that are at his right-hand, there will be no end. All nature may come to a period and fink into nothing, or the prefent laws of the universe may change, but God is the fame for ever. The beavens, fays the Pfalmift, fhall wax old as a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up; but thou shalt endure, and of thy years fhall there be no end.

And

SERM.

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And thus from the whole, it appears, that true and lafting happiness is only to be found in the favour of God; that he can fupply the good which we feek in vain in created things, and that he only is fufficient for all our wants and the vast defires of our fouls. And therefore, nothing can be more reasonable than this good refolution of the prophet in the text, to place, and seek our happiness in him alone, to rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of our falvation.

SER

SERMON XV.

On Humility.

I PETER V. 5.

Be clothed with humility; for God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

T

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HAT great variety of moral S ER M. precepts which is to be found in the fcriptures, gives us the most exalted view of what ought to be the character and practice of a christian. For the gospel not only directs us in the knowledge and duties of religion, but it also imparts the most excellent rules and amiable fentiments of virtue. Thus in the text, we have one virtue, that of humility, ftrongly recommended to us; which tends to perfect and adorn our nature, and which, if it was duly regarded, would greatly increase our social happiness. It is indeed, feldom taken notice of by the ancient heathen fages in their moral writings, being very oppofite to their pride and corrupted paffions; but nevertheiefs,

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SER M. theless, it is highly reasonable and be coming in our present low and imperfect ftate. And it may be confidered as one of those many inftances, in which the gospel has improved and perfected morality.

The apoftle Peter, in the verfes immediately preceding, had been exhorting the rulers of the church, not to behave themselves as lords over God's heritage; that is, with lordly pride and rigorous dominion; but to be examples of the flock, by a moderate and reasonable deportment, that in the end they might receive the reward promifed, a crown that fadeth not away. And then he adds, likewife, ye younger, fubmit yourselves unto the elder; he means not only on account of the propriety and decency of the thing, but also because of their supposed greater knowledge and experience in life; yea, all of you, fays he, be fubject one to another; by which he enjoins them to bear with another, and to make great allowance for the temper and paffions of others, which was the way to make themselves easy in their own fituation. And then he fums up, and comprehends all those particulars in the words of the text; be clothed

with humility, for God refifteth the proud, SER M. and giveth grace to the humble.

To be clothed with any thing, is an ufual metaphor in fpeaking of any moral qualification or endowment of the mind. So we read in the fcriptures, Pfal. xxxv. 26. of being clothed with fhame. Pfal. xciii. clothed with majefty. Pfal. civ. clothed with honour. And Ifaiah vi. 10. with the garments of falvation. The word in the original, fignifies to be clothed in a low and fervile manner; by which the apostle infinuates, that we ought to have a low opinion of ourselves, and our fituation in life. And then he adds the strongest reason for humility, because God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the bumble; that is, God fo ordereth things by his providence, that the proud are often oppofed and refifted in their fchemes, or by fome misfortunes and judgments upon them, their loftiness is often brought down. But he gives grace to the humble; he means, that providence frequently favours them, affifts and bleffes them, and that they gain the esteem and affection of men.

The words of the text being thus a little explained, will give us occafion

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