ness of men obstinately persisted in, hasSERM. been universally acknowledg'd; and desolating II. strokes, such especially as were sudden and furprising, not expected according to the ordinary course of nature, (as when the foundation of the wicked, nay, the whole world of the ungodly was overthrown with a preternatural flood; Sodom and Gomorrah were destroy'd by a fire from heaven;) such strokes have been always attributed to the immediate avenging hand of God, as a fignification to men, even in their state of trial, of his general design at last finally to condemn impenitent sinners, when the righteous shall be saved; of which great diftinguishing judgment, there were eminent examples set forth in the deliverance of Noah from the flood, and of Lot from the destruction of Sodom. These signal surprising defolations, I say, have been universally attributed to the immediate hand of God: The other catastrophes of nations and cities which had not such miraculous appearances, have been accounted for by the wisest of men in the same manner, when (which upon a careful Observation will appear to have been generally the case in fact) they followed a long course of obftinate and irreclaimable iniquity. But these interpofitions are extraordinary, and evidently intended

SERM. tended as examples for the reformation of finII. ners, and that by the judgments of God which are in the earth, the inhabitants thereof may learn righteousness; which is their greatest good, and the only fure foundation of their happiness. The general administration of providence is different. The gentle methods of mercy and loving kindness are always first used to lead men to repentance. They never have reason to complain, that they are furprised with destroying vengeance, in the beginning of their departure from the paths of virtue; or indeed that it overtakes them, till after many repeated provocations, and till by their incorrigible perverseness and the impenitency of their hearts they have treasured wrath to themselves. The Instances recorded in fcripture which I have referred to, of God's righteous severity against heinous offenders, do also afford us remarkable examples of his patience. When God had resolved to destroy the world with a flood, yet * St. Peter observes, that his long-fuffering waited while the ark was preparing, during which time Noah was a preacher of righteousness to them, to try if they could possibly be reclaimed, and that ruin prevented. And before the overthrow of Sodom, just Lot was fent to be a teacher and an example of vir

II.

tue there, whose righteous foul was long vexedSERM. with their unlawful deeds; while God continued such a warning to them, unwilling that they should perish; and at last represented himself as ready to spare the city, if there were found in it but ten righteous persons. Towards the generality of mankind, and in the ordinary course of things, lenity is so apparently the character of the divine government, the instances of its severity so very rare, and punishment so long delayed, that this is often abused by finners to the encouraging and hardening themselves in their wicked courses; and because Sentence against an evil work is not executed fpeedily, therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil *.

And now to conclude, If upon the whole it appears by the best judgment we can make of the works of God which are known to us; by the frame of inanimate nature, and the constant providential direction of its course, as related to living creatures; by the animal constitution fitted for various kinds of enjoyment, and liberally supplied with the means of it; especially the constitution of the human nature, indued with noble powers and affections, in the proper exercise of which it is capable of attaining to a high degree of perfection and felicity; and by the conduct of

SERM.divine providence towards mankind, conti

II.

nually heaping favours upon them notwithstanding their fins, and exercising all the forbearance and indulgence to them which can consist with a regard to righteousness and virtue, (the promoting whereof thro' the whole creation in his uniform design, most worthy of perfect goodness ;) if, I say, it appears by the best judgment we can make upon a survey of these the works and ways of God, all of them which fall under our observation, that the universal tendency is to happiness, and therefore the universal intention feeing the cause is perfectly wife; various happiness, according to the various capacities of the beings it is defigned for;-must we not conclude, that he is a kind and benevolent being, that the Lord is good unto all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.

SER

こ

(95)

SERMON III. The principal Objections against the Goodness of God answered.

Mark x. 18.

There is none good but one, that is God.

A

S there is no principle of greater ne-SERM. ceffity and importance in religion than III.

the goodness of God, (indeed without it religion cannot subsist,) there is none of which we have more clear and fatisfying evidence. Universal nature proclaims it; and wherever eternal Power and God-head are manifested, there alfo goodness is seen, being understood by the things that are made. The inanimate part of the creation, itself uncapable of any enjoyment, is so framed and governed as to have a visible relation to life, and to be subservient to its preservation and happiness. The animals of the earth are continually cared for by bountiful providence; and especially man, considered in the whole compafs