II. ness of men obftinately perfifted in, has SER M. been universally acknowledg'd; and defolating ftrokes, fuch especially as were sudden and furprifing, 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 deftroy'd by a fire from heaven;) fuch 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 finners, when the righteous fhall be faved; of which great distinguishing judgment, there were eminent examples fet forth in the deliverance of Noah from the flood, and of Lot from the deftruction of Sodom. These fignal furprifing defolations, I fay, have been univerfally attributed to the immediate hand of God: The other catastrophes of nations and cities which had not fuch miraculous appearances, have been accounted for by the wifeft of men in the fame manner, when (which upon a careful Obfervation will appear to have been generally the case in fact) they followed a long course of obstinate and irreclaimable iniquity. But these interpofitions are extraordinary, and evidently in tended II. SER M. tended as examples for the reformation of finners, 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 firft ufed 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 perverfeness and the impenitency of their hearts they have treasured wrath to themselves. The Inftances recorded in fcripture which I have referred to, of God's righteous severity against heinous offenders, do alfo afford us remarkable examples of his patience. When God had refolved to destroy the world with a flood, yet * St. Peter obferves, 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 poffibly be reclaimed, and that ruin prevented. And before the overthrow of Sodom, just Lot was sent to be a teacher and an example of vir II. tue there, whofe righteous foul was long vexedSER M. with their unlawful deeds; while God continued fuch a warning to them, unwilling that they should perish; and at last represented himself as ready to fpare the city, if there were found in it but ten righteous persons. Towards the generality of mankind, and in the ordinary courfe of things, lenity is fo apparently the character of the divine government, the instances of its severity so very rare, and punishment fo long delayed, that this is often abused by finners to the encouraging and hardening themselves in their wicked courfes; and becaufe fentence against an evil work is. not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil *. it And now to conclude, If upon the whole 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 conftant providential direction of its course, as related to living creatures; by the animal conftitution fitted for various kinds of enjoyment, and liberally fupplied with the means of it; especially the conftitution 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 divine * Ecclef. viii. II. II. SERM. divine providence towards mankind, conti nually heaping favours upon them notwithstanding their fins, and exercifing all the forbearance and indulgence to them which can confift with a regard to righteousness and virtue, (the promoting whereof thro' the whole creation in his uniform defign, moft worthy of perfect goodness ;) if, I say, it appears by the best judgment we can make upon a furvey of these the works and ways of God, all of them which fall under our obfervation, that the universal tendency is to happiness, and therefore the univerfal intention feeing the cause is perfectly wife; various happiness, accord-. ing to the various capacities of the beings it is defigned for ;-muft 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 SERMON III. The principal Objections against the Mark x. 18. There is none good but one, that is God. A S there is no principle of greater ne-SER M. ceffity and importance in religion than III. the goodness of God, (indeed without it religion cannot fubfift,) there is none of which we have more clear and fatisfying evidence. Univerfal nature proclaims it; and wherever eternal Power and God-head are manifefted, 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 fo framed and governed as to have a visible relation to life, and to be fubfervient to its preservation and happiness. The animals of the earth are continually cared for by bountiful providence ; and efpecially man, confidered in the whole com pafs |