Page images
PDF
EPUB

Grief and Melancholy, which are the natural and infallible Confequences of unjust Designs and Actions; and by this Improvement of the Faculties, it makes a Man fo much the abler to difcern, and fo much the more chearful, active, and diligent to mind his Bufinefs. Light is fown for the Righteous, fays the Pfalmift, and Gladness for the upright in Heart, Pfal. xcvii. 11.

2. As the boneft Man takes the best Course to improve his natural Faculties, fo he is the best difpofed to procure and receive the Affiftances of fupernatural Grace; for being conscious to himfelf of his fincere upright Intentions, he can with good Affurance recommend his Affairs to God's Bleffing and Direction: Whereas the difhoneft fraudulent Man dares not call for God's Bleffing upon his wicked Designs, or, if he does, he knows it is in vain to expect it. Now a Man who believes that he has God of his Side, acts with another fort of Life and Chearfulness, and with another Vigour and Refolution, than he who knows he is alone in what he does; and that he may rather expect God's Curfe than his Bleffing. The Eyes of the Lord, fays the Pfalmift, are upon the Righteous, and his Ears are open unto their Cry. The Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil, Pfal. xxxiv. 15, 16.

3. The honest Man is most likely to be kept in Bufinefs and Employ; for all Men, whatever they may be themselves, love to find Honesty in thofe they deal with, and hate to be tricked and cheated. This is fo true an Obfervation, that the greatest Knaves and Cheats have no other Way to get into Business, but by counterfeiting Honesty, and pretending to be what they are not: And if they

happen

happen to be discovered, as it is a thousand to one but that they will, they are presently blown upon, and discountenanced, and every one is cautious of having any further Dealings with fuch a Perfon.

4. If the honeft Man wants Credit, which is a great Furtherance in worldly Bufiness, how easy a Thing is it for him, after Experience of his honeft Courses, to find enough, more than he is willing to make use of? Whereas the dishonest Man, fo foon as he is known to be what he is, finks in his Credit, and carries on his Affairs very heavily without it.

5. The upright honeft Man walketh furely, as Solomon obferves, Prov. x. 9. He is not afraid of the Detection of his Servants, or the Confeffions of his Accomplices and Affociates; when Inqui Iries after Bribery, Corruption, Villany, and MisEdemeanors of all forts are ever so ftrict, he is not daunted or caft down, as being conscious to himfelf of his Uprightness and Innocence: Whereas the unjust Man fears every Thing, and is glad, when detected, to fly from Justice, or to difgorge a great part of his ill-gotten Wealth, that he redeem the reft, or perhaps may buy off his Life, which he has justly forfeited by his Crimes.

may

6. In all good Governments, fuch as underftand their own Intereft, the upright honeft Man ftands much fairer for Preferment than the Knave. Righteous Lips are the Delight of Kings, fays Solomon, and they love him that speaketh right, Prov. xvi. 13.

7. The honest Man has this great Advantage, that the more and the longer he is known, fo much the better is he liked and trufted; fo that

[ocr errors]

his Reputation and his Wealth have a gradual Increase, as he comes to be better acquainted with Mankind, and they with him: He wants but a fair Introduction into Bufinefs to make his Fortune, and afterwards his Honefty makes its own Way, and will carry him through: Whereas it is quite otherwife with the dishonest Man, his Knavery trips up his Heels, and it is but for a prefent Turn, at least for a very short Time, that his Politicks are calculated. This likewife Solomon obferved: The Integrity of the Upright shall guide them; but the Perverfenefs of Tranfgreffors shall deftroy them, Prov. xi. 3. And again, The Lip of Truth fhall be established for ever: But a lying Tongue is but for a Moment, Prov. xii. 19.

8. Laftly, It is obferved of ill-gotten Wealth, that it feldom thrives. Sometimes the Knave himself is detected, and fleeced; fometimes his crooked Ways engage him in endless Law-Suits, which confume and exhauft him; fometimes with high Bribes he is obliged to buy his Peace; fometimes his Accomplices and he fall out about parting the unrighteous Mammon: In short, there are infinite Ways of Providence, by which Knaves are detected, and honeft Men righted. Then whereas all Men are apt to pity an honest Man if he falls into Troubles through Misfortune; on the other hand, they have no Compaffion on a Knave; he commonly finks under it, while the honeft Man creeps out. (a) A juft Man, faith Solomon, falleth feven Times, and rifetb up again: But the Wicked shall fall into Mischief. But if the dishonest Man escapes in his own Time, his ill-gotten Eftate feldom thrives with his Heirs.

(a) Prov. xxiv. 16.

It

191 It is true of him what Solomon says, An Inheritance may be gotten haftily at the Beginning, (and if haftily, feldom honeftly) but the End thereof fhall not be bleft, Prov. xvi. 21.

I find Time will not allow my answering of Objections against this Doctrine, or the drawing of Inferences from it; and therefore, rather than encroach upon your Patience, I fhall here conclude. Now God bless what ye have heard, and preferve you from all Biafs of Injustice, and keep your Hearts and Minds in an even and righteous Temper, not only in Matters of Judgment, but in all the Actions of your Life. A Temper which we have all Reafon to believe will be attended with all forts of fpiritual and temporal Bleffings in Chrift Jefus. To him, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, let us render, as is due, all Praife, Honour, and Glory, Might, Power and Dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON IX.

MAT. V. 7.

Bleffed are the Merciful: For they shall obtain Mercy.

I

The First Sermon on this Text.

N thefe Words our bleffed Lord goes on to undeceive his Hearers, as to their carnal Opinions and Expectations of the Meffiah's Kingdom, and to take off the wrong Preparations and Difpofitions of their Minds for it; as if he had faid, "Your Hearts being full of "Expectation of great worldly Conquefts, ye "think of nothing but to knock all down before you, to kill, and flay, and plunder, and by the

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Meffiab's Help to call for Fire from Heaven, "and to bring a vast deal of Mifery and Defola"tion on Mankind. But ye are exceedingly mi"staken in the Messiah, and in the Nature of his

[ocr errors]

Kingdom: He comes in Love, not in Hatred "to Men; he is fo far from wronging any Man, "that he comes on purpose to do them all the "Good they are capable of. And if ye intend "to join yourselves to him as his Disciples and "Followers, or to have any Share in his King"dom, ye must be of another Spirit and Temper, and, instead of hard-hearted cruel Designs " against

« PreviousContinue »