cellent the defign were in itfelf, we would not dignify it even with the name of ambition; he would acquire and deferve the character, not of greatnefs, but of folly or madness.

On the whole, it is plain that these moral principles, muft enter into the compofition of true greatnefs, and that, when they are wanting, the natural characters mentioned before, degenerate into vice, and affume the names of pride, ambition, temerity, ferocity and obftinacy.

This leads me, in the third place, to fhew, not only that there is nothing in real religion, contrary to magnanimity, but that there, and there only, it appears in its beauty and perfection. Let me briefly run over, and apply to religion, the above-mentioned ingredients of magnanimity.

1. It is to attempt great and difficult things. Religion calls us to the greatest and most noble attempts, whether in a private or public view. In a private view, it calls us to refift and fubdue every corrupt and finful paffion, however ftrongly the indulgence is folicited by the tempting object, or recommended by the artful feducer. The importance and difficulty of this struggle, appears not only from the holy fcriptures, but from the

experience and teftimony of mankind in every

age. What cautions are given by Solomon upon this fubject? He that is flow to anger, is bet

ter than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.'. The wifeft Heathens have inculcated the neceffity of felf

government

government, and the danger of furrounding temptation, by many instructive images. But why fhould I extend this part of the fubject? How few are fuccessful in this attempt? This alone is a fufficient proof, that it is great and difficult, and every perfon exercifed to godlinefs, will be abundantly fenfible of it, from the ftate of his own heart.

1

In a public view, every good man is called to live and act for the glory of God, and the good of others. Here he has as extenfive a fcene of activity, as he can poffibly defire. He is not in deed permitted to glory or to build an altar to his own vanity, but he is both permitted and obliged to exert his talents, to improve his time, to employ his fubftance, and to hazard his life in his Maker's fervice, or his country's caufe. Nor am I able to conceive any character more truly great than that of one, whatever be his station or profeffion, who is devoted to the public good under the immediate order of Providence.

He

does not feek the bubble reputation in the deadly breach, but he complains of no difficulty, and refufes no fervice, if he thinks he carries the commiffion of the King of kings.

2. The truly pious man afpires after the greatest and most valuable poffeffions. He defpifes, indeed, the uncertain and the unfatisfying enjoyments of time. His defires after prefent enjoyments, are fubjected to the will of God. He has given them up without referve, yet his heavenly

Father

Father knoweth that he hath need of these things, and therefore he both afks and, hopes to receive what is fuitable and neceffary, and believes that a little that a juft man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked. But the glorious object of the chriftian's ambition, is the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. The honourable relation he ftands in to God as his adopted child in Chrift Jefus, inclines and authorises him to hope for this purchased poffeffion, and enables him to look down with becoming indifference, on all the glory of this tranfitory world. Let the rich man glory in his riches, and the wife man glory in his wifdom; he only glories in this, that he knoweth the Lord, and fhall be with him for ever. whe

3. True piety encounters the greatest dangers with refolution. The fear of God is the only effectual mean to deliver us from the fear of man. Experience has abundantly fhewn, that the fervants of Chrift have adhered to his caufe, and made profeffion of his name, in oppofition to all the terrors which infernal policy could prefent to them, and all the fufferings, with which the most favage inhumanity could afflict them. But as this belongs to the cafe of perfecution for conscience fake, which, by the peculiar kindnefs of Providence, is exceedingly rare among us, it is proper to obferve, that every christian has fre. quent opportunities of manifefting a holy refolu tion in encountering the reproach and derifion

Ꮓ

of

of worldly men, for adhering to his duty. And when we confider how hard it is to bear reproach and fcorn, called, in fcripture, the trial of 'cruel mockings', there will appear to be no finall measure of dignity and heroism in him, who can calmly fubmit to it from every quarter, rather than depart from his duty. There are not a few

who are apt to boaft of their spirit and resolution, who are yet unable to bear reproach, and meanly make the fentiments of others, and the caprice

of faction, the rule of duty, in place of the clear

+

dictates of confcience and the word of God. How contemptible is this, compared to the conduct of that man, who feeks no fame, but by honeft means, and fears no reproach for honeft actions, but contents himself with a filent and believing regard to him who feeth in fecret, and who fhall at laft bring every work into judg

4. True piety perfeveres with conftancy in oppofition to continued trial. This is indeed what distinguishes the Chriftian warfare from that of every other. It continues through life, and the last enemy to be overcome is death. In all the conflicts between men on earth, the iffue may be fpeedily expected, and the reward immediately bestowed; but in religion, it is only he who fhall endure to the end that fhall be faved. This adds greatly to the difficulty, and feems to fhew, not only the excellence and beauty, but the real

dignity

dignity and magnanimity of the chriftian charac

ter.

5. In the laft place, true piety endures fuffering with patience and" fortitude. If we reflect upon the number of fuffering martyrs,' whofe teftimonies are upon record, we fhall fee with what calmnefs and compofure, with what undaunted firmnefs, and fometimes with what exultation and triumph they have gone to a fcaffold, or been tied to a stake. Can any perfon, think you, who hath gone to the field of battle, in quef of glory, or who hath braved the danger of the feas, in queft of wealth or power, be once compared with thofe who have chearfully given up their precious life, or fubmitted their bodies to the torture, to keep their confciences undefiled? But my brethren, christian patience is much more frequently tried in another manner. The belicver has made an unreferved furrender of himself and his all, to the difpofal of providence: His faithfulness to this promife, is brought almoft. every day to the trial. For the chriftian then to fuffer reproach, without rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, to be fubmiffive under the lofs of fubstance, and fay with Job, Naked came

I out of my mother's womb, and

naked fhall I

return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord ' hath taken away; bleffed be the name of the 'Lord.'-To yield up relations, and to say with David, 'I fhall go to him, but he shall not return to me. To look forward to approaching