gulate them by the laws of reason and religion.--Thus, we may be angry at fin and finners; but it is our duty if angry, to fin not.---Our love also should be directed to proper objects; to God and goodness in the first place; and then to the happiness of every creature in general. And this is that benevolence which inclines us to obedience to fuperiors, and condefcenfion to inferiors. And as to fear, it is fo far from being quite difcarded, that it is of the greatest use to us when properly directed. Our only fear fhould be that of offending God, and then we should be inspired with the truest courage to refift wickedness. "Fear not them "who are able to kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but rather fear him who is “is able to destroy both foul and "body in hell.” Our prejudices, perhaps, are so natural to us, that it may not be poffible for us to be abfolutely free from them, of fome fort or other. It will, however, greatly contribute to the conquering of them, if we think humbly of ourselves and charitably of others: if we carefully endeavour to cultivate our understandings by reading and conversation; being always open to conviction, making all reasonable conceffions, giving a fair and candid hearing, and "judging no man before the time.” Laftly, the only way to fubdue our vices, is, firft, to cut off the fuccours that supply them; by being fo ber, ber, chaste, and temperate; to accuftom our thoughts to heavenly contemplations, always having in view that eternal happiness which is to be the end of our spiritual warfare, and the crown of our victory. SERMON XIII, 1 PET. iii. 8. He that will love life and fee good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Τ HE defire of long life attended with peace and plenty in this world, and of endlefs felicity in the next, is fo univerfal and prevalent, that they must be loft to all sense of humanity and religion who do not entertain it. A long life on earth is truly defirable for our own fakes, that we may pass from one stage of virtue to another, gradually throw off our vices and fubdue our paffions, wean ourselves from fenfual thoughts. and and gratifications, and in due time attain to that fpiritual perfection which is requifite for our admission into heaven: and peace and plenty are no lefs defirable, in order to set us above temptations to dishonefly, and that uneafiness of mind, which often occafions diftruft, if not despair; and too often rash words, ungrateful murmurs, and clamorous complaints but chiefly are they both deferving our folicitous regard, for that godlike ability of promoting the temporal and spiritual good of others.----And as to the joys of an happy eternity, fordid and sensual indeed must they be, whose fouls do not continually afpire after them. Yet all these ineftimable bleffings may be obtained or loft; and the contrary |