תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

best way to promote their edification. But if their tafte be totally vitiated, and incline them to adopt that which will do them more harm than good, and to relish poison more than food, in that cafe the most charitable thing the preacher can do, is, to endeavour to correct fuch a vicious appetite, which loaths that which is most wholesome and craves pernicious food; this I fay, it is his duty to attempt in the most gentle and prudent manner he can, tho he run the risk of having his judgment or orthodoxy called into queftion by them; for commonly they are the most arbitrary and unmerciful judges in this cafe, who are least of all qualified for that office.

[ocr errors]

(

There is not, perhaps, a more unaccountable weakness in human nature, than this, that with regard to religious matters our animofities are generally greatest where our differences are leaft; they who come pretty near to our ftandard, but ftop fhort there, are more the objects of our difguft and cenfure, than they who continue at the greatest diftance from it: and in many cafes it requires much candor and self-command to furmount this weakness. To whatever fecret fpring in the human mind it may

be

be owing, I fhall not ftay to enquire; but it is too obvious not to take notice of this circumftance.

[ocr errors]

We fhould all of us be careful to difcover and examine our proper taste of religious things; that if it be a false one, we may rectify it; if a bad one, mend it; if a right and good one, strengthen and improve it. For the mind is capable of a falfe guft, as well as the palate; and comes by it the fame way; viz. by being long ufed to unnatural relifhes, which become grateful by cuftom: and having found out what it is, and examined it by teft of Scripture, reason and confcience, if it be not very wrong let us indulge it, and read those books that are moft fuited to it, which, for that reafon, will be most edifying. But, at the fame time, let us take care of these two things, (1.) That it does not bias our judgment, and draw us into error. (2.) That it does not cramp our charity, and lead us to cenforioufness.

[blocks in formation]

CHAP.

XVII.

Of our great and governing Views in Life.

XVI.

A

NOTHER Part of Self, Knowledge is, to know what are the greater Ends for which we live.

We must confider what is the ultimate scope we aim at; the general maxims and principles we live by; or whether we have not yet determined our end, and are governed by no fixed principles; or by such as we are ashamed to acknowledge.

The firft and leading doctrine of pru⚫dence is, that a man propofe to himself his true and beft intereft for his end; and the next is that he make ufe of all those means and opportunities whereby that end is to be obtained. This is the

moft effectual way that I know of to

• fecure to one's felf the character of a

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

wife man here, and the reward of one hereafter. And between these two there is a very clofe connection, that he who ' does not do the latter, cannot be fuppofed to intend the former. He that is not careful of his actions, fhall never perfuade me that he seriously propofes to himself his best interest, as his end,

..for

⚫ for if he did, ply himself

he would as seriously ap

to the regulation of the

other, as the means (c).’

There are few that live fo much at random as not to have fome main end in view; fomething that influences their conduct, and is the great object of their purfuit and hope. A man cannot live without fome leading views; a wife man will always know what they are, whether it is fit he should be led by them or not; whether they are fuch as his understanding and reafon approve, or only fuch as fancy and inclination fuggeft. He will be as much concerned to act with reason, as to talk with reafon; as much ashamed of a folecifm and contradiction in his character, as in his converfation.

Where do our views centre ? In this world we are in; or that we are going to ? If our hopes and joys centre here, it is a mortifying thought, that we are every day departing from our happiness; but if they are fixed above, it is a joy to think that we are every day drawing nearer to the object of our highest wishes.

Is our main care to appear great in the eye of man; or good in the eye of God?

(c) Norris's Misc. p. 18.

if

If

if the former, we expofe ourselves to the pain of a perpetual disappointment. For it is extraordinary if the envy of men, do not rob us of fome part of our just praife, or if our vanity will be content with that portion of it they allow us. the latter be our main care, if our chief view is to be approved of GOD, we are laying up a fund of the moft lafting and folid fatisfactions: not to fay that this is the trueft way to appear great in the eye of men ; and to conciliate the esteem of all whose praise is worthy of our defires.

[ocr errors]

Be this then, O my foul, thy wife and fleady pursuit; let this circumfcribe and direct thy views; be this a law to thee, from which account it a fin to depart, whatever disrespect or contempt it may expose thee to from others (d); be this the character thou refolveft to live up to, and at all times to maintain, • both

(α) Όσα προτιθεται, τέλοις ως νόμοις, και ως ασεξητων αν παραβης τι τέλος εμμένο. Οι δαν ερη τις περι σε μη επιςρέφε. Epit. Enchir. cat. 74.-What you have once wifely propofed adhere to, as a law not to be violated without guilt. And mind noo what others fay of you.

« הקודםהמשך »