ing. Meditations on thefe divine subjects are moft worthy of a reafonable and immortal mind; and they are calculated to introduce into it the pureft confolations, and, at fome precious and chofen moments, the holieft raptures. Pious men, with one voice, confefs that their happiest seasons are thofe in which they are moft fenfible of the divine prefence; or, in which, approaching the throne of God with an humble truft in the divine mercy, they pour out their fouls to him in the fweet effufions of gratitude and love. "There be many who fay, who will fhew us any good? Lord! lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us! Thou haft put gladnefs in my heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine abounded."* Whom have I in heaven but thee! and there is none upon earth I defire befide thee!" Thefe are not the enjoyments of an unfanctified, or of a cold heart. But, when the heart is renewed after the image of God, and formed to the relish of divine truth-when it is created anew in Chrift Fefus unto good works, and animated by the fpirit of piety, it enjoys them with a

Pfalms xlviii. + Pfalms xxiii.

fatisfaction not to be defcribed, and derives from the objects of religion pleatures far fuperior to thofe that are yielded by the world, or that are ever talled by vicious.

inen.

But the divine benignity to mankind fhines molt confpicuoufly in a crucified Redeemer. What a fubject of delight to a fincere christian who feels his obligations to redeeming mercy! At the foot of the cross he pours the floods of his gratitude, and, looking up to the great facrifice of his falvation, he indulges the holy triumphs of immortal hope. Bleffed Jefus! what confolations flow from thy love! Where can the world open fuch a facred and inexhaufted fountain of joy? Whom, having not feen, we love; in whom believing we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

66

The next branch of religion confifts in thofe kind affections that connect us with mankind. "Thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf," is one half the law of chriflian duty, and is the great cement of chriflian

I. Peter i. 8.

fociety. The ordinary intercourse of the world is a cold commerce of interest, or a hypocritical drama of fictitious feelings. And the harmony of fociety is liable to be frequently disturbed and broken by envy, malice, hatred, emulations, wrath, ftrife, and fuch turbulent and malignant paffions, which are equally painful to those who indulge them, and those against whom they are directed. True piety, which makes us feel our fraternity with mankind, commands us to extinguifh all thofe felfifh difpofitions which throw men at a diftance from one another. If all men were governed by its benevolent fpirit, it would transform this hoftile and contentious world into an image of Paradise. By the amiable reprefentation which the apostle gives of this evangelic temper we may eftimate its lovely and happy fruits. Charity fuffereth long and is kind-charity envieth not-charity vaunteth not itself-is not puffed up-doth not behave itself unfeemly-feeketh not her own-is not eafily provoked-thinketh no evil-rejoiceth not in iniquity-but rejoiceth in the truth-beareth all things-believeth all things-hopeth all things-en

dureth all things." Many of our most tender and refefhing pleasures arise out of thofe kind affections that unite us to the great family of mankind. And heaven, as it refpects our intercourfe with one another, is but the perfection of these amiable difpofitions.-Humanity, that meets in every man a brother-Sympathy, that enters with warmth into the virtuous fenfibilities of others-Friendship, that glows with generous emotions, and binds us to those whom we love by the finest ties-Candour, that puts on every dubious appearance the most favorable interpretation-Charity, that feels with quickness the diftreffes of the unhappy-Integrity, that gives to all their due, and is unwilling to owe any man aught but love -and Generofity, that is more than juft, the benevolent overflowing of the foul, are principles of the higheft value, not only for their useful and happy effects on fociety but for the fweet enjoyment which they yield to our own bofom.

The exercise of friendship and benevolence to others is the way to enfure the like

I. Corinthians xiii.

returns from them. Or, if we meet with unreasonable and malignant fpirits, it is the best means to escape, or to render abortive their injurious defigns. How many feuds might be avoided, and what quietness of mind might be preferved, by a meeknefs and forbearance that cannot be provoked to retaliate the aggreffions, and offences of unreasonable men? How many wounds to our own peace might be prevented by a gentleness and humility that does not unneceffarily offend the pride, or invite the infolence of others? What painful irritations might be allayed, or would never be suffered to rife in the heart, by a candour that is not eafily induced to think evil, or indulge fufpicions of our neighbour, and by a generous prudence and dignity of mind that refufes to liften to the calumnies of the world?-If a man would live refpected and efteemed, and enjoy the exquifite pleasure of loving, and being beloved, let him early crufh in his heart the feeds of all unfocial paffions, and cultivate in his commerce with men the divine principles of gentleness and benevolence.