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SERMON VIII.

THE FRAILTY OF HUMAN NATURE.

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Job xiv. 2.

HE COMETH FORTH LIKE A FLOWER, AND IS CUT DOWN."

THERE is no class of images, perhaps, by which moral reflections can be so well illustrated, as that which is derived from natural objects and scenery. The force. of such illustrations, though more or less deeply according to circumstances, must be felt, by all. By the frequent recurrence of these scenes and objects to ourselves, our conceptions of them are constantly kept fresh and vivid. The illustrations derived from them, seem to partake of these qualities. We hardly ever tire of them. We can read them over and over, again in the works of the poet or the moralist, and not unfrequently with increased pleasure. Poet after poet presents us with the same thoughts and images, slightly varied perhaps in the dress or attitudə; and still they please because they still breathe of nature. Their magic influence still summons round us scenes of bliss and images of beauty, or gently overspreads the mind with that peaceful and not unpleasing melancholy, which attends upon the recol

lection of their departure. Many illustrations of the kind now referred to, are derived from the vegetable kingdom; and there are few, which excite a greater degree of interest than these, or make a deeper impression upon the mind. To the vegetable productions that adorn its surface, the earth which we inhabit is indebted for much of its beauty. Our senses are delighted by the annual renewal of its verdure. The flowery tribes more especially, by the delicacy of their texture, and the wonderful variety of their forms, colours, and habits, as well as by the fragrance which they exhale, attract our notice and minister to our gratification. It is scarcely possible for a reflecting person to follow these beautiful objects through the several stages of their brief existence, without being reminded of the vicissitudes of human life. They are impressive though silent monitors. Their being is an allegory of our own. They spring into life,-they bloom, they fade, they die. They have scarcely time to arrive at their full vigor and perfection, before their existence is terminated. Surely, my friends, the resemblance between their circumstances and ours, is such as no reflecting mind can overlook. Though obvious, however, it is on no account the less interesting. Frequently as it may have been suggested, it is a resemblance which can scarcely be thought of. without emotion. So plaintive and powerful is the appeal which it makes to the feelings through the imagination, that a more impressive and affecting representation of the brevity and frailty of human life has probably never been given, than that of Job, in the words of the text, "He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down."

Let us reflect a little on the description of the state of man here given by the sacred writer, with a view of ascertaining how far it is correct, and universally applicable; and, if so, of impressing our minds more deeply with its truth, so that it may exert a suitable influence upon our conduct.

And, first, it may be observed, that even when the life of man has been prolonged to its utmost limit, the similitude, contained in the text, may be employed with perfect propriety. Into what narrow dimensions does the most protracted period of human existence shrink when compared with eternity! To those who have already become partakers of an immortal being, and look forward with delight to ages of happiness and improvement, how brief and insignificant in comparison must the life of man appear! Surely to them, were they permitted to contemplate the birth, existence, and death of the children of mortality, the similitude employed in the text must appear most expressive and appropriate. We shall perceive the propriety of this beautiful image still more clearly, if we further consider the length of human life in connexion with our intellectual nature and consequent capacities of improvement. Is not a large proportion of the life of man over, before his understanding can be regarded as having reached its full maturity? How brief the period of his existence when viewed in connexion with the boundless realms of knowledge which he longs to traverse, or the plans of improvement, stretching far into futurity, which he is capable of originating! What proportion does the span of time, which has been allotted to him in this world, bear to his wishes, his hopes, his purposes? Even the

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flower, short-lived as it is, has time enough fully to unfold its leaves, and to expand its blossom; to spread its beauties before the sun, and give its fragrance to the breeze, and to shine forth in the full lustre of its loveliness, reaching the highest degree of perfection for which nature qualifies, and the Creator seems to have designed it; but man, rational and accountable man, the image of his Maker, the lord of the terrestrial creation, with capacities of improvement that may be pronounced unlimited, and with hopes and desires full of immortality, finds himself, for the most part, confined .within the narrow limits of three score years and ten; becomes sensible to the gradual decay of his mental faculties, at a time when he has learned to value them the most highly, and is the most desirous of devoting himself to the exercise of them; and sinks into the grave with plans unaccomplished, hopes disappointed, desires ungratified, and intellectual energies, frequently of a very high order, to all appearance wasted. Can we pursue this train of thought, my brethren, without perceiving that it may be said of man, with the utmost propriety, even when the term of his existence is the longest, that "he cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down?"

Further, this description may be applied with equal, perhaps with still greater, propriety, to those whose lot it is to be summoned from this world whilst yet in the prime of life, and in the full vigor of their mental faculties. We are strongly reminded by it in such cases, not merely of the brevity of human life, but, likewise, of the frailty of the tenure by which it is secured to its possessor. Consider, for a moment, the accidents to

which man is liable, together with the number and variety of the diseases that are constantly lying in wait for him, and say whether the tender flower, resting upon its frail stalk, which the first keen blast may overwhelm, or the first careless foot trample, be not an emblem of his condition as appropriate as it is beautiful. There are times, indeed, when, elated by the long continued enjoyment of health and happiness, we become forgetful of our weakness, and suffer ourselves to dream that we are already immortal. But self-deception such as this, can scarcely be of long continuance. Pain or sickness of some kind is almost sure to visit us soon, and restore us to our senses. Even where we do not experience them ourselves, we can hardly close our eyes against the unequivocal testimonies to the frailty of our common nature, given to us by the diseases and sufferings, and too frequently by the untimely deaths of many of our fellow-creatures. It is scarcely possible for us to pass any length of time, without having our attention forcibly attracted to this awful subject. Some sudden accident occurs, by which the lives of multitudes are sacrificed. The monster war arises in his wrath, and immolates in a day ten thousand victims. A fatal disorder is seen to commence its ravages, and to thin, with an appalling haste, the ranks of society. An untimely grave is opened for some neighbor, friend, or relative. The attention of society is arrested by the sudden fate of one, whose talents or situation had made him an object of general interest. We behold the conqueror, whose bloody occupation had been too long plied successfully, compelled at length to obey the mandate of one mightier than he, and add himself to the number of his

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