absolute disposal of every event, and can make every dispensation bring forth good to those that love him? Is not that man secure then, who has the almighty God for his refuge-who can safely repose an unbounded confidence in him who by his powerful word first spoke this universe into existence; and "in whom all things live,

re

move, and have their being ;"-who " maketh "his sun to rise, his rain to descend," the seasons to revolve, and the earth to bring forth abundantly all things needful and agreeable? And then, this almighty Being is not like the great ones of the earth, difficult of access, and hard of intreaty; no, he is at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances, ready to hear the voice of his supplicants: which leads me to a third ground of assurance to this purpose; namely, the unbounded goodness of God. Little would it avail us, that his omniscience could provide what was conducive to our happiness, or that his omnipotence was able to give it, were we not assured at the same time of his love to us, of his willingness to bestow his favours. When we consider our own deserving, indeed, little reason have we to expect good at his hand; but though with men this may be a way of reckoning, yet with God it

is otherwise, it is the very nature of his goodness to be extended to " the evil and the unthankful,”

VOL. II

to triumph over the unworthiness of its objects; it is likewise very different from what we observe among men in this respect, that with them, the greatness of a favour we wish to obtain imposes silence on us, lest our benefactor should think us guilty of presumption; or the sense of former obligations and benefits makes us ashamed to ask more. But it is not so with our heavenly benefactor: let the desires of our hearts be enlarged to the utmost, still they must fall infinitely short of what his boundless goodness is ever ready to grant; and the having formerly received favours at his hand is so far from being an argument against the continuation of them, that, on the contrary, God allows us to presume on what he has already done for us, as a title to further measures of goodness. True it is, he has no where promised us the superfluity, or even the abundance, of worldly enjoyments, but he has promised what is infinitely greater and better, his favour and love; and what can that man want, who is possessed of so rich an inheritance? But even this were not sufficient, if we had not a further ground of confidence, namely, the unalterable never-failing faithfulness of God: this, this is the security of all the rest, for "whom God loves, he "loves to the end. The mountains shall depart, " and the hills be removed, but my loving-kind

ness shall not depart, neither shall the covenant "of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that "hath mercy upon thee: with the Father of

lights there is no variableness nor shadow of "turning;" but "he is the same yesterday, to"day, and for ever;" no degree of unworthiness in us can ever alter the current of his lovingkindness toward us. "If this God then be for us, who

can be against us?" if we have an interest secured in his love, what can disturb us? With such a portion in reserve, even poverty is treasure inestimable, this world with all its distresses a paradise, and even misery itself puts on a smiling form. But besides all this, religion is in its own nature calculated to promote our happiness even in this world: does it not teach us to subdue our corrupt appetites and passions, which are the source of all our misery? for, when once our irregular desires are reduced within proper bounds, a very little we see is sufficient: a mind contented and at peace with itself, can enjoy the truest happiness in all circumstances; and a conscious freedom from guilt is more than a counterbalance to all the ills of life: honesty and uprightness in our dealings with mankind are the surest means of thriving in the world-a principle of universal benevolence the best way to conciliate friendsand a harmless and inoffensive conduct the most

qertain method to avoid enemies. So that "god"liness is in every respect great gain, having the

promise both of the life that now is, and of that "which is to come," and having in its own nature a tendency to insure present, as well as future happiness. I proceed in the

3d. Place, to enforce the duty with some motives and arguments.-The first I shall mention is, that it is the command and advice of our Saviour; which must, if we are what we profess, his disciples and servants, be of considerable weight with us. His will should to us ever be held sacred, for are we not bound by every tie of duty and gratitude to submit to his precepts, be they ever so severe, even to the "cutting off a right-hand, "or plucking out a right eye?" how much more, when all he requires of us is to study our own good; God has graciously been pleased to connect our duty and our interest together in the strictest manner, so that while we serve him, we at the same time promote our own well-being. What a noble encouragement to the practice of our duty, that" in the keeping of God's command"ments" there is the richest reward included; a reward which comprehends all the blessings and comforts of time and of eternity. The second motive I mention is, the great danger of

neglecting this precept. It is by no means a matter of indifference whether we observe it or not, for negligence here is attended with the most awful consequences; if we are not at pains to "seek after the kingdom of God and his righteousness," we of course secure to ourselves a portion of unutterable woe; we expose ourselves to the stings of the worm that dieth not," and the torments of " the fire that is not quenched." And with such a fearful prospect, what enjoyment is to be found in all the abundance of earthly good things? There is not a more alarming word in the whole book of God, than that by the prophet Malachi: "I will even curse your bles "sings; yea, I have cursed them already." Can there be a more terrible consideration than this, that the very bounties of Providence shall be converted into curses, and serve to heighten our condemnation? How wretched, how miserable must that man be, who has no provision made for eternity, and who is every moment haunted with the dreadful reflection of an ill spent life, and the gloomy prospect of the very next moment having his possessions torn from him, or he from them; and of being hurried from this world to the tribunal of his offended Judge, to receive the doom of that "wicked and unprofitable servant,"