from numberless facts drawn both from sacred and profane history, as well as from daily experience, it appears beyond a doubt, that prosperity is a more dangerous probation than adversity, David, while oppressed and persecuted, displayed a bright pattern of every amiable grace and virtue; but when at peace and rest in his kingdom, he falls a prey to ungovernable passions, and proves a murderer and an adulterer. His wiser son, Solomon, while he had to struggle with the difficulties of establishing a tottering throne, shews himself truly pious and religious-shews himself humble, modest, chaste; but with all his superior wisdom, he is not able to withstand the allurements of uninterrupted ease, affluence, and power; but is thereby unhappily betrayed into effeminacy and idolatry. The good Hezekiah, whose life was a shining example of piety and virtue, yet is not proof against the snare of prosperity; but elated with the joy of two great deliverances from a formidable hostile invasion, and a dangerous bodily indisposition, his heart gives way to pride and vanity. The truth is, there are many secret seeds of corruption in the heart whose existence we do not so much as suspect, but which immediately discover themselves upon being roused by a proper temptation. Hazael, when told by the prophet of the "great evil"

[SERM, XXXII. that he would" do to the children of Israel," exclaims, and undoubtedly with a strong mixture of indignation at the supposition that he was capable of such enormous wickedness, " "What, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great

thing?" yet the very next day he commits the atrocious crime of murdering his master. The most hardened sinner may recollect the period when he would have shuddered at the very idea of those iniquities which he now commits with greediness; it is, therefore, from ignorance of ourselves that we often wish for an alteration in our condition, which, were God to grant it to us, might prove our destruction. The intention of the Almighty in all his dispensations toward men is to make them wiser and better; and surely he knows what are the most proper means to accomplish his own ends. What strange creatures would men be were they indulged in all their extravagant humours, wishes, and desires; when they are so proud, so puffed up, so thoughtless and giddy, notwithstanding all the motives they have to humility and consideration. I add farther, that it is, perhaps, absolutely necessary, in order to our relishing the sweets of life in a proper manner, that we should taste a small mixture of its bitterness. We are little sensible how much we owe to God for the blessing of health,

till we come to be deprived of it; we undervalue the common blessings of Providence so long as they abound, till poverty cometh" as one that "travelleth,” and points out their real worth. Whilst we prosper in all our undertakings, we little regard the over-ruling Providence which gave a blessing to our endeavours, till we are brought to reflection by feeling what it is to be disappointed; then are we constrained to acknowledge that "except the Lord build the "house, they labour in vain that build it: except "the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh "but in vain.". I now proceed to mention a

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Third end for which the Almighty afflicts men; and that is, to wean them from this world. Were our existence indeed confined to the narrow limits of this mortal state, had God designed us to pass only a few transitory years on this earth, it might have been reasonably expected that we should have enjoyed uninterrupted happiness; but as this life is merely a preparation for the more important part of our existence, and as nothing more obstructs our views of immortality than an attachment to sublunary enjoyments, God, in mercy, in pity to our souls, deprives us of these, to shew us the folly and the danger of seeking our happiness, and setting up our rest

[SERM. XXXII. that he would" do to the children of Israel," exclaims, and undoubtedly with a strong mixture of indignation at the supposition that he was capable of such enormous wickedness, "What, is "thy servant a dog, that he should do this great "thing?" yet the very next day he commits the atrocious crime of murdering his master. The most hardened sinner may recollect the period when he would have shuddered at the very idea of those iniquities which he now commits with greediness; it is, therefore, from ignorance of ourselves that we often wish for an alteration in our condition, which, were God to grant it to us, might prove our destruction. The intention of the Almighty in all his dispensations toward men is to make them wiser and better; and surely he knows what are the most proper means to accomplish his own ends. What strange creatures would men be were they indulged in all their extravagant humours, wishes, and desires; when they are so proud, so puffed up, so thoughtless and giddy, notwithstanding all the motives they have to humility and consideration. I add farther, that it is, perhaps, absolutely necessary, in order to our relishing the sweets of life in a proper manner, that we should taste a small mixture of its bitterness. We are little sensible how much we owe to God for the blessing of health,

till we come to be deprived of it; we undervalue the common blessings of Providence so long as they abound, till poverty cometh" as one that

travelleth," and points out their real worth. Whilst we prosper in all our undertakings, we little regard the over-ruling Providence which gave a blessing to our endeavours, till we are brought to reflection by feeling what it is to be disappointed; then are we constrained to acknowledge that "except the Lord build the "house, they labour in vain that build it: except "the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh "but in vain." I now proceed to mention a

Third end for which the Almighty afflicts men; and that is, to wean them from this world. Were our existence indeed confined to the narrow limits of this mortal state, had God designed us to pass only a few transitory years on this earth, it might have been reasonably expected that we should have enjoyed uninterrupted happiness; but as this life is merely a preparation for the more important part of our existence, and as nothing more obstructs our views of immortality than an attachment to sublunary enjoyments, God, in mercy, in pity to our souls, deprives us of these, to shew us the folly and the danger of secking our happiness, and setting up our rest