SERM of God is fulness of joy, and at his right VII. hand there are pleasures for evermore.

I. THOU wilt show me the path of life. This plainly imports that there are different paths or courses of conduct, which may be pursued by men in this world; a path which leads to life or happiness, and a path which issues in death or destruction. These opposite lines of conduct are determined by the choice which men make of virtue or of vice; and hence men are divided into two great classes, according as their inclinations lead them to good or evil., The path of life is often a rough and difficult path, followed only by a few. The opposite one is the broad way, in which the multitude walk; seemingly smooth, and strewed with flowers; but leading in the end to death and misery. The path. of life conducts us up a steep ascent. The palace of virtue, has, in all ages, been represented as placed on the summit of a hill; in the ascent of which labour is requisite, and difficulties are to be surmounted; and where a conductor is needed, to direct our way, and to aid our steps.

Now,

Arrani

Now, the hope which good men enter- SERM. tain is, that this path of life shall be shown VII. them by God; that, when their intentions are upright, God will both instruct them concerning the road which leads to true happiness, and will assist them to pursue it successfully. Among nations where any suitable ideas of God or of virtue began to be formed, hopes of this nature also began to be entertained. It was consonant to the nature of man, to think that the Supreme Being was favourable to virtue. Accordingly, in the writings of some of the ancient philosophers, we find various obscure traces of this belief, that there was a benign heavenly Spirit, who illuminated the minds of the virtuous, and assisted their endeavours to obtain wisdom and happiness. They even asserted, that no man became great or good without some inspiration of Heaven.

But what they indistinctly conceived, and could not with confidence rely upon, the doctrine of Christianity hath clearly explained and fully confirmed; expressly and frequently teaching, that, not only by the external discoveries of revelation, but

by

VII.

SERM by the inward operations of his Spirit, he shows to the humble and virtuous the path of life. While, by his word, he instructs them in their duty, by the influence of his grace, he assists them in the performance of it. In all revelation there is certainly no doctrine more comfortable than this. It is to good men a noble and pleasing thought, that they are pursuing a path God has discovered and pointed out to them. For they know that every path, in which he is their conductor, must be honourable, must be safe, must bring them in the end to felicity. They follow that Shepherd of Israel, who always leads his flock into green pastures; and makes them lie down beside the still waters. At the same time, they know that, if there be truth in religion at all, on this principle they may securely rest, that the Divine Being will never desert those who are endeavouring to follow out, as they can, the path which he has shown them. He beholds them here in a state of great imbecility; surrounded with much darkness; exposed to numberless dangers; from the temptations that assault them without, and

the

VII.

the seduction of misguided and disorderly SEKM. passions within. In this situation, can they ever suspect that the Father of mercies will leave his servants, alone and unbefriended, to struggle up the hill of virtue, without stretching forth a compassionate arm to aid their frailty, and to guide them through the bewildering paths of life? Where were then the God of love? Where, those infinite compassions of his nature, in which all his worshippers have been encouraged to trust?-No: He will send forth his light and his truth to bring them to his holy hill. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and his countenance beholdeth the upright. With him there is no oblique purpose, to turn him aside from favouring the cause of goodness. No undertaking, to which he has given his countenance, shall prove abortive. No promise that he has made shall be allowed to fall. Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant. The meek will he guide in judgment, and them will he teach his way. His grace shall be sufficient for them, and his

strength

1

VII.

SERM, strength be made perfect in their weakness. They go from strength to strength; every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.-Such are the hopes with which good men in the present life set forth on a course of piety and virtue. Thou wilt show me the path of life. Let us now proceed,

II. To consider the termination of these hopes in a future state. In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. All happiness assuredly dwells with God. The fountain of life is justly said to be with him. That supreme and independent Being must necessarily possess within himself every principle of beatitude; and no cause from without can possibly affect his untroubled felicity. Among created dependent beings, happiness flows in scattered and feeble streams; streams that are often tinged with the blackness of misery. But from before the throne of God issues the river of life, full, unmixed, and pure; and the pleasures, which now in scanty portions we are permitted to taste, are all

derived