scene of trial as requires their conftant exertion, to be thus indolent and careless, argues the greatest debafement of character. Not to mention the motives that might fpring from the interefting study of the human heart, and the contemplation of fuch events as frequently involve the happiness of our fellow-creatures; nor to dwell on that Chriftian charity which should always teach us to share a brother's fortunes; we might recommend this moral vigilance of conduct from the prevailing motives of felf-love. In the daily conflict of human paffions we must fometimes expect to bear a part; and happy will it be for us, if we are prepared, by habits of reflection, previously formed, to repel fuch temptations as might affail us in the evil hours of angry pride, of disappointed ambition, or worldly forrow,

To a wife man, indeed, the experience of every difafter in life will afford fome good; and one of the best distinctions that can be formed, perhaps, between him

who

who merits this appellation, and one whom the fcriptures, with great propriety, deem a fool, is, that the former ftudies to fashion his mind, character and difpofition to the condition of his nature; while the latter, from a blind indulgence of every defire that rifes in his foul, and the want of exercising thofe faculties which diftinguish him from the brute, journeys through life as though the difcipline of its cares and forrows, its pleafures and temptations reached not him, and therefore foon becomes wretched, and perhaps guilty, before he well knows that he has strayed from the path of duty.

THIS indolence and inattention to our principles and conduct, is one of the most fatal errors. It operates infenfibly, and often leads to the worft confequences. We are, for this reafon, juftly commanded, " to

keep the heart with all diligence, for "out of it are the iffues of life."

To you, therefore, let the various fcenes which daily pafs before you, and those

concerns

concerns in which we all are interested, never wear an indifferent afpect. Confider them, study them, and meditate on them. With regard to the forrows of life, we all of us, I fuppofe, have it in our power to appeal to experience; and on no occafion can we appeal to her with greater advantage. From paft afflictions we derive the most foothing comforts, and in the severest trials, the most amiable principles are formed, and the gentleft fympathies of nature originate. These too are the precious moments in which the foul dwells with more grateful adoration, and, perhaps, with a more lively faith, on the merits of a crucified Redeemer; whose transcendant love and glorious example derive additional force, from his having been himself “a man of forrows and acquaint"ed with grief." Confider, alfo, if ever you have been under the preffure of calamity, with what an aching heart you viewed the unkindness and neglect of fome, and with what gratitude and joy your foul expanded to the friendship and benevo

lence

lence of others. Remember what kind emotions and what pious wifhes fuch conduct excited in your bofom, and do not forget your duty to others.

FROM a knowledge that forrow has this happy influence in forming the temper, and regulating the conduct of man, our heavenly Lord pronounced his peculiar bleffing on "thofe that mourn." It is from this pleafing, though melancholy experience alfo, we acquire that equanimity and patient fortitude, which are fo neceffary for us in this probationary state of our existence. From having already felt the preffure of calamity, you are no ftrangers to its nature or its force. When fome fudden and unexpected blow; therefore, fhall overwhelm your foul with anguifh, let experience teach you by what imperceptible degrees the heart has again recovered its repofe. Confider the filent operations of time. Call to your remembrance how the ftorm of adverfity, like the tempeft in the air, has fpent itfelf as it paffed;

paffed, till all around you was ferenity and peace. Reflections like thefe will fortify your minds against thofe ills of life which are yet to come, and, in fome meafure, fecure happiness, by repelling the force of mifery.

LET me now direct your attention to a fubject in which we are all equally interested, a fubject which never fails to fill the guilty bofom with terror, and the heart of a religious man with a mixture of awful pleasure and melancholy joy !— I mean, "the house of mourning," and the chambers of death. Among the ftrange variety of events that happen to mortals, death is common to all. How foon that awful period will arrive, which alters the mode of our existence, and wafts us into another world, we know not; all we are affured of is, that it must come, and cannot be very far off. Death is the debt due to nature; and as it is the laft, fo it is the most important event, that can happen to us in this world.

5

Here,