which have been so industriously selected from the stores of heathen morality.

However difficult it may appear to the stubborn and perverse passions of men, to put this into potential operation, it is nevertheless within the compass of our means as well as among our duties; and if it were practised, under God's grace, we might again see partially realized upon earth, that beautiful picture of temporal felicity, which prophecy has announced to us as to be consummated before Christ's kingdom upon earth shall cease"when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. When the cow and the bear shall feed, when their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den, and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Do not all of us receive continual marks of favour from God? Does not every blessing proceed from Him? Without the indefatigable care of His Providence, what would become of all the myriads of beings, whose interests that Providence provides for and superintends? Has not our ransom from eternal death been paid by his beloved Son, who "bore our griefs and carried our sorrows," "nail

ing them to his cross," and, for our sakes, "triumphing over them in it"? Who is there among us that does not hope to "enter into his joy" hereafter? Can any of us, however, say that we have not frequently wronged, provoked-nay constantly sinned against Him who has done so much for us in this life, and to whom we look for such ineffable enjoyments in another? Have we not made ourselves his enemies, by frequently rebelling against him? Do we not then virtually deny our own right to expect His favour and forgiveness, if we refuse to bestow ours upon our enemies in this world? If the Almighty were to act upon our principles, when we deviate from the divine precept of the text, what would be our probable condition in eternity? Let us think on these things. Let us seriously consider what advantages we gain by encouraging feelings of love, even towards those who have wronged us, and what hazards we run by giving way to emotions of hatred. And may such reflections so actuate our conduct here, that at the day of general reckoning at the bar of Heaven, where all, of every nation, and kindred, and tongue, shall stand before their Omnipotent Judge, we shall not fear to be reproached with a neglect of duty towards our neighbour, whether he have been friend or foe.

SERMON IV.

THE UNREASONABLENESS OF MURMURING AGAINST THE DIVINE JUDGMENTS.

LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH, III. 39.

"Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?"

THERE are, perhaps, few virtues less general than a patient submission to the visitations of Providence, when they affect our comforts in this world. We murmur and repine, where we should obey and fear. Whence, then, may we inquire, arises this disposition in man to act so contrary to moral necessity, to think so lightly of the blessings of Providence, to assail so often, by his complaints, the just dispensations of Heaven, when a patient obedience is so evidently the only becoming character of a creature in relation to his Creator? Nay, but, O man, who art thou, that repliest against God? shall the thing formed, say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus ?"

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This disposition arises, amongst other causes,

from overlooking our own demerits; from an arrogant assumption of rights which, under no circumstances, can belong to us; and from closing our hearts against the awful truth, that the Almighty can punish as well as forgive.

By overlooking our own demerits, we frequently fall into a dangerous, nay, it may be, into a fatal

error.

We consider not that "out of the mouth of the Lord proceedeth not evil and good;" but whilst, indeed, we ought to know him to be the whole sum and substance of the latter, we are apt to ascribe to him those evils which originate with ourselves. We presume to murmur against the mighty Majesty on high, because that cup is bitter which we ourselves have drugged. There seem to be but too many of the malcontents among us, who reason upon the occurrences of life as if they had been called into existence merely to be the sport of a capricious Providence: to pass through a career of "mourning and woe," and to be forced at last into an uncertain eternity:-never choosing for a moment to consider that everlasting happiness is the purpose for which they were called to life from the dust, and that the trials of this world are only a preparatory ordeal, in passing through which they are to fit and prepare themselves for the felicities of a better. "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall come forth; they that