lence, how many fick through debauchery and intemperance; and fo with many other afflictions, which being withdrawn from those miseries we fo much complain of, would reduce them more than at first view. we could believe; and for those which remained, they would not appear fo terrible as at present, if we would place the good which we undesfervedly enjoy, against the ills which we deservedly feel; if we would confider how many persons were in a worse ftate, rather than caft up our eyes to those who are in a better; if we would reflect on the quick and sudden tranfitions which we fee from affliction to comfort, even in those who seem the fartheft gone in mifery; and that even in the midft of our sufferings we may have the strong confsolation of hope; we may bear the present in expectation of the future, and not unreasonably believe, that as we ebb with the one tide, we shall flow with the other. But fuppofing that our fufferings were as constant as they are fevere, that they were as confiderable in number as degree, and that S we we were affured they would continue as long as our lives, yet even in this deplorable condition we may with pleasure reflect, that the man that is born of a .woman is of few days, fo that our misfortunes will foon have an end; we may triumphantly confider, that our momentary afflictions will work for us an eternal and far more exceeding weight of glory. On the whole therefore, fince trouble fpringeth not out of the ground, but is fent and directed by an all-gracious, wife, and powerful God, since afflictions are the common burthen of our nature, and the very fevereft of them are not the adequate wages of our crimes, fince they are generally more than counterpoifed with bleffings, are to be endured but a fhort time, and will if properly borne turn to a good account, for thefe feveral reafons, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy foul for temptation. Set thy heart, and constantly endure and make not hafte in time of trouble. Cleave unto him and depart not not away, that thou may'st be encreased at thy latter end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take chearfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low eftate; that so suffering according to the will of God, we may commit the keeping of our fouls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, &c. &c. SERMON டி SERMON VII. MATTHEW vi. 11th. Give us this day our daily Bread. "HIS is the only petition in the Lord's TH Prayer, which immediately relates to our temporal profperity, and the obtaining of fuch things as are neceffary to our Being and well-being in this life. Many of the primitive Christians were of opinion, that the Bread which our Lord here teaches us to pray for, was not to be understood of any good things relating to the body, but of the Euchariftical Bread in the Lord's Supper, and of the spiritual fuftenance thereby conveyed to the foul by the increase of grace; and hence arofe the cuftom of receiving |