"things which are mighty; and bafe things "of the world, and things which are defpi་ fed, hath God chofen, yea, and things "which are not, to bring to nought things "that are: that no flesh fhould glory in his prefence." And then adds, "But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is "made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, "and fanctification, and redemption: that, "according as it is written, He that glorieth, "let him glory in the Lord."

Were it neceffary to defcend to other particulars that might be named, it would be eafy to fhow, that all our advantages, of what kind foever, whether they belong to the body or outward eftate, are equally derived from God, and dependent upon him, Hear what God faid to Mofes, Exod. iv. II. "Who hath made man's mouth? or who "maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the feeing,

or blind? have not I the Lord?" How fublime, and how juft, were the fentiments which Hannah expreffed! 1 Sam. ii. 3. &c. "Talk no more fo exceeding proudly, and let not arrogancy proceed out of your "mouth for the Lord is a God of know

"ledge,

"ledge, and by him actions are weighed."The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He "bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth

up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh "rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, "and lifteth up the beggar from the dung"hill, to fet them among princes, and to "make them inherit the throne of glory: "for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, "and he, hath fet the world upon them." And with what humble, but elevated devotion did David, in the height of his profperity, afcribe all that he poffeffed to the free bounty of God, when he bleffed the Lord, and faid before all the congregation of the children of Ifrael, (6 Thine, O Lord, is the "greatnefs, and the power, and the glory, " and the victory, and the majesty for all "that is in the heaven, and in the earth, is "thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and "thou art exalted as head above all. Both "riches and honour come of thee, and thou "reigneft over all; and in thine hand is

power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give ftrength unto

❝ all.

"all. Now therefore, our God, we thank "thee, and praise thy glorious name. But " who am I, and what is my people, that

we should be able to offer fo willingly af"ter this fort? for all things come of thee, " and of thine own have we given thee."O Lord our God, all this store that we "have prepared to build thee an house for "thy name, cometh of thine hand, and is "all thine own.'

I might quote many other paffages to the fame purpose; but you have heard enough to fatisfy you that I am fupported by the highest authority when I fay, that all the bleffings we poffefs are the gifts of God, the effects of his free and unmerited liberality.

This doctrine, as I obferved in the entrance, hath none of the charms of novelty to recommend it. But is it on that account lefs needful to be infifted upon? Moft affuredly it is not. I believe we fhall find, upon inquiry, that the most obvious truths are univerfally the leaft regarded, and therefore have most need to be frequently brought in view, that men may be constrained to

bestow

bestow fome attention upon them, and to confider the influence they ought to have upon their temper and conduct. I am afraid that we judge of fpiritual things in the fame abfurd manner that we judge of temporal things; I mean, that we put a fanciful value upon them, and do not rate them according to their intrinfic worth and real usefulness.

We fee every day, that earthly things are estimated, not by their ufe, but by their fcarcity; infomuch that, in common language, the words rare and precious are convertible terms; though, in fact, the things that are truly precious, because most neceffary, instead of being rare, are scattered abroad with the greatest profufion. Thus doth God difpenfe temporal benefits; the best, that is, the most useful, are universally given out in greatest abundance. And it may justly be affirmed, that spiritual bleffings are difpenfed in the fame way. The most comprehenfive blefling, the unspeakable gift of Jefus Chrift, is of all others the most free and liberal, being offered," without $6 money and without price," to every fin

ner

ner of mankind, without exception; and actually conferred upon all who, feeling their need of a Saviour, are made willing to receive and reft upon him alone for pardon, and peace, and complete falvation. In like manner, the great rules of duty, and the truths that are beft adapted to purify our hearts and reform our practice, are difperfed as it were around us in the greatest plenty and variety. God, who hath appointed our work, hath likewife limited the feafon for doing it; and therefore, that we may not lose a moment, the most useful and neceffary inftruments of action are laid fo near us, that we need only stretch forth our hand, to take hold of them. Were they placed at a distance, the opportunity of acting might frequently pafs away before the proper means and instruments were got ready. But fuch wife and'effectual provifion is made, that no man fhall have it in his power to plead this excufe. If any piece of duty be left undone, it cannot be owing either to the want of a plain rule to direct our conduct, or of fufficient arguments and encouragements to move us to action, but

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