a virtuous courfe of life; and, in propor tion as we advance in real goodness, the labour and difficulty abate, and at last almost entirely cease.

3. But even in thefe cafes, where the con flict has been hard and painful, the pleafure of victory does more than overbalance all the preceding pains. The labour and ftruggle are foon over, and the consciousness of having done well affords a lasting fatisfaction. Befides, the innumerable other advantages, even in this prefent world, of a life of piety and virtue do much more than compenfate for the tranfient pains or labours of refiftance to impulfes of bad paffions at particular times or in peculiar circumftances. So that it is certainly true, beyond all controverfy, that wifdom's ways are ways of pleafantnefs, and all her paths are peace: and that godliness is great gain, having the promifes both of this life and of that which is to come.

To conclude then: Let it be admitted as an inconteftable principle in the Chriftian scheme of morality, that there can be no uniformly virtuous life without felf-denial:

SERM.

XXVI.

SERM. but at the fame time let it be admitted as XXVI. equally incontestable, that the virtuous life, of which felf-denial is an essential part, is beyond comparison much happier than any other.

Let every one of us, young and old, ever inculcate upon our minds, that virtuous habits are the beft fecurity for happiness through every period of life; that benevolence, felf-command, humility, integrity, and truth, are ever attended with felf-fatisfaction, health, reputation, peace, and fafety. And on the other hand, let us habitually represent to our thoughts the frightful confequences of the oppofite vices; the torments of heart that attend envy, malice, and revenge; the dreadful disasters of intemperance and unfubdued defires; the anxieties of pride; the disappointments of ambition; the contempt that attends on diffimulation; the meanness and dangers of falsehood and dishonesty.

Let every one of us, in every ftage and condition of life, guard against the deceitful appearances of pleasure, of wealth or ambition, which are apt to take poffeffion

of

of our hearts. Let us fettle it in our minds

as a most certain, an incontestable and important maxim, that true felicity is feated within the mind, and not in external poffeffions. Let us ever reflect upon the fincere happiness, the genuine contentment, which the great Author of our frame hath connected with real virtue, even when she dwells in the cottage of the peasant. And on the other hand, let us reflect upon the gloomy discontent and secret restless defires that accompany vice, even when her habitation is in the palaces of the great: that in the one situation, the pride of state, the elegancies of life, the accumulations of wealth, are turned into curfes by the endlefs and anxious cravings of unbounded appetites: that in the other life of labour, in the fimple discharge of the duties of a low station, the very neceffaries of life are brightened into real blessings, by the ferenity and cheerfulness of a contented and wellgoverned mind.

May the grace of God, which hath appeared unto all men, teach us in the most effectual

Y 4

SERM.

XXVI.

XXVI.

SERM. effectual manner to deny all ungodliness and worldly lufts, and to live foberly, righteously and godly, in this present world. Then may we look for the bleffed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Christ. Amen.

SERMON XXVII.

On the Sources of Humility.

ISAIAH, lvii. 15.

Thus faith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whofe name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, and with him alfo that is of a contrite and bumble Spirit, to revive the fpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

E

VERY one who has given a ferious SER M. attention to the morality of the New XXVII. Teftament, muft have obferved, that the virtue of humility is recommended and enjoined in it in a very peculiar and distinguifhing manner. The Gospel difpenfation itself is ushered in by a folemn call to men to repent, as a neceffary preparation for the reception