mally. This then is the natural happiness of man, fince it alone can anfwer the natural defires of man; for nothing less than eternal life can fatisfy that defire of life which is implanted in man: and nothing can be more evident to fenfe than this is to reason, that fomething has been from all eternity, and fomething shall be to all eternity: fo that our defires of eternity are not loofe ill-grounded defires; but there are evidently objects in nature fitted to them. Since then we cannot poffibly live without defiring to live for ever, and to enjoy eternal happiness ; fince likewife it is clear to a demonstration that there are things eternal; is it not agreeable to the very inftinct of nature to endeavour after these things, which can only make for our happiness, if by any means we may attain to them? To lead us to the poffeffion and enjoyment of these things is the work and business of religion: and therefore to be employed in the work of religion is to be employed in the work of nature, which is to feek and pursue its own happiness and perfection.

If religion is attended with difficulties, yet the glories we attain to through the means of religion are worth the purchase. What is there that can be had without pains and trouble? Not even the present enjoyment of this life. Why then should we think much of being at some trouble to purchase the eternal things of heaven? We do not grudge it in less matters, in the matter of our earthly hopes and defires. We lofe nothing by religion that we could poffibly keep long without it: a good man can fuffer only in this world; and were he not to fuffer, yet the course of nature would foon part him

and the world, and the enjoyments of it. And is it not worth our while to refign the things we cannot keep a little the fooner, for the sake of that happinefs, which once poffeffed can never be taken from us, but, like our defires, will be ever fresh and new, not impaired by ufe, or palled by enjoyment?

It is wife to retire from the pleasures of the world, were it only to guard against this certain evil confequence, that if we follow the prefent things, to the neglect and contempt of future happiness, the time will certainly come when our prefent enjoyments will be paft and gone, when things future will be growing apace to be the things prefent; and then we shall have nothing left but this evil thought to haunt us perpetually, that we have had our good things in this world, and must expect evil things in the world to come; that we have for the time paft been comforted, but muft for the time to come be tormented. As fhort-lived as men are, they often outlaft the world, that is, the enjoyments of it: they live to be past the pleasures of it, and can have no comfort or ease by any fenfe. And is not a wicked man in a fine condition, when he has no enjoyment in this world, and no hopes in the next? Men, in the youth and vigour of age, may overcome the troublesome thoughts of another world: they are capable of a conftant fucceffion of worldly pleasures, which may extinguish thought and confideration : but, if they live to be deferted by fenfe, to be exposed to thought and reflection, how difmal a profpect have they! how are they tormented with the thoughts of what is paft! and how do they dread the thoughts of what is to come!

And happy were it for them if their fears were to be their only torment: but let their eyes but once be closed, and their fears must be succeeded by more than even their fears could fuggeft: the things future will then be the things prefent; and this thought, that they are eternal, will exclude all glimmerings of hope or comfort, and leave them the prey of pain and of despair.

Let us then work whilft we have the day; for the night cometh when no man can work. This is the day, and for aught we know this only is the day of peace. Confider then the things which make for your falvation, and follow after them, for they lead to life and immortality.

1

A

DISCOURSE LXI.

General Epiftle of St. Jude, ver. 3.—the latter part.

-It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you! that ye fhould earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the faints,

IT is

T is at all times the duty of the paftors and minifters of the Chriftian church to call upon the people to be zealous to maintain, and by proper methods to propagate, the faith of the Gofpel: but there are seasons in which it is more especially neceffary for them to discharge this duty; feasons which require that the paftors fhould be vigilant to prevent, and the people careful to avoid, the danger of growing errors and fuperftitions.

Such was the season, and such the occafion of this Epiftle. Some very dangerous errors, and fome abominable practices, began to fhew themselves among the members of the church, and there was great reafon to apprehend the infection would fpread. Certain men, it seems, had crept in unawares -ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into laf civioufnefs, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift. This it was that made it needful for the Apostle to exhort Chriftians every-where to