work a cure; because the Levitical law directed, that when a leper was cleanfed, he should go and fhew himself to the Prieft; from whom alfo he was to receive a certificate of his cleansing, in order to his re-admiffion to focial priviledges; and it was eafy for these lepers to infer, that Jefus would not have fent them to the priest, had he not intended to make them whole. In adopting this language it probably was our Lord's defign to teach them, that to enjoy his bleffing they must do his will; and they found their priviledge in their obedience; for," as they went they were cleanfed."

He who was a Samaritan, our text tells us, was fo affected with this fudden difplay of divine grace and power, that both the teftimony of the Priest, and the confequent fatisfaction he must feel in making use of that teftimony, as an introduction to fociety, from which he had perhaps been long expelled, were lefs to him than the pleasures of gratitude. He haftens to the prefence of his deliverer, glorifies God aloud, falls down at Immanuel's feet, and from the fulness of his heart, gives him the most affectionate thanks.

Many circumftances combine to render this scene highly interefting. His national character as a Samaritan, the dreadful nature of the complaint from which he had been freed, the fudden and unexpected manner in which it was accomplished, the warmth of his gratitude, and the humble

Lev. xiv. 2.

manner

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manner in which he expreffed it-all affect the heart; but the concluding part of the narrative commands fenfations, which though of an oppofite. nature, are equally interefting. V. 17, 18, Jefus faid, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God fave this ftranger."

Who is there that withholds a cenfure from these ungrateful lepers? Alas! that cenfure will more or lefs involve us all. Thefe men were fo eager to enjoy the gift, that they forgot the giver: and who among us can boaft exemption from the fame iniquity! We are all conftantly receiving proofs of the bounty of our God. It is his air that we breathe. It is his light that we enjoy. Every thing which contributes to our fecurity, our support, or our enjoyment; the heavens, the earth, and univerfal nature, all confpiring to promote our happiness, bear witness to his beneficence, and loudly demand our grateful acknowledgments; but we, too oft, intent on nothing but our perfonal fafety and comfort, and almoft, or wholly unmindful of "the Father of lights, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh," give occafion to the affecting exclamation, -"Where are the nine?"

In what a bafe and unworthy light does ingratitude appear, when contrafted with the conduct of the grateful leper? And how does the conduct of this man, by all fo much approved, recommend itself to univerfal imitation! What you all admire,

I wish

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I wish you all to become; and to that end I would endeavour to excite your gratitude to God, for the benefits you enjoy, as Men, as Chriftians, and as Britons.

I. Our good and great Creator hath demands upon us for ardent gratitude as MEN.

How capable of happiness hath he formed us! Every fenfe is a diftinct avenue to enjoyment. And how many objects to meet and gratify our senses croud around? All the infinite diverfities of form, and of color, of odour, of taste, and of found, are defigned, directly or indirectly, to administer to the comfort of man. For bim the fun, with all his genial influence, rifes on our world. For him the moon imparts her light. For him the cattle, the fishes, and the fowl multiply; and to subserve bis interefts, the prolific earth yields her increase of trees, and herbs, and flowers, "from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyffop that fpringeth out of the wall." 'Tis be

"for whom the whole creation finiles,

At once, the head, the heart, the mouth of all."

Man is diftinguished above all other beings in the world by his intellectual powers, which effentially differ from mere animal instinct, and thereby exalt his nature unspeakably above that of "the brutes which perish." It is through thefe rational faculties that man is enabled to advance in fcience, and

improve

improve in art. What other animals are when they attain to their full growth, that, unless it be in mere gesticulation, they are till they die; but man is enabled by observation, reading, conversation, reflection, and experiment, to go on towards perfection; and he who is born a babe may die a Newton. It is this which renders occafional retirement fo full of charms to the man of contemplation and virtue, whilst every object in nature, and every event in providence, fupplies him with a new theme for profitable meditation. It is this which renders fociety fo fweet and improving, whilft mind unfolds itself to mind, and each individual in the circle participates of the common stock of information. Without this rational faculty we should be wholly incapable of religious exercifes. Religion is in fact an abstract thing, because its object is invifible. Man alone, amidst all the animal tenants of the globe, can conceive of property diftinct from form and space: he alone, therefore, can be devout. The fpirit which Jehovah at first breathed into him, pants to find its author; and rifes in queft of God: and when the longing foul attains to an acquaintance with the deity, there it takes up its everlasting reft; and folacing itself in the divine embrace, with filial feeling, cries " Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon the earth I defire befide thee! My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever *."

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To improve our fenfe of obligation, let us review the conduct of divine providence towards us, from the days of helpless infancy, to the prefent hour. How hath his hand fupplied, and his arm fustained us? With what tender and constant care hath he watched over us? From what unnumbered evils hath he faved us? And with what various and important favors hath he enriched us? And all this whilft we were either too young to reflect upon his goodness, or fo abominably ungrateful as to refufe to celebrate it. Have we not on the contrary indulged a thoughtless, trifling, indevout, and impious spirit? Have we not lived in the habitual neglect of prayer and praife? Have we not faid in our hearts, when brought by cuftom to the ordinances of God's house, "What a wearinefs is it! and when will his fabbaths be over!" Yea, have not fome broken through the reftraints of conscience and education, to take their carnal pleasure on God's holy day? How many gracious calls, and folemn warnings have we flighted! How many seasons of improvement wafted and abused! And yet he fpares us yet fupports us-yet crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies! O, whilst he is thus paffing by us, and proclaiming his name," The LORD, the LORD God, gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindness," may we feel the strings of our gratitude effectually touched, till every power bursts forth in unifon, and the grateful fong, which firft founded on the hill of Zion, be refounded throughout the tribes of man. "Bless the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within B

me,