reminded, that every advantage of which we can be poffeffed, and which can be the foundation of pride, as birth, riches, power, knowledge, &c. is the gift of God, and therefore fhould be enjoyed with gratitude, humility, and usefulness.

Mofes admonishes the Ifraelites on this fubject. Deut. viii. 12. &c. When thou "haft eaten and art full, and haft built goodly houfes, and dwelt therein; and "when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, "and thy filver and thy gold is multiplied, "beware that thou forget not the Lord thy

God, and thy heart be lifted up; and "thou fay in thine heart, My power, and "the might of my hand hath gotten me "this wealth."

Our Saviour took every opportunity of inculcating this useful leffon on his disciples. He began his fermon on the mount with pronouncing a bleffing upon the " poor in fpirit." Matt. v. 2. He frequently reproved the pride of the Scribes and Pharifces. Matt. xxiii. 2---6. and recommended hu

mility and moderation to his apoftles, upon feveral occafions, and more efpecially when they difputed among themselves who should be the greatest in his kingdom; and he fets before them his own example in this refpect, Matt. xi. 29. "Learn of me, for I am "meek and lowly in heart, and ye fhall "find reft unto your fouls."

The apoftles give many excellent advices. on this fubject, as Rom. xii. 3. I fay, through the grace given unto me, to every

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man that is among you, not to think of "himself more highly than he ought to "think; but to think foberly, according "as God hath dealt to every man the mea“sure of faith.” The fame apoftle argues this matter more particularly in 1 Cor. iv. 6. &c. "That no one of you be puffed up "one against another. For who maketh "thee to differ from another? and what haft "thou that thou didst not receive? now if "thou didst receive it, why doft thou glory. "as if thou hadft not received it?" He repeats the fame exhortation, 1 Tim. vi. 17.

Charge them that are rich in this world,

"that

that they be not high-minded, nor truft "in uncertain riches, but in the living God, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: "that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing

to communicate; laying up in ftore for "themfelves a good foundation against the "time to come." The apostle James alfo gives us this general maxim to the fame. purpose. James iv. 6. "God refifteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Hafty and unreafonable refentment is alfo the fubject of frequent caution and advices in the books of fcripture; Solomon fays, Prov. xvi. 32. and xxv. 28. "He that is "flow to anger, is better than the mighty: "and he that ruleth his fpirit, than he that "taketh a city. He that hath no rule over "his own fpirit, is like a city that is broken "down, and without walls." David fays, Pf. xxxvii. S. " Cenfe from anger, and for"fake wrath: fret not thyfelf in any wife to "do evil.” Our Lord pronounces a bleffing upon the meek, Matt. v. 5. and he reprefents being angry without caufas a thing

of

of a very criminal nature. The apostle Paul exhorts, Phil. iv. 5. that our "moderation," in this refpect, "be known unto all men, "because the Lord is at hand :" and lastly, peaceableness, gentleness, and meekness, are enumerated by St. Paul among the fruits of the fpirit, while batred, wrath, and ftrife, are reckoned among the fruits of the flesh. Gal. v. 20.

With refpect to the things of this world, and our condition in it, industry, but without anxiety, is every where recommended to us. More especially, idleness is often finely expofed, and diligence praised in the book of Proverbs, ch. vi. 6. " Go to the ant, "thou fluggard, confider her ways, and be "wife." xviii. 9. "He that is flothful in "his work, is brother to him that is a great "wafter." vi. 9. "How long wilt thou

fleep, O fluggard? when wilt thou awake "out of thy fleep? Yet a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep. So fhall thy poverty come as one "that travelleth, and thy want as an armed "man." The apoftle Paul, among other

advices,

advices to the chriftian converts, exhorts them, Rom. xii. 10. not to be flothful in business; and he himself was an example of induftry, working with his own hands, at his trade of a tent-maker, rather than be burdenfome to the Corinthians, with whom he refided.

On the other hand, we are perhaps more frequently cautioned against exceffive anxiety about the things of this life; and mankind in general, perhaps, fuffer more in confequence of it. Envy, which takes its rife from anxiety, is particularly forbidden in the tenth commandment. Solomon fays, Prov. xxviii. 20. that he that maketh "hafte to be rich fhall not be innocent;" and Agur is reprefented as making this excellent prayer, Prov. xxx. 8. "Give me "neither poverty nor riches, feed me with "food convenient for me; left I be full and

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deny thee, and fay, who is the Lord? or

" left I be poor, and steal, and take the name

"of

of my God in vain.”

Our