crucified upon
tains fuch a degree of intereft as is provoking

the whole; yet, alas! it ftill re

to God, offenfive to others, and hurtful to their
In what glafs can you fee more

own peace.
clearly the weakness of faith, and every other
gracious difpofition, than in their little influence
in reftraining the motions of carnal affection?
Had the great objects of faith and hope that
place in our hearts, and that entire dominion in
our affections, which they ought to have; would
there be so much conformity to worldly maxims,
and practices, as is daily to be feen? would
there be so much emulation in all the outward
expreffions of pride and gaiety, in dress, furni
ture, and equipage? would there be fo much
defire of the increase of wealth and greatness ?
would there be fo much envy of those who are
fuccessful, and go beyond us? Shall I tell you
how a Christian fhould look upon those who
profper remarkably in their worldly affairs? If
they are truly pious, he fhould rejoice with
them; for here is fo much wealth and influence
put into fuch hands as will employ them in
doing good. On the other hand, if they are
wicked, he should fincerely pity them, as immer-
fed in the most dangerous temptations. If we
were thoroughly dead to the world, and the world
to us, would the lofs of wealth or reputation
wound us fo deeply as they generally do? would
the malice or flanders of others make so sensible
an impreffion? It should be pitied, as it is their
fin; but it may eafily be defpifed, as it is our
danger. Try this by the condition and conduct
VOL. I.
X

of

of the oppofite character. A wicked man is dead to God and fpiritual things. What then does he value the lofs of any thing of that nature? Tell him, that he hath loft such or fuch an opportunity of communion with God, in his worship in public, or in family; that he hath loft an opportunity of excellent instruction, in a fermon or difcourfe; with what manifeft contempt will he receive the information, and fmile at your weakness and credulity in fhewing any attachment to fuch things! Were we crucified to the world as we ought, would there be fo much impatience under the hand of God in po. verty, sickness, the lofs of relations, or calamities of any kind? The lopping off a limb or member that is dead, gives little or no uneasiness: it is the life that remains which occafions the pain of feparation. If the world fat loose upon us, its removal would fcarcely, be felt; but we must needs fuffer at the very heart when any thing is withdrawn that hath its hold there. Let me therefore beseech you, in this, to confess your fin, to be humbled for it, and to pray, that you may be daily more and more delivered from it.

2. I fhall improve this subject for pointing out the use of affliction, and the ground of your confolation under it. This world at best is but a scene of forrow; and we then reap most comfort from it when we are fenfible that it is fo. The very purpose of affliction is, to fhew us the vanity and uncertainty of all created comforts, and deliver us from an excessive attachment to them,

them. It is much more difficult to crucify a fmiling than a frowning world. It is not eafy to hate it in its lovelieft form, or, if I may use fuch an expreffion, to speak harfhly to it when it is fpeaking kindly to us? But in the time of affliction, when we are obliged to confefs its vanity, is it not reasonable to expect, that our affection for it will be abated? I have faid, that this feems the natural effect of fuffering; because it is the leffon evidently carried in it. And accordingly the prophet Ifaiah fays, ch. xxvi. 9. "For when thy judgements are in the earth, "the inhabitants of the world will learn righ"teousness." I am fenfible, however, that the reception which affliction meets with, and the effects which it produces, are very different in different perfons. It makes the worldly man curfe his idol in the rage of despair; and it makes the child of God abhor the idolatry, and dwell with complacency on his unchangeable portion.

Confider this, I beseech you, my brethren; for you are all liable to the ftroke of affliction, young and old, rich and poor, holy and unholy. It is indeed lamentable to fee the fretful impatience of those to whom the world is blasted from without, but the love of the world, in all its ftrength, ftill fubfifting within. They have no fource of confolation in themselves; and nothing comfortable can be spoken to them by others in a manner confiftent with truth and duty. To deal faithfully with them, we must do our utmost to add the bitterness of repent

ance to their other fufferings; and this the cruel kindness of furrounding relations will feldom permit to be done. In the cafe of dying perfons, in particular, with what concern have I heard friends and phyficians telling the groffeft falfehoods, in order to keep off, for a few mo ments, the apprehenfion of what they knew muft immediately and certainly take place, and be the more terrible for the surprise !

On the other hand, it is comfortable to reflect, that the sanctifying influence of afflictions is no lefs the language of experience than of fcripture. Many have born their teftimony, and fet their feal to it. Some have been fo effectually mortified to pride and vanity, by the injuries or the flanders of others, that they have even felt confolation in the reproach itself. But în a particular manner, I have been often pleafed with young perfons to whom the world, and all their expectations from it, have been crucified by early affliction, expreffing themselves, not merely with fubmiffion, but with ferenity and thankfulness. Bear with me in mentioning a real instance, known to myself, of a young man, who had been long confined with a difeafed member, and had a near and certain profpect of his diffolution. When, at the defire of fome perfon prefent, his loathfome fore was uncovered, he expreffed himfelf, to the beft of my remembrance, in thefe very words: There it is; and a precious treasure it has been to me! It faved me from the folly and vanity of

"youth;

'youth; it made me cleave to God as my only portion, and eternal glory, as my only hope; ' and I think it has now brought me very near 'to my Father's houfe.' Now, what a fpring of confolation is here! Our duty, our business, our intereft is, to crucify the world, and to be

crucified to it. May we not, then, with the utmoft gratitude, as well as patience, receive the appointments of that God who has promised, not only to deliver us from all our fufferings in due time, not only to make up and recompenfe our loffes with fomething better, of a different kind, but has affured us, that these very sufferings and loffes, as their immediate effect, fhall crucify fin, and further our meetness for his own prefence ?

3. Let me improve this fubject by earnestly exhorting you to endeavour to acquire more and more of the temper and ftate of mind expreffed by the holy apostle, in the text, "By whom "the world is crucified to me, and I unto the "world." Be perfuaded, my beloved hearers, to look upon all created things with the eye of faith. Remember their relation to God. He is their maker and yours; and they must not be loved or ferved but in fubordination to his glory. Do not place your chief happiness in them; do not esteem them too highly; do not love them immoderately; do not profecute them too violently. Place your chief happiness in the favour of God, in communion with him on earth, and the well-grounded hope of the perpetual enjoyment of him in heaven; and let your regard X 3