109 per And indeed, all that I have now faid is fectly confonant to the inference which St. Paul himself deduces from this doctrine of the refurrection. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren," fays the Apostle, "be ye fteadfast, unmoveable, "always abounding in the work of the Lord; for"asmuch as ye know that your labour shall not "be in vain in the Lord." IIdly. I am to take notice of the support and comfort which this great principle of our Chriftian faith affords to the mind of man, under the heaviest disappointments and most painful fufferings. It would be a very needlefs undertaking to prove, “that man is born to forrow, as the sparks "fly upwards*." Every day bears its teftimony to this melancholy truth; and fooner or later will make every man a convert to it. The nature of this world and all its occurrences, the conftitution of the human mind, and the frame of our bodies, fubject us to various and innumerable afflictions. Our hopes often terminate in difappointment; or, if they meet with gratification, the objects feldom anfwer to our wishes, and hardly ever fail to lose their relish during a length of poffeffion. Our fears are often vain, and always productive of bitter inquietude. They fre • Job v. 7. quently quently import distant evils by anticipation—evils which never may arrive-They multiply likewife and enlarge future ills, beyond their just number and real magnitude. And indeed, with regard to what are usually styled pleasures, they are generally purchased with difficulty, or accompanied with fome uneafiness, or end in remorfe and vexation of spirit. But let us attend the couches of the fick, and what mortifying leffons may we learn from those, who, in the feverity of their fufferings, appropriate to themselves the language of Job! “I am "made to poffefs months of vanity, and wea"rifome nights are appointed to me. When I "lie down, I fay, When shall I arise, and the night "be gone? and I am full of toffings to and fro un"to the dawning of the day *." These are very pitiable scenes of distress- diftrefs! which one day or other may become the portion of every one of us.-Shall we take a view of the most piercing of all afflictions? then let us enter the houfes of mourning, where death hath made irreparable breaches into family connections and comforts, where we fhall hear the cries of parents bereaved of their children, or of children bewailing their departed parents. Now, is there *Job vii. 3, 4. any any doctrine, or if there be, what is that doctrine, which can sustain the human mind amidst all the manifold difficulties, difappointments, and preffures of human life? What is that doctrine, which can infpire fortitude, patience, and refignation under ficknefs, pain, and diffolution? Whence are we to fetch thofe principles that can support us under the agonizing folemnity of parting with our expiring relatives and friends?— Yes the glorious discovery of a resurrection to everlasting life and happiness. I say, that this bleffed doctrine, duly believed, ever uppermoft in our thoughts, and actuating all our behaviour, will lead us to regard the funeral removal of all that are near and dear to us, as only a temporary separation which never NEVER fhall prevail any more, because "death shall then be swallowed up ❝ in victory." : Hear the triumphant language of a most excellent prelate, long_deceased *. O transporting period! when God fhall < graciously wipe away all tears from our eyes, and fin and forrow shall be no more! when this <corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this "mortal shall put on immortality," and we shall enter upon the poffeffion of all that glory and Archbishop Tillotfon. ⚫ felicity, felicity, which God hath promised, and our faith hath believed, and our hopes have raised us to the expectations of! When we fhall be eased of all our pains, and refolved of all our doubts, and be purged from all our fins, and be freed from all our fears, and be happy beyond all our 'hopes; and have this happiness secured to us be'yond the power of time and change! When we fhall know God and other things without • study, and love him and one another without measure, and ferve and praise him without wearinefs, and obey his will without the leaft ' reluctance; and fhall ftill be more and more delighted in the knowing, and loving, and praising, and obeying of God to all eternity!' But, as I have before noticed, this exquisite happiness is reserved for those only who lead virtuous and holy lives; "for without holiness no man can see the Lord *." It is therefore highly necessary, that this confideration should fink deep into our breast, and influence every part of our conduct. If this doctrine be conscientiously obferved by us, we may reasonably hope to die comfortably, and after death to rife gloriously. |