nefs: Whereas, on the other hand, a weak and dejected state of spirits will not only aggravate every evil, and incapacitate us for bearing it as we ought, but is moreover itself an infupportable malady. But if we interpret the words in a moral and religious fenfe, as unquestionably we may, and perhaps fhould do, they evidently include a leffon of equal truth and importance.

I shall not therefore be thought to offer any violence to my text, if by the Spirit of a man I understand his confcience, or that faculty of his mind, by virtue of which he applies to every moral action the light he has received either from reafon or revelation: making thence a fair and candid eftimate of his own conduct, and confequently accufing or elfe excufing himself, according as he acts agreeably or repugnantly to fuch light.

I. The first propofition then contained in the words before us will be this, viz. That a good confcience is an excellent fupport in time of trouble. To the truth of which, I apprehend, there is no one who has ever tafted the bitter waters of affliction, but must readily accede; either from the fenfe he retains of the unhappy want of such a principle; or from a pleafing reflection on the comforts derived from it.

The many infirmities neceffarily attending human nature, and the many evils incident to it, require fome certain rock whereon to rely in the melancholy seasons of pain and distress. Now from mifery the most natural and general refort is to devotion: The foul, unfatisfied with any visible remedy, flies to God for shelter. But unless it can look back on itself with fome degree of complacency, arising from a consciousness of innocence, (at least of repentance and reformation)

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réformation) those sudden starts of religion are but too like an effufion of tears, which may give fome prefent vent to the anguish, but no permanent fatisfaction. Whereas, if the fpirit within us be untouched, it is in effect a balm to the afflicted; ever applying the power of faith, and presenting the refreshments of hope.

We cannot indeed but obferve a conftitutional kind of Courage in fome Men, which carries them through the difficulties of life with a thoughtless fecurity; and a kind of artificial one in others, which enables them without much fpiritual armour to face the greateft dangers. But both thefe kinds are of much too fanguine a caft for that habitual ferenity of a felf-approving mind, which our Author elsewhere ftiles a continual feast; grateful at all times, and under every circumstance; which gives a relish to enjoyment, and foothes and even fanctifies affliction.

And truly this inward peace it is, that makes no fmall amends, even in this life, for the unequal diftributions of Providence to good and bad men. The wages of unrighteoufnefs will avail but little in the day of tribulation. For though they may have some effect upon a corrupt world, yet can they not bribe an offended Confcience. The glitter of pomp and pageantry dazzle in the funshine of the day; but lose their lustre in the cool of the evening, when the eye is grown weak through pain and forrow, and the clamours of a guilty breast refuse to be appeafed. Nor art nor friends can have any influence, where the heart is faint, and its quiet interrupted. A fick mind is out of the reach of medicine; and the court of conscience not to be prevailed upon by the importunity of a thousand advocates. But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright! Does poverty affault

him like an armed man? he receives

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the charge bravely, because he has lived innocently. Is he traduced and perfecuted, and perhaps the more fo for his integrity? as afflictions abound, fo confolations much more; his mind is fupported by the comfortable testimony within him; and ftill more confirmed and fortified by the affurances of divine favor: he wants none to plead for him his witneffes are ready in his own bofom, and his confcience fpeaks aloud in his behalf. Is he vifited with fickness and disease? the fame comfortable fpirit (in the language of Solomon) becomes "health to his navel and marrow to his bones." Patience and refignation are the vifible effects of that fecret peace, which forfakes him not in his latest moments; but gives him a lively earnest of approaching joys, a kind of foretaste of heaven, in the very article of death, After fuch a manner will the spirit of a good man, his confcious love of virtue and fenfe of religion, enable him to fuftain his infirmity. II. A