much of their value and power of doing good: Nay, when thus debased, have been oftentimes productive of the moft pernicious consequences civil and religious.

2. Again-If it be a vain thing for a man to glory in his intellectual abilities, as the wifeft of men hath assured us, and the Prophet in my text plainly intimates, and reafon and experience confirm their testimony; a much greater presumption is it for him to glory in his bodily conftitution, however found and healthful. Since every one muft fee how liable this brittle frame is to be fhocked and demolished by a thousand accidents. It is indeed from the impulfe of nature neceffarily tending to it's own decay, and final diffolution into that duft of the earth, out of which it was originally taken, and to which it is doomed to return. A reflection surely mortifying enough to fubdue the pride of man, arifing from

any

any accomplishments of his external person, seeing in this respect he is so nearly related to corruption, that vanity itself can neither deny nor difpute the alliance,

The life too, or animal fpirit, which fupports and invigorates this frame, is in the language of fcripture termed a vapour : "What is your life? (faid St. James to certain inconfiderate boasters in his days) it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little while and then vanifheth away." Now, what fecurity is to be placed in a power fo perishing as the arm of flesh, in a spirit so transient as the breath of life?

Add withal, that the strength of any human body is at best but comparatively great. One man is ftronger than another, and there is a stronger than him : Even the beasts of the field are in this regard mightier than the mightiest of

the

the fons of men. So that, exclufive of that almighty power, which is able to crush the most prevailing tyrant, fuch an one is always liable to be overcome even at his own weapons, and confequently can have no reason to glory in his might.

3. Laftly-Full as little caufe has the rich man to glory in his riches: Seeing these are mere externals, which do not neceffarily belong to the man; neither if he hath them is he, ftrictly speaking, the better; neither if he hath them not is he the worse; forafmuch as they are poffeffed of no inherent quality, no natural virtue, either to improve the mind, or preserve the body. Their only advantage lies in the ufe that is made of them, being good inftruments if honeftly acquired, and properly applied : But if ill-gotten or ill-ufed, fo far are they from being a ground of confidence,

that

that they are as thorns to the eyes, and a terror to the conscience.

From these curfory remarks on the feveral instances of falfe glorying, fpecified and forbidden in the text, (of themselves indeed fufficiently obvious, though perhaps feldom attended to in the manner they deferve) I proceed to confider the only juftifiable occasion of man's glorying, unto which too he is exhorted in the following words "But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he underftandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord."

2. Where, by understanding and knowing God, is meant, the having our minds well informed, and our fouls impreffed, with a religious knowledge and operative sense of his Being and Attributes, fo far as He has made Himself

knowable

knowable by us; either by the dictates of Reason, or the light of Scripture.

This is a fure foundation of present peace and future happiness; wherein the unlearned, impotent, and poor may make their boaft, and they fhall not be confounded. Religion is in truth the peculiar glory of a man; what distinguishes him from other animals, and from which arifes all the real fatisfaction he is capable of enjoying in any state and circumstances of his being. A rational spirit can be happy in God alone, the fource of all goodness, the centre of all perfection. Whom though we now fee but as through a glafs darkly; the nearest approaches we can make toward his incomprehenfible majefty, being at an awful distance, and under the veil of flesh; yet from a practical obfervance of his laws, an humble acquiefcence under all the difpenfations of his providence

here,