VII. SERM. confidered either as fufficient motives to pursue the arduous courfe, which is often prescribed to them, or as adequate rewards for its accomplishment. Men might, in fuch circumstances, unconnected with futurity, be tempted to exclaim, with the illuftrious Roman, that the cultivation of virtue was vexatious and unprofitable. It may frequently be faid, as the apostle fays of himself, and of his fellow Chriftians, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable *. But, life and immortality are brought to light through the gospelt. The christian can extend his views beyond this transitory scene, and, though clouds overhang and darken his profpect, clearly descry, with the unerring glass of religion, those bright regions of unfading happiness, which our Saviour hath opened to all who love, obey, and follow him. The Chriftian bath here no continuing city, but feeks one to come ‡, which bath foundations, whose builder and maker is God §. He knows that the prefent VII. fent arrangement of things is but defigned SERM. as a preparation for that glorious display of all the divine perfections; of complete order, harmony, and retribution which shall take place, when God fhall judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof be bath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised from the dead ;* and an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in the heavens t, fhall be bestowed on all those who have perfected holiness in the fear of Godt. He keeps his view steadily directed to this termination, feels all his powers invigorated, and all his forrows foothed by the bleffed affurance of it; goes on his way rejoicing in the ftrength of divine grace; and, while he anticipates the reward, by faith, already enjoys it, in fome measure, by refignation. O delightful, and ennobling profpects! With fuch conftantly before us, what affliction can overwhelm, what terror can difmay us! O death! where is thy fting? O grave! where is thy victory ? The VII. SERM. The fting of death is fin, and the strength of fin is the law. But, thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jefus Chrift! Seeing, then, God bath, according to his divine power, given unto us all things pertaining unto life, and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory, and virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by thefe ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through luft ‡; what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation, and godliness*? Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Thus, adorn the holy profeffion which you have, this day, made, or renewed, at the facred table. Amen. + 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56, 57. * 2 Pet. iii. II. + 2 Pet. i. 3. 4. SERMON ON THE 223 SERMON VIII. PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF RE LIGION IN THE SOUL. PROVERBS iv. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. VIII. W E derive a great part of our ideas from SERM. comparison, and the mind is pleased with fimilitude. Hence, no figure of speech is more common, in all languages, than that which is called fimile; and none, if properly applied and conducted, is better calculated to illuftrate, to afford pleasure, or to aggrandize. No comparison can be more appropriate, and beautiful, than that employed in the text. The fubject of the fimile is the fun, the most splendid lumi nary SERM. nary in the heavens, the most glorious obVIII. ject in created nature. With this is com pared the path of the just, or that course of conduct which the man of piety and virtue pursues through life, an object of a very different kind, yet, agreeing with it, in many striking refpects. The fun, from the horizon rifes to his meridian height, and, from the glimmering dawn, gradually increases in fplendour, and heat, till he pour forth the refiftlefs blaze of noon. The good man, from feeble, and almost imperceptible, beginnings of virtue, proceeds from one degree of excellence tó an higher, till he arrive at that confirmed habit of holiness, and integrity, that unclouded brightness of moral character, which fublimes the man into the celestial spirit, and raises him from earth to heaven. This is the general nature of the fimilitude which I propofe to pursue, and illuftrate, through its principal and most striking circumftances. For this purpofe, I fhall, I. Confider more particularly the character, which is, here, denoted by the term just, |