painful folicitude (which was, in fact, a source of endless uneafinefs to the Pagan world) the Gospel effectually relieves us. It informs us, that we are under the conftant guardianship of an Almighty Friend and Protector, who fees the very minuteft events, and governs the most cafual; who, in the immenfe range of creation, does not overlook the leaft or meanet of his creatures; who commands us to take no

thought for the morrow," but to caft all our care upon him, for this moft fubftantial and fatisfactory reafon, "because he careth for us ;" who has declared, that, "if we feek firft his kingdom and his righteoufnefs, all thofe

things (that are really neceffary) fhall be "added to us;" and that, in the great variety and feemingly difcordant mixture of human events," he will make every thing work toge"ther (ultimately) for good to them that love "him." Here, now, is a firm and adequate foundation for enjoyment of the present moment, and indifference about the next. Under the perfuafion that no difafter can reach us without his permiffion, who watches over us with an eye that never flumbers, and a tender

* Matth. vi. 34; 1 Pet. v. 7; Rom. viii. 28.

nefs

nefs which nothing but guilt can withdraw from us, we can face thofe unknown terrors from which Pagan Philofophy turned away difmayed; can look forward, unmoved, into futurity, and contemplate all the poffible contingencies that may befal us with intrepidity and unconcern; with the chearfulness of amind at perfect eafe, repofing itself in full confidence and ferenity on the great Difpofer of all human events.

IV. That future ftate of exiftence, of which Christianity first gave us a clear and diftin&t view, affords a prospect to us that cannot well fail to chear and enliven our hearts, and even bear us up under the heaviest preffures of affiction. Without this fupport, there are, it must be owned, calamities fufficient to break the highest spirits, and to fubdue the firmeft minds. When the good and virtuous man is unjustly accused and inhumanly traduced; when enemies opprefs and friends defert him; when poverty and diftrefs come upon him like an armed man; when his favourite child, or his beloved companion, is fnatched from hin by death; when he is racked with inceffant pain, or pining away with incurable difeafe; when he knows, moreover, that he

can

can have no reft but in the grave, and fup-poses that this reft is the abfolute extinction of his being; no wonder that he finks into melancholy and defpair. But let the divine light of immortality break in upon him, and the gloom that surrounds him clears up. Let this day-star arise before him, and it will shed a brightness over the whole scene of his existence, which will make every thing look gay and chearful around him. He is no

longer the fame being he was before. A new fet of ideas and fentiments, of hopes and expectations, spring up in his mind, and represent every thing in a point of view totally different from that in which they before appeared to him. What he had been accuftomed to confider as infupportable misfortunes, he now fees to be most falutary chaftifements. This world is no longer his home. It is a scene of discipline, a school of virtue, a place of education, intended to fit him for appearing well in a far more illuftrious ftation.

Under this conviction he goes on with alacrity and steadiness in the paths of duty, neither difcouraged by difficulties, nor depreffed by misfortunes. He is a citizen of a heavenly country, towards which

he

he is travelling: his accommodations on the road are fometimes; it must be owned, wretched enough; but they are only temporary incon veniences; they are trivial disquietudes, which åre below his notice; for at home he knows every thing will be to his mind. The bleffings which there await him, and on which his heart is fixed, inspire him with an ardour and alacrity that carry him through every obftacle. Even under the most calamitous cir cumftances, he fupports himself with this reflexion, more pregnant with good fenfe and folid comfort, than all the vaft volumes of ancient Philosophy or modern Infidelity; that *these light afflictions; which are but for a "moment, fhall work for him (if he bears them with Christian patience)" a far more "exceeding and eternal weight of glory*."

V. There remains still another ground of joy peculiar to the Gofpel; and that is, the confolation and affistance of the Holy Ghost. It is a circumftance of wonderful beauty and utility in the Chriftian difpenfation; that one of those three divine perfons, who each bore their share in the great work of our redemption,condescends 2 Cor. iv. 17. е

VOL. II.

to

to contribute alfo to our prefent tranquillity to abide with us here conftantly upon earth; to affume the endearing name, and perform the truly benevolent office, of a COMFORTER. Under this character and title, the Holy Spirit was promised to the apoftles by our Saviour, in his laft affecting addrefs to them, in order to alleviate their grief for his approaching departure. This promife was moft punctually and amply fulfilled on the day of Pentecoft; and from that time we fee the influence of this heavenly Paraclete moft eminently displayed in that aftonishing and almoft inftantaneous turn which it gave to the fentiments, the language, and the conduct of the apoftles. From being timorous, dejected, and perplexed, fhocked, at the ignominious end of their Lord, afraid to appear in public, dubious, hefitating, and indecifive; on a fudden they become courageous, undaunted, chearful. They openly avow, and boldly preach, that once cffenfive doctrine of a crucified Saviour. They profefs themselves, his difciples: they call upon all men to believe in him; and fet before them, with all the powers of the moft mafculine eloquence, the evidences and the doctrines of the Chriftian