*

X.

was completed. Then, indeed, were made SERMON known the city of the living God, the new Jerusalem above, the mansions prepared for the spirits of just men made perfect. Nor was a state of future felicity only proclaimed by Christ and his apostles to good men, but was represented as purchased for them by the death of their Redeemer. I give, he was authorised to say, unto my sheep eternal life. In my father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you Accordingly, he lay down in the grave; rose as the first-fruits of them that slept; and ascending into Heaven, entered there within the veil, as the forerunner of his followers, to assure them of all being friendly and well-disposed towards them in those upper regions. All therefore who live and die in the faith and obedience of Jesus, are entitled to say with the Apostle, we know; not only we hope and we reason, but we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

VOL. V.

John, x. 28.-xiv. 2.
е

THE

SERMON

X.

THE first and most natural improvement of all that has been said, is to produce in our hearts the most lasting gratitude, love, and reverence, towards that great Benefactor of mankind, who not only hath made known and published the blessings of a future state to the righteous, but by his great undertaking for their redemption hath erected in their behalf the house eternal in the heavens.The next improvement we should make, is to conduct our own life and behaviour as becomes those who have an interest in this happiness and this hope. From such persons assuredly is to be expected a pure, correct, and dignified behaviour in every situation; not a contempt of the employments, nor a renunciation of all the comforts of their present life. Opinions that produce such effects are connected only with the spirit of superstition and false religion. But to them it belongs, in midst of the affairs, enticements, and temptations of the world, to regulate their conduct as becomes the heirs of a divine inheritance; never debasing themselves among what is mean, nor defiling themselves with what is corrupt in the present state; but

serving

X.

serving God with that fidelity, and beha- SERMON ving to men with that steady magnanimity of virtue, that generous beneficence and humanity, which suits immortal beings, who are aspiring to rise in a future state to the perfection of their nature, in the presence of God.

SERMON XI.

On overcoming Evil with Good.

SERMON

XI.

ROMANS, xii. 21.

Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good.

IN

N this world, we all know that we must reckon upon a mixture of goods and evils. Some of the evils are owing to the appointment of Providence in this state of trial; many of them are the fruits of our own guilt and misconduct. The goods

and the evils of our state are so blended, as often to render the whole of human life a

struggle between them. We have to contend both with the evils of fortune, and with the evils of our own depravity; and it is only he who can in some measure

overcome

overcome both, that is to be esteemed the SERMON wise, the virtuous, and the happy man.

At the same time, amidst the evils of different kinds which assault us, there is a principle of good, derived from Heaven, by which we may hope to acquire strength, and through Divine assistance be enabled to overcome the evils of our state. This is the subject of the exhortation in the Text, Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good. Taken in its most extensive sense, as respecting the different kinds of evil which we have to overcome, the exhortation may be understood to comprise the three following particulars. In the first place, Be not overcome by the injuries you meet with in the world, so as to pursue revenge. Secondly, Be not overcome by the disasters of the world, so as to sink into despair. Thirdly, Be not overcome by the evil examples of the world, so as to follow them into sin. But, in all those cases, overcome evil with good. Overcome injuries, by forgiveness. Overcome disasters, by fortitude. Overcome evil examples, by firmness of principle.

1. BE

XL