VIII. At SERM. nefs, he applies, with affiduity, to the cul tivation of this grace, which bleffes earth; and produces the temper of heaven. laft, he attains to that habitual benevolence, which makes him view mankind as his brethren, and Chriftians as members of that spiritual body to which it is his glory to belong. He pities their errors and follies, deplores and endeavours to reform their vices, rejoices in their virtues and excellencies, mitigates their misfortunes, and promotes their happiness, by every means in his power. He poffeffes that charity, which suffereth long and is kind; envieth not; vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly; seeketh not her own ; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; and, while prophecies fail, and tongues cease, and knowledge vanisheth away, never failetb †. However willing the spirit may be, the flesh is weak; the law of our members wars against the law in our minds, and brings us into *Col. ii. 14. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Mat. xxvi. 41. into VIII. captivity to fin*. Hence, the just man SERM. often finds his appetites and paffions too violent for the undifputed control of reafon and religion. In prosperity, his heart will sometimes beat too high, and lead him to give too great a loose to indulgence. In adverfity, he will not always retain his felfcommand, but be tempted to repine, and to fay, Hath the Lord forgotten to be gracious? and bath be, in anger, fhut up his tender mercies? Still his nobler part feels and vindicates its fuperiority, and ftruggles with rebellious paffion, till it be fubdued to the law of God. He checks the flushing transports of success, uses this worla as not abusing it ‡, learns its real value, and manifefts his gratitude for divine favours, by temperately enjoying and sharing them with his fellowmen. In affliction, he is enabled to filence the murmurs of difcontent, and to humble himself under the mighty band of God, that he may exalt him in due time §. In the most diftreffing situations, he can fay, The Lord *Rom. vii. 23. 1 Cor. vii. 31. + Psalm 1xxvii. 9. § 1 Pet. v. 7. gave SERM. gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!* VIII. Thus, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and be delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his band t. His grace is made sufficient for him, and his strength is made perfect in weakness. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The progreffive advancement of the good man's character will appear to be similar to that which I have already illuftrated, if we view him as affected by the opinion of the world. Never was virtue fo fecure as not to ftand expofed to malevolence and calumny; nay, the purer any character is, it is the more likely to incur reproach. It has always been the fate of the good and the great to be, like the fun, furrounded with mifts in their rife, or obfcured by clouds in their progrefs. Unfavourable circumftances often deprefs their merit, or obftruct its difplay * Job i. 21. Psalm xxxvii. 23, 24. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Vul. difplay. Though a love of mankind be SERM. their characteristical feature, vice and folly often oblige them to acts of feverity towards individuals, whofe aims are inconfiftent with the public good, and whofe conduct is hoftile to all that is valuable in human life. Good men muft oppose the wicked, and fools they muft contradict. Thefe, therefore, will ever be their enemies; and they must expect to be treated by them with all that rancour which expofed folly, and thwarted depravity, can infpire. Calumny is the weapon employed, both by folly and malevolence, to render odious to others the merit which has excited their own hatred. Befides the refentment of the vicious, men of probity often incur the envy of others, whose characters are not abfolutely depraved, but whofe chief object is applause. To fuch, every excellence in another seems a ftain on themselves, and, confequently, they try to disparage the good qualities which they observe. Thefe caufes have, in all ages, contribut SERM. ed to throw clouds around the man of inVIII. tegrity, and to prevent his receiving from the world the refpect and honour to which he is entitled. But, like the fun, though he may be obfcured for a while, his light is not extinguished. It is eclipfed only to burft out with greater fplendour. Circumftances cannot always remain inaufpicious. Virtue will shine on fome fide or other, and, once known, must be refpected. Slander frequently defeats its own ends, and raises injured merit, by putting it to a trial, without which its vigour and folidity would not have fo confpicuously appeared. As the ftrength of a vault is proved by preffure; fo real worth evinces its firmness, by bearing the burden of obloquy. There is, in cnlightened probity, fomething fo amiable, fo folid, fo conftant, that, at laft, it commands refpect, in fpite of malignity. By whatever falfe colouring it may be mifreprefented, whatever malicious turns may be given to its nobleft exertions, thefe will, one day, appear in their native brightnefs, and make flander recoil on the flanderer's head. How |