DISC. improved by religion; and may judge from VII. the rectitude, or defects, in our temper and conduct, how far we need pay greater attention to the government of our fculs by the restraints and precepts of the Gofpel. Happy is he, who hath fo long habituated himself to obey the Gospel, that he can display the Christian character in all his behaviour: fuch a man will fecure peace to his foul, that first and greatest of all bleffings; and (though it be but a fecondary confideration) yet he will be pursuing the most direct course towards ensuring profperity in his worldly calling: "He fhall be (as the Pfalmift fays) like a tree planted by the water-fide, that will "bring forth his fruit in due feason: his "leaf alfo fhall not wither: and look, "whatsoever he doeth, it fhall profper'. The only ground on which we may reafonably hope for fuccefs in our undertak ings, is in poffeffing the qualities, and practising the virtues which, from their general utility, will procure recompenfe, and gain esteem from the public. Skill, affiduity, fobriety, civility, juftice, upon the whole, cannot fail of meeting with encouragement for as they are extremely inftrumental towards the well-being and comfort of civil fociety, those who are known to be uniform in the application of fuch excellent talents, will be fought out and encouraged by their fellow-citizens. But these endowments, which greatly recommend us to the favour of others, are all pointed out as accomplishments, which every Christian, who hath capacity to acquire them, fhould labour to attain. When on one occafion St. Paul exhorts his converts to be "not flothful in bufinefs"," on another, to ftudy to be quiet and to "do their own bufinefs?;" when he enforces that ftriking fummary of perfection, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honeft, what"foever things are juft, whatsoever things 66 are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, "whatsoever things are of good report; if • Rom. xii. 11. 7 I Thef. iv. 11. "there DISC. VII. DISC." there be any virtue, if there be any VII. ແ praise, think on these things';" what does he less than inftruct us in the means which are moft effectual towards conciliating universal esteem? and what is more conducive than univerfal efteem towards promoting our general profperity? The best Christian therefore has the faireft profpe&t of being the happiest man on all accounts. In obedience to that Gospel which he profeffes to obferve, he will take pains to render himself useful to fociety, and to acquit himself with credit in the discharge of those duties which on all occafions may be required of him: hence, with reason, he may expect from others fome return for the fervices conferred on them; at least, in justice and common right, he is warranted in fuch expectations; and therefore, when he hopes for profperity, he does not hope for what he has not endeavoured to deferve. And in this perfuafion, he will persevere without murmurs, be the event 8 Philipp. iv. 8. VII. in this world what it may! If profperity DIS C. 9 Rom. vi. 22. 02 DISCOURSE VIII. The Neceffity of Vigilance and Prayer. ST. MATTH. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into DISC. TE VIII. temptation. HAT man fhould think favourably of his own fpecies, that he fhould be difpofed to magnify the excellence of his own nature, is a partiality to be expected from felf-love; and not altogether indefenfible on the obfervation of facts: for in the experience we have of the world, we fee many actions that are kind and generous, |