SERM ON VII.

OF RELIANCE ON GOD.

PSALM iv. 6.

THERE BE MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHEW US ANY GOOD? LORD, LIFT THOU UP THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE UPON US.

WERE

ERE we to examine into the feveral Schemes of Happiness which men propose to themselves, and in the Enjoyment of which they place their utmost Felicity, we could not but perceive, at the first View, how little they are adapted to procure that Bleffing, which they all purfue with fuch unwearied Perfeverance. Happiness is indeed what they all pretend to aim at; but they are fadly deceived in I their

their Choice, and purfue that as a real Good, which when obtained, they find to be little better than Delufion and Difappointment. This will appear from a short Deduction of Particulars, by which it will clearly be feen, that Happiness is not to be met with in the Enjoyment of any of the Things of this World. The only Things that promise us Happiness in this Life, are Honours, Riches, and Pleasures; but it hath been the conftant Complaint of the Sons of Men, from the Beginning to this very Time, that the Happiness flowing from the Poffeffion and Enjoyment of any, or all thefe, is vain and empty, and unfatisfying. Let us briefly enquire into the Truth of this Complaint. The Man whose fole Delight confifteth in the Gratification of his fenfual Appetites, facrificeth Fortune, and Health, and Life to the Pursuit of imaginary Pleafures; whilst every Enjoyment is followed by Disappointment, and every Disappointment is fucceeded by Torment and Vexation. He courteth Happiness in a thousand Shapes, but can poffefs it in none; he is

ever upon the Stretch after a deceitful and fleeting Shadow; and when he fondly thinketh that the End of his Defires is within his Reach, the Phantom deludeth his Grafp, and leaveth him furrounded by Poverty and Difeafes, to mourn, too late, the Folly of his Purfuit. The fordid, niggardly Wretch, by whom the Poffeffion (not the Enjoyment) of the Things of this World is esteemed an effential Part of Happiness, erreth as much on the other Side. Wealth is his only Aim. His chief Good confifteth in the Multitude of his Riches; and his continual Study is to heap up that which he hath not the Soul to fpend. The quiet Prefervation of what he hath fcraped together, filleth him full of Anxiety and Solicitude; his Mind is always plagued with reftlefs and uneafy Thoughts of being reduced to Beggary and Want; and his imaginary Poverty produceth real and substantial Mifery. Where Ambition fwelleth the Mind with Luft of Power, and cheateth the Man with empty Appearances of Happiness, from that Breast solid Delight

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Delight and Satisfaction are banished, and true Happiness is a Stranger. Ambition hath always for its Companions uneafy Thoughts and unfatiable Defires, which rob the Man of all Peace of Mind, and inftead of what he wifheth for, afford him everlafting Caufe of Grief and Difcontent. His Hopes are bigger than what Enjoyment can fatisfy, and the Curfe of Difappointment (the common Fate of ambitious Men) leaveth him a prey to Misery and Defpair. Thus Man walkath in a vain Shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain. Can Happinefs then be the Effect of thefe Things? If we would make a true Ufe of that Reafon, wherewith God hath bleffed us, we cannot expect that it ever fhould. The wife Author of our Being hath made the good Things of this World for our Ufe and Service, that by the lawful Enjoyment of them, we might be able to pass through this troublesome World, with fome Degree of Comfort and Contentment. But then to cure us of our Fondnefs for them, and to fhew us that these Things were never

intended

intended by him for the fole Object of our Affection, he hath taken care to mix them all with Mifery; and to caufe Disappointment to attend upon them, that we might learn from, thence, that Happiness must be sought for in better and more noble Purfuits. Where then is Happiness to be found? Or who will shew us that great Good, which is equal to all our Wants and Neceffities, able to fatisfy all the Defires and Capacities of our Souls, to difpel all the Fears, and to fulfil all the Hopes of human Nature? This boundless, this immense Good, is not to be found in the Things of this World. The Earth and the Sea fay, it is not in them. The Royal Pfalmift hath taught us where to direct our Purfuit, without running the Hazard of being difappointed. There be many that fay, who will her us any Good? that is, who will fhew us the chief Good of Man? Men are bufily employed in Search after Happiness, but are ftrangely divided in their Opinions about it. Most place it in the Enjoyment of worldly Things. Whereas that which could make

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