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SERMON aid from a heated, or an enthusiastic, fancy, in order to give them force. I readily admit that, amidst the hurry and turbulence of the world, it may be difficult to bring these religious sentiments as fully into view as is necessary for their making a just impression on the soul. This requires the effort of an intelligent and feeling mind; and therefore cannot be expected to be commonly found. To the unreflecting crowd, nothing appears real, But what is exposed to sense. What is invisible, is the same to them, as if it had no existence. But by the grossness of their own conceptions, they have no title to measure those of others. While they affect to treat all considerations, taken from the sense of the Divine presence, as visionary and enthusi astic, it can, on the contrary, be clearly shown, that they are founded on the most certain and unquestionable principles of reason. They essentially belong not to revealed only, but to natural religion. Their reality can be denied by none, but those who deny that God exists, or that he governs the world. For if he exists, he must undoubtedly, pervade and inspec the world

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which he governs. He must know what SERMON is going on throughout his own universe; and especially must know what passes within, the hearts which he has made, and of which he is to judge. To be every where present, is the attribute of his nature, which, of all others, is the most necessary to his administration of the universe. This, accordingly, is an attribute which all religions have ascribed to him. All nations have believed in it. All societies appeal to it, in the solemnities of an oath, by which they determine controversies. This attri bute being once admitted to belong to the Deity, the consequences which I have deduced from it, plainly and naturally follow: And every good man has ground to say, O Lord, Lam continually with thee.

SERMON XI.

ON PATIENCE.

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LUKE, xxi. 19.

In your Patience possess ye your souls.

SERMON THE possession of our souls is a very emphatical expression. It describes that state in which a man has both the full command, and the undisturbed enjoyment, of himself; in opposition to his undergoing some inward agitation which discomposes his powers. Upon the least reflection it must appear, how essential such a state of mind is to happiness. He only who thus possesses his soul is capable of possessing any other thing with advantage; and in order to attain and preserve this self-possession, the most important requisite is, the habitual exercise of patience,

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I know that patience is apt to be ranked, SERMON by many, among the more humble and obscure virtues; belonging chiefly to those who groan on a sick bed, or who languish in a prison. If their situation be, happily, of a different kind, they imagine that there is no occasion for the discipline of patience being preached to them. But I hope to make it appear, that, in every circumstance of life, no virtue is more important, both to duty and to happiness; or more requisite for forming a manly and worthy character, It is not confined to a situation of continued adversity. It principally, indeed, regards the disagreeable circumstances which are apt to occur. the occurrence of these is so frequent, that in every condition of life, patience is incessantly called forth. Prosperity cannot be enjoyed, any more than adversity supported, without it. It must enter into the temper, and form the habit of the soul, if we would pass through the world with tranquillity and honour. What I propose is to point out some of the chief occasions on which patience is required; and to recommend and enforce

But in our present state,

the

SERMON the exercise of it, in order to our possessing

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our souls.

I. PATIENCE under provocationist The wide circle of human society is diversified by an endless variety of characters, dispositions, and passions. Uniformity is, in no respect, the genius of the world. Every man is marked by some peculiarity which distinguishes him from another; and no where can two individuals be found who are exactly, and in all respects alike. Where so much diversity obtains,✅rit cannot but happen, that, in the intercourse which men are obliged to maintain, their tempers shall often be ill adjusted to that intercourse; shall jar, and interfere with each other. Hence, in every station, the highest as well as the lowest, and in every -condition of life, public, private, and domestic, occasions of irritation frequently arise. We are provoked, sometimes by the folly and levity of those with whom we are connected; sometimes by their indifference, or neglect by the incivility of a friend, the -haughtiness of a superior, or the insolent behaviour of one in lower station. Hardly

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