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IT is a chriftian's fault, if he cannot reafon himself into fome degree of fortitude in trials of Divine appointment: he proceeds upon firmer and more rational motives, and is fure of a folid and permanent reward.

WE pass through tedious courses of instruction in youth, to prepare ourfelves for fome ufeful profeffion in future life; we undergo difagreeable remedies to establish health; we are ready to part with any useful member for the prefervation of life; we undergo labours to provide for the wants of age; the epicure can faft, to procure a relish for fome favourite difh; the mifer can abftain from fraud, when he has fome greater gain in view to reward his pre

fent felf-denial.

FOR heaven's fake, having fuch plain examples from the children of the world, is not the chriftian inexcufable, who cannot learn to bear the tranfient

difci

discipline of affliction upon the certain prospects of immortality?

It is in every one's mouth, that this life is but a state of probation. Yes, it is a state of fin and mifery; and we can never be happy, till we get into a purer world. Why will we not apply this knowledge? Look where you will around you, and you are taught this application. What do the wretched inhabitants of a lazar house want but the speedieft relief from their infirmities? What does the toiling mariner want but the speedieft paffage to the peaceful harbour? Or the traveller, but the fafeft return to his native land? Does the husbandman expect the ease and comfort of harvest, amidst the toils of fpring? Does the labourer expect reft, before the grateful fhades of evening call him to his retreat? Our bufinefs

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is to get to heaven, as pure and perfect as we can. Whatever tends moft to this end is our trueft happiness.

IT

It will strengthen our refolution, if we confider, that we are really ignorant of our genuine tempers and interefts. Many have been innocent in a low eftate, who would have been miferable in a more exalted sphere: Many faithful, under fubjection, who would have been infolent in power; humble and modest in poverty, who would have been li-. centious in affluence. Let us commit our interefts to the hands of GOD. He loves us better than we can ourselves: he knows all our wants before we afk him. We cannot put ourselves under better conduct: The road he points out to us cannot be wrong: Unerring wifdom and goodness, must finally lead us to eternal life. *

* NIL ergo optabunt homines? fi confilium vis
Permittes ipfis expendere numinibus, quid
Conveniat nobis, rebufque fit utile noftris.
Nam pro jucundis aptiffima quæque dabunt Dî.
Carior eft illis homo, quam fibi.

Juv. 10. 346.

ALL

ALL the bleffings of this world are talents, of the exercife and improvement of which the Divine giver expects a faithful account. The more we have, the greater and more complicated our charge. They afford but a burthenfome and painful fort of pre-eminence to covet them, is to covet what may be your trouble, perhaps your condemnation.

"UNWORTHY fervant, remember that "thou in thy life-time receiveft thy good things, and likewife Lazarus his evil things; and now he is comforted and "thou art tormented."

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WHEN we confider ferioufly, that this is a rebuke, to which abused profperity is certainly expofed in a future world; a man is almoft tempted to pray against the feduction of wealth, and to cry, "be my lot with the virtuous fuf"ferer, that my inheritance may be " with him."

WHATEVER We have is the gift of

GOD:

GOD: whatever it be, it is gratuitous. Profperity calls for our gratitude, and adverfity requires our fubmiffion. The and the Lord hath taken away,

Lord gave, bleed be his name: He ftill deferves my adoration; he has not left me without fome refources; thofe are ftill his gift; he might have withdrawn these also, (for the whole I have is his fole bounty ;) and as for the reft I leave it to the fuperior wisdom and goodness of his Providence.

WHAT indeed can be more abfurd than a contrary behaviour? A difcontented, querelous, impatient temper is its It encreases and aggra

own torment.

vates the smart, and adds double force to the calamity. Every fresh reflection makes that wound bleed anew, which would have healed by degrees amidst the patient filence of refignation. Patience alleviates what it cannot cure; it lightens the burden it cannot remove. Evils can never hurt us but by our own fault: K

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