VII.

SERMON me the path of life. And, secondly, the termination of his hope in that future state, where in the presence of God is fulness of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures for

evermore.

I. Thou wilt shew me the path of life. This plainly imports, that there are different paths, or courses of conduct, which may be pursued by men in this world; a path which leads to life or happiness, and a path which issues in death or destruction. These opposite lines of conduct are determined by the choice which men make of virtue or of vice; and hence men are divided into two great classes, according as their inclinations lead them to good or to evil. The path of life is often a rough and difficult path, followed only by a few. The opposite one is the broad way, in which the multitude walk; seemingly smooth, and strewed with flowers; but leading in the end to death and misery. The path of life conducts us up a steep ascent. The palace of virtue has, in all ages, been represented as placed on the summit of a hill; in the ascent of which labour

labour is requisite, and difficulties are to SERMON

be surmounted; and where a conductor is needed, to direct our way, and to aid our steps.

Now, the hope which good men enter tain is, that this path of life shall be shewn them by God; that, when their intentions are upright, God will both instruct them concerning the road which leads to true happiness, and will assist them to pursue it successfully. Among nations where any suitable ideas of God or of virtue began to be formed, hopes of this nature also began to be entertained. It was consonant to the nature of man, to think that the Supreme Being was favourable to virtue. Accordingly, in the writings of some of the ancient philosophers, we find various obscure traces of this belief, that there was a benign heavenly Spirit, who illuminated the minds of the virtuous, and assisted their endeavours to obtain wisdom and happiness. They even asserted, that no man became great or good, without some inspiration of Heaven.

But what they indistinctly conceived, and could not with confidence rely upon,

the

VII.

SERMON the doctrine of Christianity hath clearly VII.. explained and fully confirmed; expressly and frequently teaching, that, not only by the external discoveries of revelation, but by the inward operations of his Spirit, he shews to the humble and virtuous, the path of life. While, by his word, he instructs them in their duty, by the influence of his grace he assists them in the performance of it. In all revelation there is certainly no doctrine more comfortable than this. It is to good men a noble and pleasing

thought, that they which God has dis

are pursuing a path
covered and pointed out to them. For
they know that every path, in which he
is their conductor, must be honourable,
must be safe, must bring them in the end
to felicity. They follow that Shepherd
of Israel, who always leads his flock into
green pastures, and makes them lie down
beside the still waters. At the same time,
they know that, if there be truth in re-
ligion at all, on this principle they may
securely rest, that the Divine Being will
never desert those who are endeavouring to
follow out, as they can, the path which

he

VII.

he has shewn them. He beholds them SERMON here in a state of great imbecility; surrounded with much darkness; exposed to numberless dangers, from the temptations that assault them without, and the seduction of misguided and disorderly passions within. In this situation, can they ever suspect that the Father of mercies will leave his servants, alone and unbefriended, to struggle up the hill of virtue, without stretching forth a compassionate arm to aid their frailty, and to guide them through the bewildering paths of life? Where were then the God of love? Where, those infinite compassions of his nature, in which all his worshippers have been encouraged to trust? No: He will send forth his light and his truth to bring them to his holy bill. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and his countenance beholdeth the upright. With him there is no oblique purpose, to turn him aside from favouring the cause of goodness. No undertaking to which he has given his countenance shall prove abortive, No promise that he has made shall be allowed to fail. Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end. The secret VOL. IV. K

of

SERMON of the Lord is with them that fear him, and
VII. he will shew them his covenant. The meek

will be guide in judgment, and them will
he teach his way. His grace shall be suf-
cient for them, and his strength be made
perfect in their weakness. They go from
strength to strength; every one of them ap-
peareth before God in Zion *.-Such
the hopes with which good men in the
present life set forth on a course of piety
and virtue. Thou wilt shew me the path
of life. Let us now proceed,

;

are

II. To consider the termination of these hopes in a future state. In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. All happiness assuredly dwells with God. The fountain of life is justly said to be with him. That supreme and independent Being must necessarily possess within himself every principle of beatitude; and no cause from without can possibly affect his untroubled felicity. Among created dependent beings, happiness flows in scattered and feeble streams that are often tinged

streams;

* Pfal. xxv. 14. 9. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Pfal. Ixxxiv. 7.