ment of Religion, or, with any Other of the Wife Ends and Purposes of God's Difpenfations. 'Tis Sufficient to Good men, that, fo far as is Consistent with fuch Great Things as Thefe, they may properly expect the Bleffings in the Text. And the Reasons of fuch an Expectation will appear from the other Two Heads of Difcourfe ftill Before

us.

II. Secondly Therefore; So Graciously bath God Provided for the Temporal Advantages of his fervants, that, according to the Natural State of Things which he bath Determin'd, according to the Ordinary courfe and Tendencies of Human Affairs, the moft Proper and Likely means of fecuring thofe Advantages, are Virtue and Religion.

'Tis Difingenuous and Ungrateful, 'tis Impious, tis a kind of Implicit Atheism, to Afcribe the Happy Effects of Virtue to the Nature of Things, without Acknowledging, that the Nature of Things was Defign'd, Inftituted, and Ordain'd by the Great Maker and Governour of the World. It is not owing to Un

certain and Irregular, Unjuft and Unequal Chance, but to the Wife Decree and Appointment of the most High, that Temperance contributes to the Continuance of Health and Life; or, that the band of the Diligent maketh rich; or, that the Faithful Exercifes and Improvements of thofe Excellent Faculties, which Bounteous Nature hath planted in fome Men's Minds, are the Wings, whereon they Soar to Reputation and Honour.

Some Virtues have a Peculiar Aptnefs in them, to produce fome Peculiar kinds of Benefit; but they All Agree in the Main Point, They bear their Several Parts in Finishing the Harmony and the Happinefs of Life. The Power of Virtue Therefore is contracted and Diminished by thofe Sages, who, reprefenting it as Efficacious and Fruitful of its own Rewards, are very Large in their Accounts of those Internal Treasures of Peace and Satisfaction, which it beftows upon the Mind, fcarce Mentioning or Regarding its External Acquirements, on which the Neceffaries, the Conveniencies, and

the

the Ornaments of Life do greatly depend. Each of the Sundry Fruits of Virtue Defervedly Challengeth our Regard, and fhould Excite us to Adore the Riches of His Goodness, who hath thus Impregnated our Duty with Comfort and Delight.

A man Armed with Virtue and Religion can ftand Firm and Immoveable, whilst the moft Violent and raging Waves of Misfortune Dash against him: His Strength is equal to the Heaviest Affiction, and he Bravely Repels, or Cheerfully Receives the Keeneft Arrows that are Level'd at him, till his Soul, which Nothing could Crush, or Conquer upon Earth, takes its Triumphant Flight into Heaven. This mighty Prowefs of Virtue, One of the Nobleft Gifts of God, ought to be a Principal Subject of our Thoughts and Thanksgivings. But, Difficulties and Diftrefs not being Eligible, we have reason to Rejoyce, that the Best means of Supporting us under them, are likewife the Beft means of Preferving us from Them. For Virtue, in its own Native ftate, is fo Attractive of ExterX 4 nal

nal Advantages, that it can scarce fail of Drawing them Effectually after it, unless they should, in their Motion, meet with an Interruption, or Impediment, from that Sovereign Hand, by which this Glorious Law of Attraction was given. Varieties of Temporal Bleffings are in the Poffeffion and Difpofal of true Wisdom; And she does Ufually and Eafily, where no Extraordinary Providence Intervenes, Defend, Preserve, and Adorn the Manfions of her own Abode. And how Little reafon Good men have. to apprehend, that the Streams of Providence fhall run in appofition to them, will appear if we confider

III. Thirdly, that Abstracting from the natural Tendency of Things, God does frequently, by his Special Providence, vouchSafe to his Faithful Servants, the Advantages mention'd in the Text; And fuch Advantages, when placed in the hands of Good men, may be Properly accounted Blefings. And under this Head, Each of the Advantages mention'd in the Text fhould be Diftinctly confider'd. The

1. First

1. First of them is Length of Days. And fometimes God is pleafed, by an Extraordinary Difpenfation, to multiply those Years, which, in his Ordinary course of Providence, are allotted to a Good man's Life. Thus were fifteen years, by the Divine favour and Indulgence, added to the Life of Hezekiah, even after the Prophet had brought this Moving meffage from Heaven to him; * thus faith the Lord, fet thine house in order, for thou fhalt die, and not live.

Sometimes God is pleased to Prolong Good men's Lives, by proper Acts of Deliverance from those External dangers, which would, Otherwife, prove Fatal to them. Thus was St. Paul deliver'd from the Confpiracy laid against him ́ by the Jews; And a more remarkable Providence fruftrated an Attempt made upon the Life of St. Ambrofe, Bishop of Milan; who was no lefs Famous for his Works of Piety and Charity, than he was for his Noble Extraction.