SERMON V.

ON DEATH.

Ecclesiastes, xii. 5.-Man goeth to his long home, and

the mourners go about the streets,

SERMON VI.

ON THE PROGRESS OF VICE.

> Corinth. xv. 33.-Be not deceived; Evil communica-
tions corrupt good manners,

SERMON VII.

ON FORTITUDE.

Psalm xxvii. 3.-Though an host should encamp against

me, my heart shall not fear,

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Matthew, xx. 6.-Why stand ye here all the day idle?

SERMON X.

ON THE SENSE OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE.

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Psalm lxxiii. 23.-I am continually with thee,

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SERMON XI.

ON PATIENCE.

Luke, xxi, 19.-In your patience possess ye your souls, 177

3

SERMON XII.

ON MODERATION.

Philippians, iv, 5.-Let your moderation be known un-

to all men,

SERMON XIII.

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195

ON THE JOY AND THE BITTERNESS OF THE HEART.

Proverbs, xiv. 10.-The heart knoweth his own bitter-

ness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with

his joy,

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SERMON XIV.

ON CHARACTERS OF IMPERFECT GOODNESS.

Mark, x. 21.-Then Jesus beholding him, loved him,-

SERMON XV.

ON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S Supper, as a

PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

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(Preached at the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.)

Matthew xxvi. 29.-But I say unto you, I will not drink

henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when

I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom,

SERMON XVI.

ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE WORLD.

1 Corinth. vii. 31.-They that use this world, as not

247

abusing it,

267

SERMON XVII.

ON EXTREMES IN RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CONDUCT.

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Proverbs, iv. 27.-Turn not to the right hand, nor to

the left,

285

SERMON XVIII.

ON SCOFFING AT RELIGION.

2 Peter, iii. 3-There shall come in the last days

scoffers,

SERMON XIX.

ON THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.

Genesis, i. 1.—In the beginning God created the heaven

and the earth,

SERMON XX.

ON THE DISSOLUTION OF THE World.

2 Peter, iii. 10.-But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall

pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall

mell with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works

that are therein shall be be burnt up,

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336

SERMON I.

ON THE TRUE HONOUR OF MAN.

PROVERBS, iv. 8. *

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour.

THE love of honour is one of the strongest passions in the human heart. It shews itself in our earliest years; and is coeval with the first exertions of reason. It accompanies us through all the stages of subsequent life; and in private stations discovers itself no less than in the higher ranks of society. In their ideas of what constitutes honour, men greatly vary, and often grossly err. But of somewhat which they conceive to form pre-eminence and distinction, all are desirous. All wish, by some means or other, to acquire respect from those among whom they live; and to contempt and disgrace, none are insensible.

VOL. III.

Among the advantages which attend religion and virtue, the honour which they confer on man is frequently mentioned in Scripture as one of the most considerable. Wisdom is the principal thing, says Solomon, in the passage where the text lies, therefore get wisdom; and, with all thy getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. It is evident, that throughout all the sacred writings, and particularly in the book of Proverbs, by wisdom is to be understood a principle of religion producing virtuous conduct. The fear of the Lord is said to be the beginning of wisdom: And by this fear of the Lord men are said to depart from evil; to walk in the way of good men, and to keep the path of the righteous.* Man is then regulated by the wisdom which is from above, when he is formed by piety to the duties of virtue and morality: and of the wisdom which produces this effect, it is asserted in the text, that it bringeth us to honour.

On this recommendation of religion it is the more necessary to fix our attention, because

Prov. ii. 20.