SER M. be thro' the whole of our existence. For II. fince our highest powers are capable of im

provements to which we cannot fix any limits, yet ftill infinitely diftant from abfolute perfection; every addition to our intellectual and moral attainments is a fresh manifestation of the divine unexhaufted bounty; will increase our rational happiness, and furnish new matter of praise to its original author. And,

Laftly, (Still confining our inquiries concerning this fubject to the points which we have the best means and opportunities of understanding,) let us confider men as in their prefent existence, under the care of divine providence, and the general tenor of its difpenfations towards them, and we shall find, that goodness and mercy follows them thro' the whole courfe of their lives. Man is not fent into the world to shift for himself, and to improve the powers of his nature, and the advantages of his condition, in the best manner he can for his own happiness, without the interpofition of a fuperior power in his behalf. As God continually fuperintends the whole course of nature, by his own immediate agency, governing the affairs of the universe, the intire series of events in it, and all its various appearances; he particularly preserves, and

con

conftantly watches over all the nations ofS ERM. men, whom he has made of one blood, to dwell II. upon the face of the whole earth, with a tender compaffionate care. His goodnefs, manifefted in providing daily fupplies for the numberlefs wants of the animal life, has been already obferved: And not only does man partake of this in common with other living creatures, but it may be said to be, in some fense, peculiar to him; he being the principal, and all the other species by the appointment of providence, ferving him with their labours, and their lives, as made for his fake. Muft it not appear to the conviction of any attentive mind, that in all the generations of men which have been fince the world began, God never left himself without a witness of his bounty, in that he gave them rain from heaven, and fruitful feafons, whereby not only themselves were fed with the vegetable productions of the earth, but a multitude of animals, all in fubjection and ministring to them in a variety of ways. As the devout pfalmift obferves, man has been cared for by his indulgent father, like a king in this low world. Thou Lord, fays he, haft made him a little lower than the angels, and haft crowned him with glory and dignity. Thou madeft him to have dominion over the works of thy bands

SERM.hands; thou haft put all things under his feet; II. all sheep, and oxen, yea and the beasts of the

fields, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the fea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the fea.

The argument has ftill a greater force, if we confider the moral state of mankind. Inftead of approving themselves to God by a proper ufe of their rational faculties in purfuing the true ends of their being, they are greatly degenerated, all flesh have corrupted their ways, fallen fhort of the glory of God, and by a multitude of tranfgreffions rendered themselves obnoxious to his displeasure. This confideration fets his goodness towards them in the most amiable light, heightening it into tender pity and long-fuffering patience. Nothing is more apparently effential to the character of the fupreme governor of the world, than perfect holiness; he loves righteousness and hates iniquity. As every man's own conscience approving the righteous laws of his nature, is a witness to the moral rectitude of the great Lawgiver, and leads him to the expectation of his just judgment, or impartial distribution of rewards and punishments; so the remarkable interpofal of divine providence in the affairs of the world, by inflicting fevere judgments for the heinous wicked

nefs

ness of men obftinately perfifted in, has SER M. been univerfally acknowledg'd; and defolating II. ftrokes, fuch especially as were fudden and furprising, not expected according to the ordinary course of nature, (as when the foundation of the wicked, nay, the whole world of the ungodly was overthrown with a preternatural flood; Sodom and Gomorrah were deftroy'd by a fire from heaven;) fuch ftrokes have been always attributed to the immediate avenging hand of God, as a fignification to men, even in their state of trial, of his general design at last finally to condemn impenitent finners, when the righteous fhall be faved; of which great distinguishing judgment, there were eminent examples fet forth in the deliverance of Noah from the flood, and of Lot from the deftruction of Sodom. These fignal surprising defolations, I fay, have been univerfally attributed to the immediate hand of God: The other catastrophes of nations and cities which had not fuch miraculous appearances, have been accounted for by the wifeft of men in the fame manner, when (which upon a careful Observation will appear to have been generally the case in fact) they followed a long course of obstinate and irreclaimable iniquity. But these interpofitions are extraordinary, and evidently in

tended

II.

SER M. tended as examples for the reformation of finners, and that by the judgments of God which are in the earth, the inhabitants thereof may learn righteousness; which is their greatest good, and the only fure foundation of their happiness. The general administration of providence is different. The gentle methods of mercy and loving kindness are always first used to lead men to repentance. They never have reafon to complain, that they are furprised with destroying vengeance, in the beginning of their departure from the paths of virtue; or indeed that it overtakes them, till after many repeated provocations, and till by their incorrigible perverfeness and the impenitency of their hearts they have treasured wrath to themselves. The Inftances recorded in fcripture which I have referred to, of God's righteous severity against heinous offenders, do alfo afford us remarkable examples of his patience. When God had refolved to destroy the world with a flood, yet * St. Peter observes, that his long-fuffering waited while the ark was preparing, during which time Noah was a preacher of righteoufnefs to them, to try if they could poffibly be reclaimed, and that ruin prevented. And before the overthrow of Sodom, just Lot was fent to be a teacher and an example of virtug

*I Pet. iii. 20.