XIII. SERM them forth, or to fhut them up; to increafe, or to diminish them, at his pleafure. In a study fo infinitely important to happiness, as that of the preservation of inward peace, we cannot be too earnest in befeeching aid from the great Father of Spirits, to enable us to keep our hearts free from diftrefs and trouble.Befides the affiftance which we may hope to derive from divine grace, the employments of devotion themselves, form one of the most powerful means of compofing, and tranquillifing the heart. On various occasions, when the fources of heart-bitterness have been moft overflowing, devotion has been found the only refuge of the fufferer. Devotion opens a fanctuary, to which they, whofe hearts have been moft deeply wounded, can always fly. Within that quiet and facred retreat, they have often found a healing balfam prepared. When grieved by men, they have derived, from the ascent of the mind towards God and celeftial objects, much to footh them at present, and much to hope for in future. Let us, there fore, XIII. fore, neglect no mean with which religion SERM. can furnish us, for promoting the joys, and affuaging the bitterness of the heart. Amidft the frailties of our nature, the inconftancy of men, and the frequent changes of human life, we shall find every affiftance that can be procured, little enough, for enabling us to pass our few days with tolerable comfort and peace. SERMON XIV. On CHARACTERS of IMPERFECT SERM. MARK, X. 21. Then Jefus, beholding him, loved him. TH HE characters of men which the world presents to us are infinitely diverfified. In some, either the good or the bad qualities are fo predominant as ftrongly to mark the character; to discriminate one person as a virtuous, another as a vicious man. In others, these qualities are fo mixed together, as to leave the character doubtful. The light and the shade are so much blended, the colours of virtue and vice run in fuch a manner into one another, that we can can hardly distinguish where the one ends, and the other begins; and we remain in fufpence, whether to blame or to praise. While we admire those who are thoroughly good, and deteft the grofsly wicked, it is proper alfo to bestow attention on those imperfect characters, where there may be much to praise, and fomewhat to blame; and where regard to the commendable part, shall not hinder us from remarking what is defective or faulty. Such attentions will be found the more useful, as characters of this mixed fort are, more frequently than any other, exhibited to us in the commerce of society. It was one of this fort, which gave occafion to the incident recorded in the text. The incident seems to have been confidered as remarkable, fince it is recounted by three of the evangelical writers; and by them all, with nearly the fame circumftances. The person to whom the history relates was a ruler; one of higher rank and station than those who usually reforted to Jefus. He was a rich man: He was a young man. His SER M. XIV. whole XIV. SER M. whole behaviour was prepoffeffing and engaging. He appears to have conceived a high opinion of our Lord. He addreffed him with the utmost respect; and the question which he put to him was proper and important. He kneeled to him; and faid, Good Mafter, what shall I do that I may inberit eternal life? His conduct in the world had been regular and decent. He could proteft, that he had hitherto kept himself free from any grofs vice; and in his dealings with others, had obferved the precepts of God. Our Lord, beholding him, is said to have loved him; whence we have reason to conclude, that he was not hypocritical in his profeffions; and that his countenance carried the expreffion of good difpofitions, as his fpeech, and his manners, were altogether complacent and gentle. Yet this perfon, amiable as he was, when his virtue was put to the teft, disappointed the hopes which he had given reafon to form. Attached, in all probability, to the indulgence of ease and pleasure, he wanted fortitude of mind to part with the advantages of the world, |