Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERMON XIII.

Of the pleasures of a religious life.

PROV. iii. 17.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness; and all her paths are peace.

T

HESE words are part of SERM. Solomon's defcription of the XIII. advantages of wisdom, or true religion, which, contrary to the general method of this book (compos'd for the most part of independent fentences) he pursues in a connected discourse. He begins the chapter with recommending a ftrict regard to the rules of virtue from

[blocks in formation]

SERM. this confideration, that 'tis the most likely XIII. way to fecure esteem and influence, and a

long, happy, honourable life: The fame argument is refumed at the 13th verse ; and the whole is wrought up with so much beauty and elegance, that I choose to give it in the language of the wife author himfelf: Happy is the man that findeth wif dom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of filver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou can'ft defire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and bonour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness; and all her paths are peace. I fhall only add by way of introduction, that if the argument from pleasure appears to be on the fide of religion, it may be hoped its efficacy will be univerfal; fince a defire of happiness is an inextinguishable principle in human nature, and one of the most powerful motives, by which the bulk of mankind are determin'd. In my followdifcourfe, I fhall

In

I. Premise

I. Premise a few things, very briefly, for explaining and illustrating the obfervation contained in the text. And then, which is the chief part of my defign, proceed to show,

II. The peculiar excellency of the pleafures of religion and virtue.

The first thing that I would premife is, that what is here faid of the pleasures of religion supposes that persons are, in some degree, inured to the practice of it, and have a virtuous difpofition and turn of mind: For without this there can be no more a taste of divine and moral pleasures, than of animal gratifications without the fenfes. Every pleasure must have its faculty of perceiving, fuited and adapted to it. And therefore to those who have led a diffolute irregular life, the ways of religion are at first ungrateful and burthenfome; because they not only oppofe the current of the animal paffions, but ftubborn and inveterate habits; and fo oblige them to offer, for fome time at least, a kind of violence to nature. But when corrupt appe

tites

SERM.

XIII.

SERM. tites are fubdued, vitious prejudices re-
XIII. mov'd, and contrary principles fixed with-

in us, then religion is eafy, and the duties
of it are delightful. And the pleasures of
piety, as will hereafter be shewn, are be-
yond comparison the most excellent that
human nature is capable of; fuited to its
dignity, worthy its exalted capacities,
fubftantial and durable; fo that when a
man comes to practice it with freedom, he
begins to enjoy himself, and his noble fa-
culties in their right order, and lives in a
manner agreeable to his high original, and
the defign of his creation. Nay, even the
controuling licentious inclinations, as 'tis a
rational, generous, and manly action, must
of confequence, notwithstanding the trou-
ble and mortification that attends it, afford
much
greater and more fublime fatisfaction
to the mind, than any that can fpring from
an indulgence of them. Again,

2dly. In interpreting Solomon's obfervation we must except extraordinary cafes; as we are oblig'd to do with respect to many other general propofitions, which are only suppos'd to hold true in the common courfe of things. The cafe, for example,

« PreviousContinue »