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body, whether it is good, or whether it is bad.

Can any one doubt but the most inconfiderate of men fometimes fit down coolly, and make fome fuch plain reflections as these upon their ftate and condition,or, that after they have made them, can one imagine, they lofe all effect. As little appearance as there is of religion in the world, there is a great deal of its influence felt, in its affairs,nor can one fo root out the principles of it, but like nature they will return again and give checks and interruptions to guilty purfuits. There are feasons, when the thought of a juft GoD overlooking, and the terror of an after reckoning has made the most determined tremble, and ftop fhort in the execution of a wicked purpofe; and if we conceive that the worft of men lay fome reftraints upon themselves from the weight of this prin'ciple, what fhall we think of the good and virtuous part of the world, who live under the perpetual influence of it,

who facrifice their appetites and paflions from confcience of their duty to

GOD;

GOD; and confider him as the object to whom they have dedicated their fervice, and make that the first principle, and ultimate end of all their actions.-How ma ny real and unaffected inftances there are in this world, of men, thus governed, will not fo much concern us to enquire, as to take care that we are of the number, which may God grant for the fake of Jefus Chrift, Amen.

SERMON

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SERMON VIII.

TIME and CHANCE.

ECCLESIASTES IX, 11.

I returned and faw under the fun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,-neither yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill,but time and chance happeneth to them all.

WHEN

HEN a man cafts a look upon this melancholy description of the world, and fees contrary to all his guesses and expectations, what different fates at tend the lives of men,how oft it hap pens in the world, that there is not even bread to the wife, nor riches to men of understanding, &c.—he is apt to conclude

clude with a sigh upon it,in the words, -tho' not in the sense of the wife man,that time and chance happeneth to them all.That time and chance,

apt seasons and fit conjunctures have the greateft fway, in the turns and difpofals of mens fortunes. And that, as these lucky hits, (as they are called) happen to be for, or against a man,- they either open the way to his advancement against all obftacles,or block it up against all helps and attempts. That as the text intimates, neither wisdom, por understanding, nor skill fhall be able to furmount them.

However widely we may differ in our reasonings upon this obfervation of Solo-mon's, the authority of the observation, is strong beyond doubt, and the evidence given of it in all ages fo alternately confirm→ ed by examples and complaints, as to leave the fact itself unquestionable. That things are carried on in this world, fometimes fo contrary to all our reasonings, and the feeming probabilities of success,

that even, the race is not to the fwift, nor the battle to the strong, nay, what is ftranger ftill, ------ nor yet bread to the wife,

who

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