to become, a contented, a thankful, a united, a virtuous, a religious people. Let this place be the grave of every unchriftian fentiment and paffion; let this day be the ara of general harmony and concord. We have met here in joy; let us depart in peace. Let us, both as individuals and as members of the community (for the precept applies to us in both capacities) be kind and tender-hearted one towards "another," watchful over ou felves, refpectful and dutiful to all our lawful fuperiors, grateful and obedient to God. If these be our refolutions refpecting our future conduct, we may then fafely apply to ourselves that fublime benediction with which Solomon difiniffed the people, when the great bufinefs of th dedication was clofed. "6 May "the Lord our God be with us, as he was with "our fathers; let him not leave us or forfake "us. That he may incline our hearts unto "him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep "his commandments, and his ftatutes, and "his judgments, which he commanded our "fathers. And let thefe my words, where"with I have made fupplication before the "Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God, day " and " and night, that he may maintain the cause "of his fervant, and the cause of his people, "at all times, as the matter shall require. "That all the people of the earth may know "that the Lord is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in "his ftatutes, and to keep his commandments "as at this day*." 1 Kings viii. 57. SERMON SERMON XVI, LUKE X. 41, 42. MANY JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER, E are now once more arrived at the WE commencement of that season*, which the Church of England has fet apart for the purpose of enquiring into the state of our account with God, of reviewing our past and prefent way of thinking and acting with a critical and searching eye; of looking well if there be any way of wickedness in us, of turn Lent. ing from it if there be, of confeffing and la, menting our disobedience and ingratitude to our heavenly Father, of imploring his pardon, of entreating the affiftance of his holy fpirit, and under his guidance forming the most serious refolutions to correct and amend, without delay, whatever we find amiss in our temper, principles, and conduct. This is the true spirit and meaning of the religious folemnity of this day*, and the holy feafon which follows it; this is the fubftance and the essence of what is called in Scripture language, and in the epiftle we have just heard, "turning to "the Lord with weeping, fafting, and mourn ing." And what is there in all this, but. that fort of folicitude concerning our spiritual condition, and our future profpects, which every man of common fenfe, if he thinks them worth his notice, muft fee to be not only highly reasonable, but indifpenfably necessary? Is there a man who has any important end in view for the advancement of his fame, his fortune, his rank or confequence in life, who does not frequently think and reflect upon it, who does not give up a large fhare of his * Ash Wednesday. |