whole frame of nature. His creation, and every part of it is full of Him. There is nothing he has made that is either so distant, so little, or so inconsiderable, which he does not essentially inhabit.† f Inhabit, v to dwell iz. 2 Material, a corporeal, important. 16. His substance is within the substance of every being, whether material2 or immaterial, and as intimately present to it, as that being is to itself. It would be an imperfection in him, were he able to move out of one place into another; or to withdraws himself from any thing he has created; or from any to retire. part of that space which he diffu. sed and spread abroad to infinity. In short,to speak of him in the language of the old philosophers, he is a being S Withdraw, T to draw back, whose centre4 is every where, and 4 Centre, sthe bis circumference no wherc. 17. In the second place, he is omniscient as well as omnipresent. His omniscience, indeed, necessarily and naturally flows from his om nipresence. He cannot but be conscious5 of every motion that arises in the whole material world, which he thus essentially pervades ;6 and of every thought that is stirring in the intellectual world, to every part of which he is thus intimately united.7 middle. 5 Conscious, v inwardly persuaded. 6 Prevades, v passes through. United, part joined together 18. Were the soul separate from the body, and with one glance of thought should start beyond the bounds of the creation; should it for millions of years, continue its progress through infinite space, with the same activity, it would still find itself within the embrace 8 of its Creator, and encompassed by the immensity of the Godhead. 19. In this consideration9 of the 8 Embrace, s fond pressure in the arms, a clasp. 9 Considera Almighty's omnipresence and om- tions serious niscience, every thought vanishes. regard every thing uncomfortable He cannot but that has a being, especially such of his creatures who fear they are not regarded by him. He is privy to all their thoughts, and to that anxiety of heart in particular, which is apt to trouble them on this occasion; for as it is impossible he should overlook2 any of his creatures, so we may be confident that he regards with an eye of mercy, those who endeavor to recommend themselves to his notice; and, in unfeigned humilitys of heart, think themselves unworthy that he should be mindful of them. thought, pru Regard. v to esteem respect. 2 Overlook. v to neglect, pe-. ruse. 3 Humility, modesty. The Misfortunes of men chargeable on themselves. 1. We find man placed in a world where he has by no means the disposal of the events that hap pen. Calamities2 sometimes betal the worthiest and the best, which it is not in their power to prevent, and where nothing is left them, but to acknowledge, and to submits to the high hand of heaveir. 2. For such visitations4 of trial many good and wise reasons may be assigned, which the present sub'ject leads me not to discuss. But though those unavoidable calamities make a part, yet they make not the chief part, of the vexations5 and sorrows that distress buman life. A multitude of evils beset6 us, for the source of which we must look to another quarter. 3. No sooner has any thing in the health or in the circumstances of men, gone cross to their wish, than they begin to talk of the unequal distribution of the good things of this life; they envy the condition of others; they repinez at their own lot, and fret against the ruler of the world. 4. Full of these sentiments,8 one man pines under a broken constitution. But let us ask him, whether 2 Calamities, misfortune, cause of misery 3 Submit, v to "let down, to refer. to subject. to resign. 4 Visitation, the act of visit. ing he can, fairly and honestly, assign9 no cause for this but the unknown decree of heaven ? Has he duly valued the blessing of health and always observed the rules of virtue and sobriety? Has he been modcrate in his life, and temperateƒ in all his pleasures? 5. If now he is only paying the price of his former, perhaps his forgotten indulgencies, has he any title to complain, as if he were suffering unjustly? Were we to survey2 the chambers of sickness and distress, we should often find them peopled with the victims3 of intemperance and sensuality, and with the children of vicious indolence and sloth. Among the thousands who languish there, we should find the proportion of innocent sufferers to be small. 6. We should see faded youth, premature4 old age, and the prospect of an untimely grave, to be the portion of multitudes, who in one, way or other, have brought those evils on themselves; while yet these martyrs5 of vice, and folly have the assurance to arraign the hard fate of man, and to fret against the Lord." 7. But you, perhaps complain of hardships of another kind; of the injustices of the world: of the pov erty which you suffer and the discouragement under which you labor; of the crosses and disappointments of which your life has been doomed to be full. Before you give too much scopes to your discontent let me desire you to reflect,9 impartially upon your past train of life. Have not sloth or pride, or ill temper, or sinful passions misled you often from the path of sound and wise conduct ? Have you not been wanting to yourselves in improving those opportunities which Provi + Opportuni s dence offered you; for bettering & ties & fit places, advancing your state? time conveniencies. 2 Humor, s moisture jocu larity, whim, ziness. 8. If you have chosen to indulge your humor, 2 or your taste, in the gratifications of indolences or pleasure, can you complain because others, in preference to you, have obtained these advantages which naturally belong to useful labours, and honorable pursuits? Have not the consequences of some false steps, into which your passions4 or your pleasures, have betrayed you, pursued you through much of your life; tainted,5 perhaps your characters, 5 Tainted, part involved you in embarrassments, or corrupted, insunk you into neglect? It is an old fected. saying, that every man is the artificer6 of his own fortune in the world. 10. It is certain, that the world allow turns wholly against à mail, 4 Passion. S. anger, love,zeal lust suffering. 6 Artificer, ufactursn an artist, a man |