Soul's Health; whatever he there reads he may, thro' God's Grace, so profitably learn, and so acceptably perform, as to have his Fruit unto present Holiness, and the End everlasting Life, through Jefus Christ. SERMON SERMON III. PHILIPPIANS iv. 4. Rejoice in the Lord always ; and again, I Jay, rejoice. Tis a wonderful Advantage in our most Holy Re I ligion, that it sanctifies the whole Man, and gives a Turn of Piety to the most natural and indifferent Circumstances of Life: If we do but keep God's Glory in View, and make that in general the End of our Actions; whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are constantly engaged gaged in the Divine Service; and our whole Life will afcend up to Heaven, as a Sacrifice of a sweet-fmelling Savour. THERE is not a Paffion of the Soul, a Temper of Mind, or Function of Body, which may not be improved into a Duty, and consequently which may not promote our eternal Happiness: And such is the Power of the Gospel; that those, which to an irregenerate Man, are only Tempers and Habits, do, by the blessed Influences of the Holy Spirit upon him who is a new Creature, become Christian Virtues and Graces. Faith, Hope and Charity, e.g. simply confidered in themselves, are the one, an Habit of the Understanding, the other two, Passions of the Soul: But when refined and exalted under the Gospel, directed to proper Objects, and regulated by Religious Views, they pass into the three Virtues, which are, by way of Eminence, call'd the Theological Virtues, and make up the three most necessary and Divine Graces of a Christian Life. THUS it is, that Religion does not de stroy Nature, but exalts it; does not alter Mens Faculties, but improves them : It is even Nature itself cultivated by right Reason, restored and purified by GospelGrace. Nature prompts us to purfue our Happiness in general; Religion binds it upon us as a Duty, to pursue that particular fort of Happiness, which it is Man's highest Interest to aspire after: Nature necessarily breaks forth into Joy, when its Pursuits after Happiness meet with Success; Religion commands us to make God the Object, as of our Happiness, so of our Joy; Rejoice in the Lord, faith the Apostle: Nature seems always ready to fall in with so delectable a Passion, but is much at a loss for Matter to exercise it upon; Religion proposes God to us, as a never-failing Source of substantial Rejoicings: Rejoice in the Lord always, faith the Apostle, and again, I say, rejoice. THIS Precept was given to the Philippians at a Time, when the Church of God laboured under Perfecution. And if in the Midst of Dangers and Difficulties, we are commanded to possess our Souls of the calm Composure of secure Innocence: If in the Midst of worldly VOL. I. E Cala Calamities, it be our Duty to rejoice, and Religion be able to furnish out Matter for our continual Rejoicings; How much more does it become our Duty, how much more ready ought we to be, to exercise this delightful Passion, when such Trials and Calamities are removed far from us; when no other Difficulties and Afflictions fall upon us, than what are common to Man ? IT shall be the Business of this Difcourse, to set forth and inculcate the Precept now before us, by confidering, I. WHAT that Rejoicing in the Lord is, which we are here commanded II. THE Duty and Advantages of it : III. THE Means of rendering us capa- 1. THEN let us consider, what that Rejoicing in the Lord is, which we are here commanded to exercise. IT is the being of a regular Evenness of Temper; a chearful Frame of Spirit; a fet |