SERMON XV.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION IN THE PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC HAPPINESS.

WITH three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God, and men : the concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together. ECCLESIASTICUS, c. xxv. v. 1, 2.

WELL may the three things specified in the text by the Son of Sirach as special objects of his soul's delight be also pronounced by him to be " approved before God and men." For, being congenial to the inbred feelings of his nature, he would naturally conclude, that they could not fail to recommend themselves to the approbation of that nature's God, and of those who, with himself, were joint partakers of it. With feelings in perfect unison with those of the inspired Author of the book of Ecclesiasticus, permit me, in like manner, to address you, my friends, on the present occasion. But why have I selected this particular passage as an introductory text to the instruction which I am about to deliver to you? My reason for so doing, is its intimate connexion with the important subject on which I purpose, this day, to address you-which is that of domestic happiness; in the composition of which the "three things" contained in the text must cer

tainly be allowed to be material ingredients:"With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God, and men: the concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together." If, then, there be a person, in this assembly, whose aspiring temper prompts him to pursue happiness in projects of ambition; in the acquisition of fame, distinctions and honors-be it known unto him, that he will derive little satisfaction or profit from this day's instruction. If there be one, who, to satisfy the most frivolous of all passions, seeks for nothing but to glitter in the assemblies of the great; to make a distinguished figure at the courts of princes; or to dazzle the public eye with a numerous train of attendants, with gorgeous equipages, and expensive magnificence,-I beg him to be assured that he will feel no interest whatever in the observations I am about to make. But as to you, my friends, whose views are confined within a narrower sphere; who range not abroad, in the true spirit of romantic adventurers, grasping at every phantom of ideal felicity; but who, within the little circles of your families, study to acquire a more solid satisfaction in the soothing comforts of domestic life, and of this description I presume the bulk of my present hearers to be as to you, I say, my friends, it shall be my aim to make this day's discourse as useful and satisfactory to you as my slender abilities will permit. Your advantage and happiness, are indeed, at all times, objects of my endeavours; but this

day they are particularly so; for, as I have already premised, I mean, conformably to the suggestion of the text, to discourse to you on the subject of domestic happiness. My intention is to convince you, if possible, of the admirable influence of religion in the attainment of it. Complete happiness, I well know to be a visionary chimera in this sublunary world of ours,-sought after, perhaps, by many, but found by none. It is an inhabitant of the skies. But in a well regulated family, I believe it to be as perfect as can fall to the lot of man in his present state. That it is the inseparable companion of religion, I purpose this day to show. Husbands, wives, children, servants, lend me your ears; and in return for your attention, I will endeavour to contribute to make you all happy. With this view I will, in the first place, attempt to describe to you the manner in which religion operates in promoting domestic bliss; I will then proceed to impart to you a few practical admonitions favorable to its operation; and the picture of a family, acting under its influence, shall close the discourse.

So acknowledged is the beneficial influence of religion on society in general, that the wisest and most experienced lawgivers have ever made it a principal object of their attention. Sensible that all the most plausible inventions of human ingenuity and wisdom, would, without it, be nothing better than baseless fabrics, exposed at all times to be subverted by a variety of accidents, too numerous to be mentioned, and to crumble into ruin, they have

never failed to make religion the basis of their institutions. A more striking proof of the justness of their views, in this respect, there cannot be than that which is at present exhibited to the eyes of the whole world, in the horrid example of those political infidels,* who, in contempt of the wisdom of ages and of nations, by attempting to discard religion, have plunged their once flourishing country into a gulf of woes, and transformed its civilised and polite inhabitants into monsters of atrocity and of brutal violence. But if such is incontestably the influence of religion, on society in general, it will appear, upon consideration, to be still greater on that of domestic life, in particular; for this plain reason-because those disorders, by which the peace and harmony of society at large are apt to be disturbed, experience some restraint from the coercive force of laws executed with vigor: whereas the private quarrels and dissentions of families, which are so injurious to the happiness of domestic life, are not subject to the same control. Moreover, my friends, what human law can exercise its authority over the temper? Yet it is upon a due regulation of the temper that the enjoyment of domestic bliss materially depends. Now it is the peculiar privilege of religion to extend its influence to those parts of conduct which are beyond the reach of every human institution; to watch, to command, to rule within those secret and recondite regions of

*This Sermon was preached in London during the horrors of the French Revolution, in the year 1793.

the mind and heart which no human eye can penetrate, and over which no human government can exert its power. It speaks {with authority where law is silent. And its awful voice is heard with respect, when the voice of man-empty and ineffectual as the sounding brass, or the tinkling cymbal-is totally disregarded. Nor is reason capable of supplying the defect of positive law. For reason, as experience too often gives us occasion to regret, is by no means a barrier of sufficient strength to resist the impetuous violence of passion. Men have reasoned since time began to run,-as laws are coeval with the birth of society—but we do not find, either in the history of past ages, or in our own times, that they have been able to stop the progress of those vices the effects of which are so prejudicial to the happiness of men in general, and to that of domestic life, in particular. For, in defiance of the cultivation of human reason, as well as of the operation of political institutions, rank weeds continue, as of old, in soils where flowers of choicest scent and beauty should alone be seen to bloom; and, by their pernicious luxuriance, to check, if not destroy the growth of the latter. The rank weeds, to which I allude, are those inequalities of temper, those animosities and dissentions, those jealousies and suspicions, so injurious to the comforts of domestic intercourse, and which sometimes change its peaceful haunts into turbulent dwellings of discord and confusion. How often are the sweets of connubial union between husband and wife imbittered ?-how