which has traced these bright forms and glowing colours blended together with such loveliness. If the heart expand with kind affections to men, or devout and grateful sentiments to the Most High, if it exult in the consciousness of good desert, or look forward with delight to the final abodes of virtue and endless joy, it is God who has formed us that we might bear his image, that we might feel a portion of his divine benevolence, and become partakers of his own transcendent, never-ending bliss: in short, all the stores of Nature, all the embellishments of art, all the blessings of social intercourse, and all the joys of virtue and religion; whatsoever contributes to delight, to adorn, to meliorate, to enrich the soulfrom whatsoever source derived, or through whatsoever medium communicated--springs ultimately from one Great and Good Beingfrom one Eternal, Omnipresent Mind-the Fountain of all perfection and happiness. "Bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us bless his holy name-who de

lighteth over us at all times to do us good, and crowneth our days with loving kindness and tender mercies."

Need I observe, in the last place, how much it behoves us to listen attentively to every intimation of the will of this great and benevolent Being; and cheerfully to concur and co-operate with his all-gracious plans for universal good.

How deplorable is their infatuation, who scornfully reject the counsels of Infinite Wisdom; and impiously trample on the invitations of Infinite Mercy!

Let us, my Brethren, endeavour so to employ all the faculties of our nature, and so to improve all the advantages of our condition, that we may not only attain that private and public happiness for which we were destined here below; but also, when the present scene shall be no more, may obtain an entrance into that state, where the

presence of the Creator shall be still more sensibly felt; where his paternal designs and purposes shall be still more gloriously manifested; where all who are permitted to behold his glory, shall, according to the measure and capacity of their nature, be penetrated and filled by its overflowing brightness-and, hereby, transformed into the likeness of his Divine Nature, in goodness and in felicity!

SERMON XIII.

THE CONSOLATIONS OF RELIGION,

PSALM Xciv. 19.-In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.

THESE words appear the natural effusion of a mind which, having in vain sought consolation from every other source, has, at last, taken refuge in the goodness of God, our Heavenly Father. And here may the weary head and aching heart lay down their burthen, without danger of repulse or disappointment.

.

How frequent are the occasions which render the consolations of Religion needful,

we may all learn by observation: few but have been taught by their own experience. To no object on earth can we attach ourselves, that is securely permanent. All is changeable; all is passing away and as it passes, that in which we placed our happiness, leaves a sensation of regret, proportionable to the value which it possessed in our affection.

This it is fit and useful to remember, as a motive to mutual compassion, to the improvement of time, to setting our affections on things above. Yet Reason dissuades us from indulging to excess, reflections which would embitter the endearments or sadden the comforts of life. The bias of our nature ever turns from gloomy to pleasurable scenes; and the kindness of our Heavenly Father often visits us with intervals of ease, and glimpses of delight, even in the deepest sadness-just as he has ordained the stars and the moon to cheer the hours of darkness, and the gradual twilight to lengthen out the day.