always formed in us from an impartial View SER M. of the real Characters of Men, and our gi- II. ving way to those honeft and generous Paffions which fuch a view excites. There are indeed fome external Marks of Diftinction and Refpect to be given to Men in publick Stations, and a common Complaifance and Civility to be expreffed to all with whom we have any Intercourse, whatever their moral Characters may be; these things are neceffary for the Order and Peace of Society, and the happy Management of the common Affairs of Life. And there are great Condefcenfions to be made to fome Perfons, whofe Characters may in feveral respects be very difagreeable to us, fo long as we have any prospect by this means of amending them; we must not be fo fevere on the infirmities and faults of Men, as abfolutely to defpife them, and caft off all Concern for them, while they retain fo much Sincerity and Goodness of Temper, as to be willing to hearken to wife Counfels and Admonitions; but in this cafe we must use them tenderly and gently, and take all the prudent Methods that we can for delivering them from their Follies and Vices, and bringing them to a juft fenfe of Religion and Virtue. This is a very proper Expreffion of our Humanity towards them; an Inftance of our Concern

for

SER M. for the Honour of God and of Religion; and II. what the Example of our Saviour, who converfed very freely and familiarly with Perfons but of indifferent Characters for their But Good, ftrongly recommends to us. to go beyond the ordinary Measures of Decency and Civility in our Behaviour to Men of bad Characters, whom we can never hope to reclaim; to give special Marks of our Esteem and Favour to Perfons, who are really a Disgrace to Humanity, and the justest Objects of our Indignation and Contempt, because they move in a higher Sphere than the common Rank of Men, when, perhaps, at the fame time, we neglect, or at beft behold with Indifference, Men of true worth in a humbler Station; to act thus, I say, discovers a most base and abject Spirit ; is inconfiftent with that noble Zeal for the Cause of Virtue, which fhould poffefs the Breast of every good Man; and is attended with very pernicious Confequences.

4. From what has been faid, there arifes a strong Motive and Encouragement to the prac tice of Virtue. For muft it not exceedingly recommend it to us, to confider that it is our great Glory and Excellency, the thing which exalts and dignifies our Nature, and renders us most truly amiable and honourable in the O

pinion of all wise and difinterested Obfervers ? SER M. Certainly, tho' we had no Profpect of fuch ad- II. vantageous Confequences from Virtue, as really flow from it, yet if we had any greatness and generofity of Mind in us, if we had any Reverence for ourselves and the dignity of our Beings, if we retained a sense of what is decent and becoming us, we would always love and practise it. This is not to be called an enthufiaftick Rant; I doubt not but that every honest Mind, that is at pains to reflect upon itself, may have a very lively Perception of the truth of it. But the natural Excellence of Virtue is not the only thing which recommends it to us; for befides this, it is the means of affording us the trueft Pleasure from the Approbation of our own Hearts, and the Efteem and Love of others. This, which is the most valuable inftance of Happiness, and the greatest Comfort that a Man can have under any Misfortunes that he may meet meet with in Life, will surely be obtained by a course of fincere Piety and Goodness. If we be really poffeffed of pious, upright, and benevolent Difpofitions, and live under the Influence of them, we cannot but perceive it; and the Consciousness of this must be most delightful : We shall reflect upon our own Worth with a peculiar Satisfaction, and receive a Joy from it,

SERM. which will moft intimately affect us, and II. which no external Accidents can ever deprive

us of, but will, fo long as we preferve a virtuous Temper, conftantly abide with us. This Joy will be increased by the Applause and Friendship of wife and good Men; these, whofe Judgment alone in this world is to be valued, will always approve and praise our Conduct, and be ready, as they have Opportunity, to contribute to our Eafe and Contentment. And our Happiness will be rendered most compleat from our hope of the Approbation of that great Being, who is incomparably the best Judge of the true merit of Men, and on whom we entirely depend for our Existence and all our Enjoyments. From all the Notions which we can rationally have of the Pfalm xi. Deity, we must conclude, that He loveth Righteoufnefs, and with pleasure beholdeth

7.

the Upright; and that the time is coming, when he will make a full Discovery of his Sentiments of Men, and when, if we be fincerely virtuous, we fhall have the most vigorous fenfe of his Approbation, and receive the highest marks of Honour and Favour from him when we fall fine forth as the Sun in xiii. 43. the Kingdom of our Father, and appear, even to those who may now defpife and reproach us, to be the most excellent and happy of all Men.

Matth.

If then we would obtain the noble Pleasures of SER M. Self-approbation, if we would have the Tefti- II. mony of our Confciences for a conftant Rejoicing to us, and if we would procure ourselves Efteem from God and good Men, let us be careful to practice all Virtue and Goodness. By no other means can we fecure lafting Peace in our own Breafts, and obtain Honour from those whofe good Opinion only is to be regarded. It is very poffible indeed, that through habitual Thoughtleffness, and that great Corruption which a courfe of Wickedness always produces in the Heart, we may not readily discern the baseness and deformity of Vice in many Instances, but may come to think well of it, and to practise it under the Appearance of Innocence and Virtue; and the Perfons who are as inattentive, and as much corrupted as we are, may be ready to defend and applaud us. But we can never be fure of being long at ease, while we continue in this Condition; for whenever we are brought to confideration, which the Adverfities that befal us in the World may often bring us to, all our Peace will vanish: We shall then see ourselves in a true light, and not be able to bear the Review without the bittereft Anguish and Self-condemnation. The Applause and Commendation of our Affociates in Wickedness VOL. I.

F

will