SERM. of our own Nature. Let the raifing and inIII. creafing these amiable Virtues in us, be the

End of our Faith, and all our Inquiries after Truth and Knowledge, and of our use of the inftrumental Duties of Chriftianity: And when at any time there happens to be a Competition between thefe and any Duties of an inferiour nature, fo that we cannot perform both; let us always give the preference to these excellent and important Virtues. Let us take all Opportunities of doing just, kind, friendly, and useful Actions, tho' our doing fo, may sometimes prevent our obferving fome pofitive Precepts of the Gofpel, or our attending on the outward Duties of Devotion. This is certainly the way to act moft agreeably to the Nature and Intention of Religion, and to offer the most acceptable Worship and Service to the Deity, who has required Homage and Obedience from Mankind to himself, for the more effectual Advancement of their Welfare and Happiness. To him may all Glory and Praise be given, both now, and for ever. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON IV.

The Government of the Heart.

PROV. IV. 23.

Keep thy Heart with all Diligence; for out of it are the flues' of Life.

Τ

HERE is not any Precept which better deferves our Attention, and which we are more concerned to obferve, than this which Solomon here gives us; for upon our complying with it, the good Conduct and Happiness of our Lives depend. The Method in which I fhall difcourfe of it, is this:

I. I fhall explain what is meant by keeping.

the Heart.

II. I shall confider the Argument, which is used to engage us to this Practice of keeping the Heart; because out of it are the flues of Life.

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SERM.

III. I fhall lay down fome Rules to direct IV. and affift us in keeping or governing our Hearts.

First, I fhall explain what is meant by keeping the Heart. The Heart in Scripture, and in all Writers of Morality, comprehends all the Defires, Paffions, and Affections, and every thing that is a Principle of Action in the Mind of Man; and the keeping of it in general confifts in a due Regulation of our feveral Defires and Affections, in a just Arrangement of all the inward Movements and Principles of the Mind; fo as that the higher and nobler Principles of our Nature may always prevail, and reftrain and direct every lower Principle and Inclination in us, which are naturally placed in a state of Subordination to them. In order therefore to our un derstanding diftinctly the Meaning of this Precept, it will be necessary to confider a little the feveral Affections and Principles of Action which belong to the human Nature, the just Order of their operating, and to which of them the Right of directing and governing the rest belongs. And to come to the knowledge of thefe matters, there is not so much need of any long Reasoning, as of a careful Reflection upon ourselves, and Attention to what we inwardly feel and are confcious paffes in

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our own Breafts. It is not, however, to be SERM. expected, that I fhould here diftinctly enu- IV. merate all the particular Paffions and Affections of Mankind, and fhew how they regularly exert themselves, and how far each of them is to be indulged: To do this, would be tedious, and carry us by far too great a length on this Occafion. It will be fufficient to take notice of fome general Difpofitions and Principles in our Nature, which include our particular Affections, and to fhew how these are to be regulated; what sort of Affections fhould be moft cultivated, and which Principle is to controul and guide all other Principles within us. The Principles. and Affections implanted in the human Nature, which I fhall mention are thefe following.

1. The Principles of Self-Love, and fuch Affections as tend to our own private Good and Happiness. That these are a part of our Constitution, that we are fo framed that we cannot but defire and feek the Prefervation of our Beings, and the Gratification of all thofe Senfes and Powers in us, whereby we are capable of receiving Pleasure, every Perfon may perceive from his own Experience; the common Pursuits of Mankind fufficiently prove it; and it is indeed a thing fo certain, and fo univerfally

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ER M. univerfally known, that none have any doubts IV. about it at all.

2. There are benevolent Principles and publick Affections implanted in us, which incline us to promote the Interest and Happiness of others. These are altogether as essential to our Nature, as our selfish and private Affections are: All the Devotion and Love which we express to the Deity, all the Compaffion, natural Affection, Friendship, Gratitude, Generosity, and Love of a Country, which are among Mankind, are Inftances of our Benevolence, and particular Branches of it. If any Person says, that he has never perceived any of these Affections in himself, he has certainly never seriously reflected upon the State of his own Heart, or he belyes himself, and is willing to appear lefs amiable than he really is. And if any who is fenfible that there are fuch Affections in Mankind, yet affirms that they are not difinterested, and that the Happiness of others is not the End of them, but that they are only the Effects of Self-Love exerted in an artful manner for advancing our own Intereft, he afferts what is very abfurd, and what every honeft and kind Heart can confute from what it conftantly feels in itself. Indeed nothing but the greatest Inattention, or the most unreasonable Preju