fuccefs though we may fail of our wish; and let no condition in life, however grievous, difcourage us from the use of prayer, or tempt us to charge God foolishly in appointing it— remembering always, that the design of it is not to make us rich, but to make us good. SERMON SERMON XXXII. HUMILITY. ROMANS xiii. 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one THE another. HE church hath judiciously directed our thoughts to the duty of humility, as a fuitable preparation for celebrating the approaching nativity of Chrift; which is itself the most wonderful example of humility, and which requires humility in us, as the most neceffary qualification for enjoying the great bleffing Christ brought with him at his coming among us. Man fell by pride - it is therefore naturally proper he should recover his fall by humility. The scripture fhews us, that the tranfgreffion of our first parents arose from their aspiring to to more knowledge than God had given them, and to a higher ftate than that in which God had thought fit to place them; and the world fhews us, that we inherit our progenitors folly that pride and difcontent are ftill the ruling paffions of mankind; which, as they at first loft us heaven, do still continue to difturb our abode on earth. For hence spring envy, avarice, and ambition the fatal enemies of justice and benevolence, which are the bonds of union among hence abound the vices men run into for gratifying their lufts, at the expence of the peace and order of fociety. us; These are not suitable difpofitions for meeting the Saviour of the world-for celebrating his first advent with propriety, or for meeting his fecond without fear. Christ first came to deliver us from fin; and will come again to examine, how we have maintained our deliverance from it. Thefe difpofitions then must be laid afide; and, as every effect is beft removed by a removal of the cause, that pride and corruption, which produces them, must be rectified, and we must prepare ourselves for meeting our Redeemer, with that humility and purity which he came to teach, and which he expects from us. This This is the duty of the present season which will be best discharged by a serious examination of our conduct; how we are performing, according to our feveral stations and capacities, thofe duties which we owe to others and ourselves.-Such a furvey, if strictly made, is enough to make us humble; for however the good man may derive comfort from it, he will hardly find reason for pride; but will feel this reflection mixed with his comfort, that, good as he is, he might be better; and, that he is not fo bad as he might be, is more owing to God's grace, than his own ftrength. The wicked man, from fuch furvey, will furely feel reafon for humility; which, if he encourages it, will be his comfort too, as it is his appointed way to pardon, and his natural way to purity. In this furvey of ourselves let us take the apostle for our guide, who, in the epiftle for the day*, carries us through a fummary of our duty, where we may foon fee our defects, and hear his advice for the amendment of them. The great duty, with refpect to others, which the apostle here points to, is that comprehensive one of loving one another. VOL. I. * First Sunday in Advent. This |