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SERMON I.

PSALM IV. 5, 6.

There be many that fay, who will shew us any good? -Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

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HE great pursuit of man is after happiness it is the firft and strongest defire of his nature in every ftage of his life, he fearches for it, as for hid treasure courts it under a thousand different shapes -and though perpetually disappointed, -ftill perfifts-runs after and enquires for it afresh-afks every paffenger who comes in his way-Who will fhew hitn any good?who will affift him in the attainment of it, or direct him to the B difco

discovery of this great end of all his wishes ?

He is told by one, to fearch for it amongst the more gay and youthful pleafures of life, in fcenes of mirth and fprightliness where happiness ever prefides, and is ever to be known by the joy and laughter which he will fee, at once painted in her looks.

A fecond, with a graver afpect, points out to the coftly dwellings which pride and extravagance have erected-tells the enquirer that the object he is in fearch of inhabits there that happiness lives only in company with the great in the midst of much pomp and outward state. That he will easily find her out by the coat of many colours fhe has on, and the 'great luxury and expence of equipage

and

and furniture with which fhe always fits

furrounded.

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The mifer bleffes GOD! wonders how any one would miflead, and wilfully put him upon fo wrong a fcent convinces him that happiness and extravagance, never inhabited under the fame roof- that if he would not be difappointed in his fearch, he must look into the plain and thrifty dwelling of the prudent man, who knows and understands the worth of money, and cautiously lays it up against an evil hour: that it is not the prostitution of wealth upon the pas, fions, or the parting with it at all, that constitutes happiness- but that it is the keeping it together, and the haviny and boding it fast to their heirs for ever which are the chief attributes that form this

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great idol of human worthip to which fo much incenfe is offered up every day.

The epicure, though he easily rectifies fo grofs a mistake, yet at the fame time he plunges him, if poffible, into a greater; for, hearing the object of his purfuit to be happiness, and knowing of no other happiness than what is feated immediately in the fenfes - He fends the enquirer there- tells him 'tis in vain to fearch elsewhere for it, than where nature her. felf has placed it in the indulgence and gratification of the appetites which are given us for that end: and in a word

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if he will not take his opinion in the matter he may truft the word of a much wifer man who has affured us that there is nothing better in this world, than that a man fhould eat and drink and rejoice in his works, and make his foul enjoy

enjoy good in his labour for that is his portion.

To rescue him from this brutal experiment ambition takes him by the hand and carries him into the world - fhews him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them- points out the many ways of advancing his fortune and raifing himself to honour- lays before his eyes all the charms and bewitching temptations of power, and afks if there can be any happiness in this world like that of being careffed, courted, flattered and followed?

To clofe all, the philofopher meets him bustling in the full career of this purfuit ftops him tells him, if he is in fearch of happinefs, he is far gone out of his way.

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