us, we shall have infinitely greater joy in 'that perfuafion, than in the benefit itself which his providence has just bestowed upon us. The fentiments of affection and gratitude, which arife in our minds towards a benefactor worthy of all our veneration, all our attachment, are far fuperior in value to the gift which we receive from him. This gift is a pledge of his affection, and that confideration awakens all our own: that engaging idea is what principally renders it precious to us. This is true above all with regard to GOD; for befides the present advantage which we enjoy, befides the delightful fentiments of gratitude and love which it infpires, we may infer from it what are the defigns of the Moft High, and what will be his future dealing with us. His favour once obtained, we do not lofe it but

by our own fault; there is no caprice, no inconftancy, to be feared from GOD. What may we not then expect and hope! What fweet emotions arife at once in our fouls! And in heaven how clear, how convincing will this argument be!

Here below, befides that we are prevented from beholding, by the "clouds and "darkness which are round about," our good GOD, the full perfection of that

.

righteousness and judgment which are the "habitation of his throne;" and from tafting that joy unspeakable and full of glory, with which a clear perception of him would fill every heart; befides this obfcurity, there is often another obstacle, incomparably more difficult to furmount, and which we ourfelves create; this is fin. this is fin. We are the fame

with regard to GOD, as we usually are with regard to our friends; as foon as we have acted ill towards them, or in any manner rendered ourselves lefs worthy of their af fection, we immediately feel our own diminish. Frequently, in confequence of the injury which an unjust offender has committed, he hates the offended perfon more than he is hated by him.

Of all mental evils, the greatest and the most infupportable is remorfe of confcience. To those who have been guilty of enormous crimes, it is a fenfation of inexpreffible anguish; but every fpecies of guilt, every degree of fin, creates in the mind uneafinefs and confufion, in proportion to the sentence which we pass upon our actions; and it is impoffible to elude the judgment of our own confcience,

F 3

confcience, or to render ourselves indifferent to its awful voice.

Shame, as well as remorfe, is always revived by the fight of the person we have injured; it ftrikes through the heart, and we fly, we abhor, whatever awakens it. The idea of a witness of our unworthiness, especially when that witness is the perfon with regard to whom we are guilty, is a tormenting idea. If to fhame be added a well-grounded fear of fuffering the punishment deserved, we have then a complication of emotions which distract us. Such is our deplorable fituation with regard to GOD, when we have trampled on his facred laws, and defpifed his falutary counfels. The fentiments of foothing confidence, of fincere and ardent love, which we once felt towards him, are weakened by the shock of

various

various oppofite fentiments.

This great

GOD, who was the fource of our tranquillity, of our confolation and joy, becomes a fource of fhame and fear; and if we are not diligent to fupprefs this frightful tumult in our fouls, by fincere repentance and speedy amendment, we expofe ourselves to the most formidable of all dangers, that of changing into averfion those fentiments of filial duty and affection which we once felt towards that adorable and almighty Being. If we were always wife and virtuous, we should taste here below, in a high degree, the pleafure of loving GOD; but even those who have made the greatest progress in the work of fanctification, have always fufficient cause to reproach themselves. This is what principally cools that celestial ardor, and mingles much bitterness with all its pleasures.