I TIMOTHY, iv. 8. GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THI HAVING THF PROMISE OF THE LIFE T THOUGH godliness depends chiefly on promise of the life, that is to come; yet a are told it hath the promise also of the life, now is, it seems right for the ministers of gospel to explain this, and every advan that attends it. Indeed it is, in fact, stren ening the force of religion, to give it the mise of the life, that now is; for as t must be a uniformity in all God's it is a strong presumption, that if a relig conduct tends to make us happy here, will tend still more to make us happy hereafter. In considering this subject, I shall shew you first, that religion tends more than wickedness to procure us the enjoyments of life-secondly, that it gives us a better relish for them-thirdly, that it is a greater security against misfortunes: and lastly, that when we do fall into misfortunes, it is our best support under them. IN the first place, religion tends more than vice to procure us the enjoyments of life.-But here I would not be understood to mean that a religious life has a greater tendency than a wicked one, to procure us sudden, or exorbitant wealth. By acts of oppression, or fraud, a man may create a fortune at once; as a thief may suddenly enrich himself by breaking open a house. But he, who is inclined to enrich himself by rapine and robbery, will never listen to any discourse of this kind. He is beyond the pale of instruction. When I speak therefore of the worldly advantages of religion, I confine them merely to those who are content to go on innocently in the common course of business, in which certainly a virtuous conduct has a greater tendency to success than a vicious one. VOL. I. L And L prudently, and so far he acts properly: when he acts in character, his measures are certed by art and cunning. These serve b present occasion: prudence is ever of use. Then again industry, temperance, and fi lity, which are all virtues, have the same tendency. Did any of you ever see an idle, ken, extravagant fellow prosper in his busi or live comfortably? I believe not.-His ness fails-or his friends forsake him-o quarrelsome temper leads him into mischie something happens, which he might have a ed, if he had been quiet, sober and industrio Honesty too has the same good tendency.knave must pretend to be honest, or he can succeed. If he be supposed to be a knave body will trust him. And it will be a very cult matter for him to manage so, as not t found out. There is the same difference bet a really honest man, and a disguised knave, a tween a piece of fair gold coin, and a gilt terfeit. The honest Guinea shews its face W where. Weigh it : it does not want a grain. Bring it to the touchstone : it stands the proof. Carry it to market: every body likes to deal with it. But it is not so with the counterfeit. Bring it to the scale or the touchstone, it is discovered at once. And if it should escape so nice an inquiry, yet in its common intercourse of business, the gilding wears off its spots-the base metal here and there appears-and in the end, it will not pass for a farthing. Look therefore into your own hearts, and take care that no dishonesty may appear in them-that the gilding may not begin to wear off in spots. We are generally the last people ourselves to know we are suspected. If the knave should hear all the secret whispers of his neighbours against him, he would perhaps wonder how they came to know his heart so well. Another thing, which contributes to make the religious man more successful in business, is the assistance of others. His goodness naturally procures it. The more friends a man has, the fairer is his chance for success. In whatever way of life he is engaged, so many difficulties arise, (eşpecially in the early part of life, before he is established in the world) that without the friendly assistance of others, he could not proceed with titude preserves his old ones. Thus it pears that religion hath a greater natural ter cy than vice, to procure us the enjoymen life. As we cannot however suppose, tha the conciliating qualities here mentioned, meet in every person, who on the whole m denominated religious, I shall only add, he will have the best chance for success, in v the most of them are found. I SHALL now shew you, secondly, that the enjoyments of life are procured, rel gives us the best relish for them. Here ther be no competition. The bad man, we just served, may make a larger fortune; but he not possibly enjoy it with equal comfort. enjoyments of the world in their greatest pe tion, cannot give us complete happiness. A tain degree of it is the utmost they can Now the religious man knows this, and ex nothing more from the world. But this is the case of the worldly man. He expects hi happ |