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LVI.

I die daily.-1 Cor. xv. 31.

THE moment I am born is a moment nearer death. As my life proceeds, death approaches. They keep equal pace. The steps of one, measure exactly the steps of the other. Thus juftly may we say with the apostle, we die daily.

Is it not wonderful that when an irresistible power is rufhing armed against us, we do not rather wish to conciliate him as a friend, than make him an enemy?

The cry of the world is, Let us live daily. Let us not fuffer the thoughts of death to interrupt the pleasures of life.

The religious man, in the mean time, follows the apostle's advice, and always has in remembrance that he dies daily. How can I better, fays he, confine the tumultuary joys of life, within the bounds of moderation-how can I better bear the distresses of the world-than by having this memento always before me, I die daily.

LVII.

What glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently?-1 Peter, ii. 20.

IN

a ftate of trial, we are always buffeted for our faults. Our merciful father never lays any affliction upon us, which is not meant to correct fome moral mifchief. Under this idea therefore we fhould take patiently every evil that befals us; and should endeavour to correct our faults by the buffetings of Providence.

If we are religious in the use of this moral difcipline, the outward fign will follow. The natural effect will be an easy pleasant temper. He who is in good humour only when he is pleafed, plainly hews he has not yet learned this religious leffon. But when he fmiles, and fuffers, moft probably he feels as he ought, God's correcting hand.

LVIII.

Beware, left any man spoil you through philofophy, and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Chrift.— Coloffians, ii. 8.

WE have here a kind of prophetic caution against the spirit of philofophy, which would certainly at various times step forth, and oppose the fimplicity of the gofpel. Amidft all the evidences of christianity, and even during the rapid progress, which it made, the vain deceits of philofophy, thofe rudiments of the world, began early to appear.

We need not wonder therefore, if they should make their appearance in thefe declining days. Miraculous powers have now ceafed-christianity is fupported only by evidence, which few are dif pofed to examine-the ties of religion are more re. laxed-people are less in earnest than they used to be-and worldly philofophy hath attained a greater height. Under these circumstances we need not

wonder,

wonder, if the vanity and felf-importance of the philofopher should set up a new creed in oppofition to christianity.

Let us then, my brethren, be on our guard. We are forewarned of thefe vain deceits. We have lately feen the dreadful havoc, which this worldly philofophy hath occafioned in all parts of Europe; and ought to tremble at every approach that is made towards it.

LIX.

We were bondmen: but our God hath not forfaken us in our bondage; but hath extended his mercy unto us.-Ezra, ix. 9.

*

WE are met together to-day to deplore the

violent death of a very amiable prince. How far he fhould be introduced among the noble army of martyrs, is another queftion. The act however, which we deplore, was certainly a moft nefarious one; and calls for the highest indignation.

In deploring however the crimes and violences of thofe lawless times, let us not forget the mercies of God, which attended them-of that God, who brings light out of darkness, and turns the wickednefs of men into acts of mercy.

If we examine with a candid eye, the whole train of thefe events, however melancholy in themfelves, we are led to acknowledge, they produced in the end one of the greatest national blessings,

* January the Thirtieth.

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