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and the fick whole. And when we behold DISC. the mighty works thus wrought for the bodies of men, let us reflect upon that fovereign mercy, which, in like manner, ftrengthens the infirmities, and heals the diseases of our minds; and let us be equally diligent in using the means appointed to reftore them to vigour and purity; that fo, thus doubly benefited and bleffed, we may express the gratitude of our hearts in those divine words of David-Praise the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me praise his boly name. Praise the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thy fin, and healeth all thine infirmities. Who faveth thy life from deftruction, and crowneth thee with loving kindness and mercy. Who Satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy life is renewed like the eagle.

The last use I shall mention which we are to make of the fea, is that which the Holy Spirit himself hath fo frequently made of it in the Scriptures, viz. to confider it as an emblem of the world, and of

what

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DISC. what is paffing therein. Under a smiling deceitful furface, both conceal dangerous rocks and quickfands, on which the unskilful mariner will ftrike and be loft. Both abound with creatures pursuing and devouring each other, the fmall and weak becoming a prey to the great and powerful; while in both there is a grand destroyer, a Leviathan, taking his pastime, and seeking the perdition of all. In the voyage of life, we may fet out with a ftill fea, and a fair fky; but ere long, cares and forrows, troubles and afflictions overtake us. At God's word, either to punish us, or to prove us, from fome quarter or other, whence perhaps we leaft expected it, the stormy wind arifeth, and lifteth up the waves. We are carried sometimes up to heaven with hope, fometimes down to the deep with defpair, and our foul melteth because of trouble. Then it is, that our heavenly Father shews us, what poor helplefs creatures we are without him; and tribulation becomes the parent of devotion. If we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, he will deli

IV.

ver us out of our diftrefs. If, with the dif- DISC. ciples in the Gospel, we go to our Master, faying, Lord, fave us, we perish, he will, as he did then, arise, and rebuke the winds and the fea; there will be a calm; and we shall arrive in fafety at the defired haven. Let us, therefore, conclude, by befeeching Almighty God, in the words of our most excellent church, that we, who by baptifm were received into the ark of Chrift's

Church, being stedfast in faith, joyful "through hope, and rooted in charity, may "fo pafs the waves of this troublesome "world, that finally we may come to the "land of everlafting life," where all the toffings and agitations of human affairs fhall ceafe, or, as St. John expreffes it, where there shall be "no more SEA."

DISCOURSE V.

THE BLESSING OF A CHEERFUL HEART.

PROV. XVII. Part of the 22d Verfe.

A merry heart doth good like a medicine.

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V.

MONG the golden maxims delivered DISC. out, for the direction of our moral conduct, by him, on whom it pleased God to bestow "largeness of heart as the fand

upon the sea shore," we meet with several, in different parts of the book of Proverbs, to the fame effect with that which hath been just now read." Heavinefs in "the heart of a man maketh it stoop; but "a good word maketh it glad. A merry "heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but

by forrow of the heart the spirit is bro"ken. All the days of the afflicted are

VOL. III.

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evil;