using dishonest means to obtain it. For this reason it is, that GOD, who knows our weakness, has not only told us not to steal, but to prevent our wishing to do so, He commands us not to covet or desire our neighbour's goods. For this reason our blessed Saviour tells us, "that he who looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."* For this reason he guards us against even a thought of revenge, by telling us to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us. Wicked thoughts are the temptations of the Devil, and we must constantly endeavour to resist and drive them away; which may be most effectually done by turning our thoughts towards GOD. The poor man, whose daily labour is necessary to gain his daily bread, has not much time to spend in reading, or in making long prayers; though every man, who serves GOD as he ought, will find a few minutes night and morning to kneel down before Him, to beg his pardon and his blessing. But the poorest man, whilst engaged in the hardest labour, may sometimes think upon GoD, and find his greatest comfort in doing so. He may thank Him for blessing with increase the labour of his hands;

* Matt. v. 28.

for the health which enables him to maintain himself and his family; for having placed him in this happy country, where every man may eat the fruits of his honest industry in peace and liberty. He may thank GOD that he is not a slave, as many are in other countries, and forced to work under the lash of a cruel master. Above all, he should thank Him for the glorious prospect of happiness in the next world, which supports us through all the sorrows of this. When he returns at night, he may still think upon GOD. He may thank Him for the blessings of food and rest, sweetened, as they ought to be, by the duty and affection of his wife and children. Even if his situation in this life be still more unhappy, his thoughts may fly to heaven, and dwell on the glory which shall be revealed. "There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest!"* There the faithful servant of GOD will be for ever happy.

Having now endeavoured to point out to you the principal duties of a Christian towards GOD, let me beg you to consider the happiness, which, even in this world, attends the performance of them. This will be seen by considering the

*Job iii. 17.

difference between a good and a bad man, in the day of prosperity, and in the day of adversity. It is certainly true that this world is a state of trial to all; and the best men must not expect to escape those sufferings which our heavenly Father sends to purify our minds, and to make us more worthy of his love. "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of GOD."* This is the lot of all; high and low, rich and poor, from the king on his throne to the captive in the dungeon, all know and feel it.

But if there are many sorrows in life, there are also many pleasures; and what we have to consider is, whether the good or the bad man be more likely to enjoy those pleasures, and support those sorrows, which are sent to both alike. Allow me, however, to observe to you, that in the common course of things it is probable the good man will be more prosperous, even in this world, than the bad man; for in most cases misery is the natural consequence of vice. A man who spends his time and his money in idleness, gaming, or drinking, will probably be poor. He will suffer want, he will be in debt, and perhaps end his days in a prison. A man who spends his youth

* Acts xiv. 22.

in debauchery will probably pass the rest of his life in pain and sickness. A man who is guilty of dishonest actions will be despised and shunned, he will lose his character, and perhaps fall under the punishment of the law. These are, the common and natural consequences of great vices; and certainly the man who suffers in any of these ways, cannot be so happy as he whose industry procures him an honest independence, whose health is secured by temperance and sobriety, and whose conduct entitles him to respect and esteem from all good men; thus "godliness hath the promise of this life, as well as of that which is to come.'

But there may be a great difference between a good and a bad man, as I have already observed, even when the latter is not guilty of such gross vices as these. I will therefore take up the argument on the least favourable ground, and suppose a man who is guilty of no vices which are known to the world; who is sober for the sake of his health, and honest because he is afraid of the laws of his country; whose character stands fair, and who possesses all the prosperity which can be enjoyed in the world. All this may certainly

* 1 Tim. iv. 8.

happen to a man who neither fears nor loves GOD; for "He maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."+ It must, however, be evident, that a good man might be in the same happy circumstances as to outward things; and then the question is, which of these men will have most enjoyment of prosperity? I am at present considering only what each will feel while he lives in this world; and I say that if they are in exactly the same situation, still there are two circumstances which will make the good man beyond comparison the happier.

First, the man who is without GoD in the world is tormented by the fear of losing the blessings he enjoys. We all know that this may happen with regard to every earthly blessing: we know that it often does happen; and he who thinks that he owes his prosperity to chance has always reason to fear that chance may take it away. The good man, on the contrary, puts himself and all that he possesses under the care of an all-powerful Protector. He knows that from GOD he received every good gift, and he knows that the blessings he enjoys never can be

*Matt. v. 45.