avarice becomes so extreme, that wicked passions predominate, true money is coveted without any regard enjoyment languishes. Something to its use, it degenerates into a kind unpossessed, or unattainable, still of deplorable insanity. makes him exclaim, "All this availBut it may easily be shown, that eth me nothing:" ""Mordecai will godliness with contentment answers not bow to me," "Naboth will not every one of these purposes far bet- sell me his vineyard!" While the ter than any increase of wealth. The attempt to obtain the coveted object, wisest of men, who perhaps also was or revenge the imagined affront, the wealthiest, says experimentally, opens the door to new crimes and "When goods increase, they are in- miseries. No wealth can exclude creased that eat them: and what pain, sickness, the loss of friends, good is there to the owners thereof, or death; and the most prosperous saving the beholding of them with are often consumed with terrors, by their eyes." Eccles. v. 11. It is the foreboding of calamities. Peace undeniable, that increasing riches of conscience and hope of future insure additional cares, incum- bliss cannot be purchased, and the brances, and dangers, rather than way in which the wealth of ungodly any accession of enjoyment. "The men has been acquired and emgrounds of a certain rich man ployed, render the thoughts of givbrought forth plentifully;" but he ing an account of their stewardship was as much embarrassed about unspeakably tremendous.

securing his abundance, as his poor Perhaps there is no delusion so neighbours were about paying their general, or so easily detected, as the rent or maintaining their families. opinion that increase of wealth imNor was he the only man, who has plies an increase of enjoyment.— viewed his treasures with anxious Where is that man, who has risen inquiries: What shall I do? where from a bare competency to great shall I secure them from danger?-affluence, that can honestly say, Designing men find their advantage he hath proportionably augmented in paying court to the wealthy, and his happiness? And what numemploy their ingenuity to impose bers confess that their prosperity upon them. Thus they are often has been disappointment," and surrounded with sycophants instead that all is vanity and vexation of of friends: and even friends become spirit!" suspected for the cordiality of con- But it hath already been shown, fidence is undermined by repeated that true godliness is inseparable deceptions, till universal suspicion from contentment: that it affords damps all social intercourse, and cordials in affliction, doubles the destroys the comfort of the most enjoyment of prosperity, and makes cordial attachments. way for triumphant exultation in

Nor does the rich man enjoy any the prospect of death. The Scrippleasure with higher relish than for-ture sets before us many examples merly: he soon loses the exhilara- of believers in the depth of poverty, tion of new acquisitions and im- in pain and sickness, bereft of provements; he has less to hope friends or forsaken by them, insulted and more to fear than other men; by persecuting enemies, conversant his abundance and leisure often ex- with stripes and imprisonment, and cite him to improper indulgences; daily expecting a painful death; his situation feeds the distempers who have nevertheless been full of his soul; and in proportion as of comfort, and have manifested a

satisfaction of soul, which made are occupied by the lowest of the them rather the objects of congra- people? In many cases, riches are tulation than condolence; nor are considered as criminality; and the similar instances wholly unknown at possessors are proscribed for the present. But who can conceive a sake of confiscations. When famine man under the wrath of God, with a visits a land, the provisions that guilty conscience, the slave of his avarice had accumulated are fredomineering lusts, and the sport of quently seized by an enraged multihis restless passions, to be easy or tude: nay, often the innocent poscomfortable in any situation? God-sessor of abundance falls a victim liness therefore does more towards to popular fury. Thus "riches are making a man happy, than all other kept for the owners of them to gains and advantages combined to- their hurt." And if they prove ingether. sufficient for security in such cases,

But is not wealth a security what can they avail in the agonies against future disasters? Is it not a of pain, at the approach of death, resource in sickness or old age, or in the day of judgment? when trade declines, or when pub- But he who possesses that great lic calamities deprive men of the gain, which the apostle recomordinary means of subsistence ?-mends, is liable to none of this In some cases it may be a duty, in uncertainty: "no good thing will many allowable to make a moderate the Lord withhold from them that provision against such emergencies; walk uprightly." Put thy trust but it is often impracticable, con- in the Lord, and do good, dwell in sistently with our various obliga- the land, and verily thou shalt be tions to God and man: and in ten fed." 66 Seek first the kingdom of thousands of instances, it is done God, and his righteousness, and all in a degree and manner, incompa- these things shall be added unto tible with the exercises of faith, you." "For your father knoweth and in a worldly selfish spirit. On what things ye have need of."-the other hand vast multitudes yield He hath all hearts in his hand, and to impatience, distrust, envy, and all riches at his disposal. He need other tormenting passions, because not work miracles, (as in the case they cannot succeed in their at- of Elijah), in order to accomplish tempts to make such a provision.-these promises: yet doubtless all But godliness is the best security nature would change its course, against future distress. Riches rather than God would disappoint still are uncertain, after every effort an expectation warranted by his to change their nature; as late holy word. We know not indeed

events have loudly preached to all by what way our loving Father may the inhabitants of Europe. The see good in his infinite wisdom, to most wealthy have no absolute se- take us home to himself: but we curity, that they shall not end their are assured that every circumstance days in a dungeon, or an alms- of that event shall be arranged in house. Unforeseen failures often the most advantageous manner; sweep away the property of the afflu- and till the appointed period shall ent and in public calamities it is arrive, no famine can render us suddenly transferred, to the amaze-destitute, no pestilence can sweep ment of beholders: while the rich and us away: the sword of war, the noble are reduced to abject indigence fury of a multitude, or the malignity and dependence, and their palaces of persecuting tyrants cannot reach

us.

We are safe, and ought to be He clings to a joyless life from confident, though an host of men dread of death: yet the thought encamp against us: for "the Lord that he must soon die, will intrude, of Hosts is with us, the God of and interrupt his expiring comforts. Jacob is our refuge." "All things He becomes a burden to himself, are ours, if we be Christ's:" we and often to others; and the greater need not fear, though the earth be his wealth is, the more reason has removed. Death is our gain: and he to suspect, that many wait for this single effect of godliness infi- his death with concealed impanitely exceeds in value the ideal tience. philosopher's stone, the power of Alas, and is this all!-The sanchanging inferior metals into gold. guine youth, the active man of buEven the day of judgment, and siness, looked foward, in scenes of perdition of ungodly men, will be peril and fatigue, with the cheerthe season of the believer's complete ing expectation of affluence or preredemption, to which he may now ferment, and of tranquil enjoyment look forward with joyful hope. in declining life, as the reward of "O Lord God of Hosts, blessed is intense application. But how great the man that trusteth in thee." is the disappointment even of the

But riches are valued as the ma-successful! Most of the candidates terials of future enjoyment." Soul, terminate their course, before the thou hast goods laid up for many expected season of repose; or lanyears; take thine ease, eat, drink, guish out their lives in pain and and be merry: but God said, Thou sickness: the highest prize in this fool, this night shall thy soul be poor lottery has been described; required of thee." Luke xii. 16-while an eternal state is unprovided 21. Our present life is short and for!" Vanity of vanities, vanity of uncertain; "Man goeth to his long vanities! saith the preacher, all is home." On our journey we only vanity!"

want enough to bear our expenses: "But the hoary head is a crown yet many a traveller groans, through of glory, if it be found in the way a great part of the road, under the of righteousness." The consistent

weight of an useless burden, which Christian will not greatly regret he must leave behind him on the the loss of pleasures which he has shore, when he embarks for his long comparatively despised: for eternal residence!-If riches yield he has resources in communion with little additional enjoyment, during God and the consolations of the youth and health, they will fail Holy Spirit. Even if poor in this still more in old age. Then the world, he commonly engages the relish for every pleasure becomes cordial affection of some valued languid, desire fails, the organs of friends, whose society and attention sensation wear out, but the passions solace the eve of life. Bodily pains retain their impotent dominion, and the loss of relatives are renunless subdued by divine grace. dered tolerable by the exercise of "Can thy servant taste what I eat faith and humble resignation: while or drink? Can I hear any more the near approach of death, and the the voice of singing men and sing-prospect of heavenly joys reconcile ing women?" 2 Sam. xix. 35. his mind to transient sorrows and The aged sinner resembles the sap-separations. Past experience of the less trunk of an old tree; when the Lord's faithfulness and mercy inbranches are lopped off or withered. spires gratitude and confidence;

which are rather increased than im- Neither can wealth enable a man paired by the consciousness of his to be useful to his friends and relaown unworthiness. "His outward tives, in any way or degree, that man decayeth; but the inward man may be compared with the advanis renewed day by day." Consola- tages derived from godliness. To tion often abounds when flesh and be capable of conversing in a pious heart are failing. Thus he meets and prudent manner with our acdeath with composure: and then quaintance; of exhibiting religion enters on that fulness of joy, which before them in an amiable example; is at the Lord's right hand for ever- of recommending them to the Lord more. And is not godliness with in our daily supplications; and of contentment great gain? using divers means to render them

When the lovers of this present wise unto salvation; when accomworld are silenced, in respect of panied with uniform endeavours to these reasons for desiring increas-serve them in their temporal coning wealth, they excuse their con- cerns, will render us far greater duct by pleading their families: blessings to them than superior and doubtless we ought to endea-affluence could do. And though vour, that our children may be pro- men flatter themselves with the vided for, and enabled to maintain imagination, that they shall do themselves, when we shall be taken much good when they are grown from them. But the desire of ad-rich: yet supposing the best, which vancing them, much above our own rarely happens, the most liberal use station in the community, is inju- of ungodly wealth seldom compenrious to them, both in respect to sates the effect of corrupt principles their temporal comfort, their cha- and a bad example thus varnished racter for prudence and good beha-over. On the other hand, the godly viour, and the interests of their im-man, however poor, is a light in his mortal souls. How can any one neighbourhood, and the salt of the greatly labour to enrich his children, earth. He restrains the vicious, if he do not himself idolize riches? encourages the drooping, promotes How can he vindicate such an at- piety and righteousness, professes tempt, who believes the words of and adorns the gospel, and in all Christ: "It is easier for a camel respects is a blessing to every vilto go through the eye of a needle, lage, city, or nation in which he than for a rich man to enter into resides. The Lord preserved all the kingdom of God." But a pious who sailed with Paul, in answer to education, an edifying example, his prayers: ten righteous persons many fervent prayers offered by would have preserved Sodom: and religious parents for their children the Scripture fully warrants me to and with them, and the little spared say, that our national preservation from superfluous expenses to relieve hitherto is vouchsafed in answer to the indigent, constitute a treasure the prayers, and for the sake of the of superior value: while habits of pious remnant among us. In all industry and frugality, the result of respects, and in every view, "Godright principles, will, by the bless-liness with contentment is great ing of God, be far more advantage-gain," yea the greatest of gains; ous than ungodly riches, inherited" It is profitable for all things; hav with the incumbrance of the crimes ing the promise of this life, and of with which they have been ac- that which is to come."

quired.

III. Then, let us conclude with | gion, and live at open war with some practical instructions. their convictions, are very miserMany young persons being brought able. Others, taking up distorted in the way of religion, think that views of truth, and prematurely or godliness may be very proper in old disproportionately studying matters age, as at that time of life people too deep for them, disquiet their have little to do, and have no relish minds, and cast a gloom over their for juvenile pleasures. They per- piety: while negligence, unwatchhaps allow that it will some time be fulness, evil tempers, or cleaving to needful for them also: but they wish worldly objects, will render those to defer the distasteful task to a uneasy who fear God or have any more convenient opportunity. In tenderness of conscience. But these the meanwhile, they purpose mak-effects arise not from godliness, but ing a trial of the world; being de- from the want of it; and they would termined not to believe that all is vanish, were the Scriptures more vanity and vexation, unless con- implicitly believed and obeyed. We vinced by experience. The opinion, ought therefore to infer from these therefore, that religion is irksome things, that we should carefully and joyless, proves in this case a compare our religion with the word most fatal delusion of Satan. All of God; and pray without ceasing, desire present satisfaction; and few that we may be enabled to have our are willing to forego it for a distant conversation as it becometh the gosand invisible felicity. Hence arises pel of Christ.

a procrastination that generally Perhaps some of you, who have proves fatal. But could we con-neglected godliness, meet with convince men that genuine piety would tinual disappointment in your worldbest promote their present satisfac-ly pursuits. Does not the Lord tion, one great obstruction to the then say to you, "Wherefore do gospel would be removed. You, you spend your money for that which my young friends, have doubtless is not bread? and your labour for found already, that disappointment that which satisfieth not? Hearken and disgust often succeed to san- diligently unto me-hear, and your guine expectation: be persuaded, soul shall live?" Few of the nume therefore, we earnestly entreat you, rous candidates for wealth, honour, to regard those who have dearly or power, are successful: and the bought their experience, when they most assiduous application has only declare that this will more and more the probability of success; but the be the case, as long as you seek unfailing word of God insures the that happiness in the world, which blessing to all that seek his kingcan only be found in God and reli- dom and righteousness in the first gion. Come," then, "taste and place, and in the way which he hath see, how gracious the Lord is; and prescribed. how blessed they are that trust in him." Make a fair trial, whether you possess godliness, oppressed by peace of conscience, and joy in God, be not preferable to turbulent mirth, with an aching heart and bitter re

46

Are any of you who trust that

poverty, sickness, or trouble? Seek after contentment, my brethren : seek divine peace and consolations with redoubled earnestness; and But are not religious people often strive to serve God cheerfully in melancholy and uncomfortable? No the humble duties of your station. doubt, many who speak about reli- Watch against envy and covetous

morse.