us by his laws, and by all the methods of his providence to interpofe for our welfare in this world, and to prepare us for eternal happiness in the next; to love and adore the most high God, for his infinite condefcenfion; to fhew forth our thankfulness for a gracious providence over us, by daily praises of our bountiful creator and preferver, upon whom we fo much depend, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, with all the comforts of it. BUT then, our thankful fense of God's providence, and mindfulness of us, ought to be expreffed alfo by living as always in his fight, and therefore by putting our felves upon doing the things that please him, and by being careful never to offend him, seeing we have fo great a witness of our behaviour. The confideration of the divine providence will naturally have an influence upon our lives and practices; it is a fpur to virtue in doing and fuffering well, that we perform our part under the eye and observation of an infinite majefty. Since God condefcends to take notice of us, we should endeavour to deserve well in such a prefence. This thought, that his eye is always upon us, fhould make us have a great regard to all our actions, to fee that we do things that will bear fo great a witness and judge, and will gain his approbation and rewards. And let us be fure to learn thofe virtues, which the firm belief of a wife and good providence watching over us, should more particularly engage us tọ practife; namely, truft in God, contentment in all conditions, patience in afflictions, and a full resignation and submission to the divine will. LASTLY, There is one inftruction more, by no means to be omitted, which we must learn from what hath been faid concerning God's good providence; and that is this: The sense of his ftooping fo low, to take care of us, and provide for us, should correct in us all pride, and felf conceit, and infolent contempt of other men ; and should teach us what an excellent thing is that humble charity of condescending to do good. In the true account of things, he that is more kind and beneficial to the meanest perfons, than another is, is of the clafs of that man's betters; and will be fo owned, by the great judge of truth, at the laft laft day. And the reafon of it is plain enough; for fuch charity is an imitation of the condescending goodness of God. Therefore let a man not think highly of himself, for the fake of any worldly pre-eminence; but confider himself as indebted to God for every thing he enjoys: And then he wilf conclude, that he cannot be worthy of praife, without being himself a benefactor to others. But, fhall wit, or riches, or honours, or ftrength, or beauty, make us believe, that we are in a condition to fcorn the meanest perfon upon earth, or to think him beneath our confideration, our respect, or our charity? They are indeed these things that infect us with pride, that procure flattery from others, and make us think highly of our felves. But what are we, with all this vanity about us, to the peerless majefty of God, who condefcendeth to take notice of us, and is mindful of the loweft, as well as of the higheft of us? What is man, not only the poor, the defpifed, the ignorant, and the moft unhappy man to fee to, but what is man with all his glory, and riches, and greatness, and wit, and know knowledge? What is a nobleman, a king, an emperor, what is the greatest man upon earth, that God fhould be mindful of him? If therefore, whofoever thou art, thou makest no use at all of thy gifts, and wealth, and honour, and high place in the world, for the benefit of thy inferiors; but thy fingular advantages do rather minifter to haughtiness and swelling, and serve only to nourish a lofty and foolish opinion of thy felf, and to puff thee up; then go thy way, and give over thy pride and vanity, and learn to be wife, and think that doing of good to the meaneft perfons will be thy greatest honour; for in this thou wilt do what is fomething like the goodness of God, who infinitely condescendeth to take notice of thee. And let not the wife man glory in his wisdom, nor the rich man in his riches, nor the ftrong man in his ftrength, nor the great man in his titles, honour, and power; but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, who dwelleth on high, and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth. SERMON VI. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [From Dr. CLAGETT's fourth volume.] MATT. VI. 12. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. T. LUKE, in delivering this petition S of the Lord's prayer, in his gofpel, expreffeth it thus, forgive us our "fins." And in the form which we commonly use, we say, forgive us our "trefpaffes." And it is all one which of thefe words we ufe, debts, or fins, or trefpaffes; becaufe in this respect they must all have the fame meaning: For what is a trespass against God, but only the doing something which he has forbidden? And this is likewife a fin; for fin (as the apoftle fays) is the tranfgreffion of the law. And this fame may alfo be well called a |