XXIII. SERM. a new fpirit. From this day let us count our reformation, from this æra let us date our virtue let the new year bring along with it new paffions, new defires, new hopes, the paffion of piety, the defire of God, and the hope of eternity: let us intreat the gracious Author of our being to fend down his divine grace to make a new heart and a new spirit within us; fuch a heart, and such a spirit, as alone can recommend us to his almighty favour and protection. So shall we, from this day forth, instead of indolence and luxury, meet with industry, temperance, and fobriety fo fhall every man, by his private virtues, enfure and promote public good, and public happiness: fo fhall we exchange murmurings and difcontent for loyalty and affection, neglect for duty, and rebellion for obedience; war, danger, and discord, for peace, fafety, and unanimity. : 137 SERMON XXIV. PSALM. XC. 12. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. TH XXIV. HERE is not any thing which SERM. morality can inculcate, or religion enjoin, that will more eafily perfuade men to a confideration of their latter end, and a necessary preparation for it, than the serious contemplation on the shortness and vanity of human life. This is an argument which requires no depth of wisdom to conceive, no fuperior faculties to discuss, but appeals to the fenfes, and speaks to the hearts of all men; and yet SERM. yet the fenfes of all men deceive, the XXIV. hearts of all men betray them, and those things which should be for their learning, are unto them an occafion of falling. The certainty of death is perhaps among thofe truths, which, merely because they are obvious, we do not think fufficiently worthy of our attention; it is almost the only thing we know, and we treat it as if it were the only thing we were ignorant of. In the midft of life we are in death; but, like hardy and fearless foldiers, though we are in the heat of the battle, though thousands fall befide us, and ten thousand on our right hand, yet, whilft we have fociety to animate, whilst we have hope to encourage, and all the noife and bustle of the war to divert our thoughts, we are ftrangers to fear, and infenfible of our danger. The goodness of the Almighty is alike visible in what it fhews, and in what it conceals from us: |