among men ; which are the great Bands SER M. of Peace and Unity: In the fame propor- XIV. tion is the Happiness of the Society, and

the Welfare of the Publick

cured.

evidently se

WHEN Magiftrates rule in the Fear of God; looking upon themselves as fent by Him for the Punishment of Evil doers, and for the Praife of them that do well; making ufe of all the Influence and Authority they are invefted with, to promote Virtue, Righteoufnefs, and Good Manners among men: When Laws are made with one continued View to the Good of the Publick; and executed with Diligence, Equity, and Fidelity: When persons in all the relative stations of Life, perform faithfully and conscientiously the Duty of the respective Stations wherein they are placed: When Bargains are regularly contracted upon Terms of equitable confideration, and executed with Justice and punctual Veracity: When in every Exigence of common Life, mutual Trust and Confidence, univerfal Benevolence and Goodwill, are both the Spring or Motive, and the Rule or Measure of Action: There

SER M. is no one fo abfurd as not to fee, that there XIV. hence arifes, in neceffary, in evident, in

immediate confequence, an Image of Publick Happiness, the moft Lovely that the Mind of Man can poffibly be presented with. An Image indeed only, which the Imagination may contemplate; but which, in this prefent corrupt world, can never poffibly have a Reality to answer it. Yet it fhows abundantly the Truth of the Propofition I was to prove: Because whatever is, in its complete Idea, of perfect Excellency; is by neceffary confequence, in every degree of its Reality, of proportionably good Effect. So far therefore as Juftice and Charity, and univerfal Virtue, prevails and is practifed in Any Nation or Community; fo far will That Community find thofe good Effects, which, were men's Virtue perfect, would be perfect Felicity. On the contrary: So far as Injustice, Tyranny, Fraud, Luxury, and other Vices, are encouraged in Any Society of men; so far will That Society feel certain degrees of thofe pernicious Effects, which, where Vice and Corruption arife univerfally to their highest Pitch, do un

avoidably

XIV."

avoidably end in Total Destruction. The SER M. only poffible Delufion therefore, by which men are continually tempted into unrighteous Practices, notwithstanding the evident pernicioufnefs of fuch Practice in its moft naturally confequent Effects; is their fondly and unreasonably imagining, that, what is undeniably ruinous to the Whole, may yet to Themfelves in particular be Advantagious. And This I call a Delufion; not only upon account of the Future Judgment, which falls not within the compass of my prefent Argument; but it is a mere Delufion, generally speaking, with respect to the real and substantial Advantages even of this present Life. For, befides that whatever is in its natural confequence pernicious to the Publick, must probably by that very means, in the course of things, bring a due Punishment upon the particular Offenders themselves; It is moreover ftill further true, without taking in any confideration of the Publick at all; it is, I fay, ftill further true in the

III. Third place, That if we confider men, fingly, every one in his mere private perfonal

SERM.perfonal capacity; ftill the only poffible XIV. Foundation of real and lafting Happiness

to a man even in That View, (always excepting, as I before faid, the Cafe of Perfecution,) is the Practice of Righteousness, Charity, Temperance, and univerfal Vir

tue.

Evil purfueth Sinners; but to the Righteous, Good shall be repaid. The Truth of the Propofition, will most clearly appear in the Particulars.

THE Firft Ground and most neceffary Ingredient of every Enjoyment in Life, and without which there can be no Relish of any other Enjoyment whatsoever, is Health. Now though God has indeed made all men mortal; and the Best are fubject to Infirmities and Difeafes, and the moft vicious feem fometimes almost entirely to escape the natural confequences of their Vices; yet particular Inftances, alter not the general Truth of Things; and Virtue, upon the whole, has undeniably the Advantage in this firft foundation of Temporal Happiness. For Sobriety and Temperance certainly caufe no Distempers, and Debauchery is notoriously the Caufe of Many. With all justness there

fore,

16.

fore, are those general Declarations of SER M. XIV. Wisdom in Scripture: My Son, forget not my Law, but let thy Heart keep my Com-Prov. iii. mandments; For Length of days and long 1. Life, fhall they add to thee. Fear the Lord, ver. 7. and depart from Evil; it fall be Health to thy Navel, and Marrow to thy Bones. Length of days is in her right hand; fhe is a Tree of Life, to them that lay hold upon her. And on the contrary, concerning Debauchery; Prov. vii. 26: She has caft down many wounded, yea, many young men kave been flain by her: Her house is the way to Hell, (that is, to the Grave untimely,) going down to the chambers of Death.

THE cafe is the very fame likewise, with regard to the External Advantages of Life; fuch as are Riches, Honour, Reputation, and the like. It cannot indeed be denied, but that by Oppreffion and Violence, by Unrighteoufnefs and Corruption, by Deceit and Fraud, immenfe Riches have been fometimes obtained, and feemingly a very great Supericrity over the rest of Mankind. But if it be impartially confidered, how small a number in propertion,

18.