find no room for thoughts of this kind; but are fo taken up with enjoying the bleffings, as not to be at leisure to confider the great Author and Beftower of them; even thefe perfons do, in the day of their distress, take refuge in reflexions on the benignity and goodnefs of God; and begin then to think of Him with fome kind of pleasure (tho' allayed with doubts and fears) when they can with pleasure think of nothing befides Him. How much more shall devout and blameless fouls, which have never been strangers to these confiderations, retreat to them, in an evil hour, with eagerness, and reft in them with the utmoft fatisfaction and delight? The acquaintance, which they ftand in need of for their fupport, is not now first to be made: It has been contracted long ago, and wants only to be renewed, and applied to particular exigencies and occafions. Happy, extremely happy are they, who, by the means of a virtuous temper and a religious education, have been trained up in this acquaintance from their very youth, that feafon of our age, when the friendships we enter into are most fincere and true, moft paflionate and tender, moft firm and durable; whilft our minds were as yet untainted with falfe principles and vicious customs, and had not drunk in that contagion from ill company, which indifpofes us for better, had not made that "friendship with the world, which is enmity "with God. Behold, then was the day of fal-❝vation, then was the accepted time:" when God moft valued the offer of our hearts, and we could give them up to him most easily and most entirely. And when once we have thus early and thoroughly

roughly devoted ourselves to God, there are no trials of our virtue and courage fo fharp, no evils fo great, but that we can fuftain and bear them: "For God is our hope and ftrength, a very pre"fent help in time of trouble :" and therefore we refort to him, on fuch occafions, with the utmost readiness and confidence, even as a fon doth to a beloved and loving parent, or a friend to the friend of his bofom, " cafting all our care upon "him," as knowing that " He careth for us."

"I have fet God always before me" (fays good David): "He is on my right hand, therefore I "fhall not fall." And having fet God always before him, what wonder is it, if he found the fpecial advantage of fuch a practice, in the time of his fuffering and forrows? And therefore thus, in another place, profeffes of himself." When "I am in heavinefs, I will think upon God."

No man had ever ftudied the feveral arts of holy living, with greater care than he; no man had more diligently practifed them: His "delight was in the law of God; and in that he did exercife himself day and night. He took heed to his feet, and ordered all his fteps aright, that he might run the way of God's commandments." And what, at laft, was the great expedient he pitched upon to fecure himself in a regular and uniform courfe of virtue? even this,-" To fet God always before himself; to watch early and late; to remember him on his bed. and to think on him when he was waking." He was the 66 after God's own heart;" and this was method by which he became fo: It was this that enabled him to fulfil the public character of a re

man

the chief

ligious,

ligious, juft, and merciful prince, and a father of his people; and that awed him in his retirements, when the eyes of men were far from him: It was this that gave life and wings to his devotions; that carried him through various difficulties and temptations; that fupported him under all his troubles and afflictions.

"When

I am in heavinefs," (faid he)" I will think upon God; when my heart is vexed, I will complain

to him."

He might have thought on many other things, which are ufually looked upon as reliefs to afflicted minds: He might have endeavoured to raise himself by reflecting on the happy circumstances of his royal ftate, on his power and wealth, and worldly fplendor; on the love and reverence that was paid him by his fubjects, on "his fame, that was gone out into all lands, and on the fear of him that was fallen upon all nations;" on his potent and numerous alliances,his fignal fucceffes and triumphs. But he renounces all thefe weak and infufficient fupports, and betakes himself to that, which was worth them all, and which alone could administer true comfort to him. When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God.

And how can the pious fons and daughters of affliction better employ themselves, than in looking up to him that hath bruifed them, and poffeffing their fouls in patiencce, under the fame thought, with which this good prince queited his griefs, because it is thy hand, and thou, Lord, haft done it? What comfort and compofednefs of mind muft it afford them to confider, that these are the chaftisements of a kind father, who means them

for

for our good, and "doth not willingly afflict, or grieve the children of men, but even in his wrath thinketh upon mercy: and will with the tempta→ tion alfo make a way to efcape, that we may be able to bear it ?"

Let us imitate the pattern, which this royal fufferer hath fet us: Let us follow this excellent guide, by laying hold of the remedy which he found fo fuccefsful, in the day of vifitation. Let us, throughout the whole courfe of our lives, take care to make the thoughts of God fo prefent, familiar, and comfortable to us here, that we may not be afraid of appearing face to face before him hereafter. Let us fo inure our minds to thofe faint views of him, which we can attain to in this life, that we may be found worthy to be admit ted into the bleffed vifion of him in the next, when "in his prefence there will be fulness of joy, and "at his right hand pleafures for evermore."

To him, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three perfons, and one God, be afcribed by us, and all men, all poffible adoration and praife, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen.