CHAPTER III.

Of Hope and Trust in God.

HOEVER has a firm hope and

W confidence in God, endures with

chearfulness the afflictions incident to this life; and is enabled to bear the worst things that can befal him, with fortitude and patience. The troubles and difquietudes which make miferable the irreligious and profane, and cause them to fink under their burden, do, on the contrary, enliven the hearts of those who truft in God, and confirm their belief of his interpofition in earthly occurrences; that a fparrow does not fall to the ground without his knowledge, and that the hairs of their head are all numbered: thus fatisfied of his providence, they are contented and happy in all conditions. But as I have undertaken to explain the doctrines, duties, and precepts of the Christian religion, it may be expected that I should give you the definition of this fubject.

Hope, then, in a religious fense, is the expectation of fome future good, to be obtained from God, through Chrift, whereby the mind is ftrengthened and fupported in

trials and temptations, the anxieties of life diminished, and faith in the divine promises confirmed. It is a principal part of religion; for thus fays the Pfalmift, in the 37th Pfalm, and 3d verfe, Hope in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on faith.

Next let us confider it's advantages, which are many.-Hope, and trust in God incline us to piety and devotion towards him; and make us fearful to offend him whom we esteem our benefactor, protector, and deliverer. By the apostle it is called an anchor of the foul: for as a fhip is ftaid by it's anchor from tempefts, and guarded against rocks and fhallows; fo hope preferves our fouls, left they fhould be overcome and feduced by the temptations or blandifhments of the world. A reliance on and refignation to the difpenfations of providence, produce ferenity of mind, and freedom from anxiety, which exceedingly contribute to the length and felicity of life. If troubles befet us, or difficulties occur in bufinefs, both which are very common; if either of thefe happen, and are within our power to remedy, the chearful refigned man fets himself in good earnest to remedy and overcome them; and instead of giving way to a dejected despondency, does the utmost he can, by prayer and exertion, to better

his

his condition; and not only patiently, but pleasantly, with philofophic heroism, wades through the difficulties. Whereas the man whose whole dependance is on the world, and whose truft is not in God, instead of bearing his afflictions and misfortunes with patience, greatly increases them, by his anxiety and foreboding fears.

The evils of life which are out of human abilities to remedy or prevent, are piously and calmly endured by those who wifely confider, that whatever God does is beautiful in it's season. They have a firm faith that God knows what is best and fittest for them.

Hope and truft in God is not only a duty we ought not to neglect, but also that which we should do for the fake of our own quiet and content; it being a certain method to acquire true happiness, either in a profperous or an adverse state. Whoever believes the existence of God, and that the world is governed by his almighty wisdom, is fatisfied that whatever befals them is by his approbation and direction: and altho' he may now be unable to reconcile the furprizing events that often happen, with God's gracious goodness; yet the time will shortly come when he will be convinced that his condition and circumftances were fuch as beft conduces to our eternal welfare.

Let

Let us never give way to defpondency of heart, but always have hope and truft in God; for that is an expreffive teftimony of our fincerity towards him, and therefore our worship and fervice will always be acceptable in his fight. For whofo putteth his truft in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every fide. !

A

CHAPTER IV.

Of Charity.

MONG the theological virtues, charity, although the last in order, yet is the first and the greatest with respect to it's uses and profitableness; because it is the bond of perfection, and the fulfilling of the law. Charity, or love, is that affection of the heart by which God is preferred before all things: whom the righteous and devout esteem their chiefeft good and greatest joy; to whom all their defires flow, and all the thoughts and intents of their hearts are inclined.

From a confideration of the love of God towards us, we are excited to a return, and to declare our love and charity for God, by acts of kindness and affection to our bre

thren.

thren. The innumerable benefits which God bestows upon us, forces us to love and adore fo munificent a benefactor. Wherefore St. John writes, in his first epistle, 4th chap. This is love, or charity, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.

:

Charity, or giving alms to those that are in want, is an indication of our love to God, and is therefore profitable to our falvation but if it proceeds from pride and oftentation, from a vain defire of being thought liberal, it will be of no avail to us. That is true charity which springs and grows out of a true love to God, and for his fake discovers itself in acts of bounty to men; in feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked.

But it may be faid, that people may bestow alms upon diftreffed objects from motives of humanity only; without any view of gratitude to God, or any defire of making a return to him for the bleffings they enjoy for it is affirmed by fome that it is impoffible for a human being to fee a fellow - creature, languishing and pining away for want, pale with hunger, or pinched with cold, or labouring under a fore disease, and not contribute to their relief. To this I answer, that those perfons who do not retain a grateful fenfe of God's