Is he bound to refuse worldly advantages when they come fairly in his way? By no means. But he is not to be worldly minded-he is not to seek great things for himself-he is not to toil and grasp, and covet like others-he is rot to be fretful and miserable when certain enjoyments are denied him. A Christian is to guard against extravagant desires, and to be satisfied with little. To inspire you with this moderation, let me lead you to contemplate a few objects which have a tendency to enforce it.

And, I., Let us consider the necessities of nature. These are few and simple, and easily satisfied. For we should distinguish between real and artificial wants. Civilization has ren

dered the latter far more numerous than the former; and more of our fellow creatures are employed in providing for the one, than the other. We are inspired with false maxims of living; we deem a thousand things indispensable, which are not essential to our welfare. The trial is often made; there are many who pass through life destitute of those things, which are commonly supposed to be requisite to our well being; but do they not live as long, as healthy, and as happily as the heirs of abundance? Yea, do they not in general, live longer, and healthier, and happier? Especially, are they not free from those maladies which arise from indulgence, variety, repletion, ease and the want of labour. Hence you will find that the rich, if wise, live as much as possible like the poor; confining themselves to the simplicity of nature, and doing many things voluntarily, which the lower classes are constrained to do from necessity.

In reference to happiness, a man only has what

he can use. If he possesses a thousand pounds which he cannot use, it matters not as to the benefit he derives from it, whether it be in his coffer, or in the bowels of the earth. When his wants are supplied, all that remains is his only to keep, or to give away-but not to enjoy.What is more than serviceable, is superfluous and needless; and the man is only rich in fancy. Nature is satisfied with little; it is vanity, it is avarice, it is luxury, it is independence, it is the god of this world, who urges us to demand

more.

We would do well to consider, II., The insufficiency of the creature. When you see men dissatisfied with what they have, and all anxiety and exertion to amass an abundance of this world's goods, we should imagine that there was a superlative excellency in these things, and that our happiness absolutely depended upon them.But it is not only our Saviour that has told us that "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Happiness is an internal thing. A good man shall be satisfied from himself. He has a source of pleasure, independent of external events, and whick shall survive the dissolution of the globe. It is not the water without the vessel that sinks it, but that which as admitted in. Paul and Silas could sing praises at midnight in the inner prison, when their feet were made fast in the stocks, and their backs bruised with the scourge. The world promises, only to deceive; and fails us when we most need its aid. People have risen to affluence and splendour-but their desires increased with indulgence; and they found themselves no nearer satisfaction than before. Yea, they learned what

common sense would have told them before, that hills were more exposed than valleys-that the larger space we occupy, the wider mark are we for the arrows of disappointment;-that the longer our robes are, the more likely are they to be torn or soiled. Care is an evil spirit that haunts fine houses and large estates: "In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits." Solomon had more than food and raiment. A thousand streams emptied themselves into his cup of prosperity. He withheld his heart from no joy. And what is his conclusion? " Vanity of vanities-all is vanity and vexation of spirit." What can the greatest abundance do for a man? A pain in the tooth will destroy all the sense of pleasure the good things of this world can afford. None of them can reach the soul; and the mind is the man. None of them can calm the conscience, purify the passions, fill the desires. None of them can raise us above the fear of death, or the dread of eternity. Riches profit not in the day of wrath.

What inference do we draw from hence? Why, seeing these things are so insignificant and worthless as to our chief interest, we should not make them our portion; we should not hang our hopes and fears upon them; we should not suffer them to engage our solicitude. It is the reflection of the wise man: "Seeing all these things but increase vanity, what is man the better?"

III. To induce you to be satisfied with such things as you have, consider your unworthiness. You murmur, because you have not more-but should you not be thankful for what you have?If a man owe you a debt, you ought to have your demand; and if you do not receive the whole,

you may justly complain. But it is otherwise with a beggar who asks alms. You would think it strange, were he to prescribe the measure of his benefactor's bounty or were you to hear him pettishly exclaim, as soon as his friend from pure generosity had relieved him-"This will not do this is not enough-I must have much more than this."

Such is the man who is not satisfied with what God has given him. Indeed, there is a difference here, and it makes against us. We are under obligation to relieve the distressed-our fellow creatures have claims upon us from the command of God, and the brotherhood of human nature.— But is God under any obligation to confer favours upon us? Have we any claims upon him? From whence do we derive them? Have we not eaten of the forbidden tree? Have we not transgressed the holy laws of God times without number? Would it not be a righteous thing with God to take vengeance? Are we not compelled to say with David, "Thou art justified when thou speakest, and clear when thou judgest"-how much more, therefore, are we bound to say with Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies?" Cease, complaining Christian-if you have not what you desire, you have infinitely more than you deserve. Hide your blushing face-indeed, it is very ungrateful. You were a traitor against the King of Kings-you strove to dethrone bim; you were tried, found guilty, and condemned to die. He of his clemency reprieved -pardoned you-and gave you a promise that no one should harm you, and that you should not want food or raiment through life. And-after all this-will you turn away disgusted? and say

-is this all? Why does he not give me a mansion, and a carriage?

Observe, IV., What you already have in possession, or in reversion. When I view the Christian-when I see him blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places-when I see him a son of God, and an heir of immortality-loved with an everlasting love, redeemed by the blood of the everlasting covenant, called out of darkness into marvellous light, justified freely from all things, holding communion with God, claiming all the exceeding great and precious promises looking forward to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and as certain of all this as if it were actually bestowed upon him already-when I see all this, and find him dissatisfied, and hear him murmuring-because he has not a little more thick clay; because a few more pins and straws are denied him—I wonder, and I weep. What must angels think? What a scandal is all this to religion! O! why do not these blessings absorb us?

Once they did. When we were first induced to seek them-we thought of nothing else-O! we then said, if I succeed, and obtain thesehow willingly can I leave every thing else!-If I have only food and raiment, I shall be therewith content. And are these blessings less in possession than in expectation? Is not the Saviour the same? Is there not enough in his fulness to fill the mind?

V. Consider the providence of God. Suppose, now, a voice from heaven were to assure you— that "a little is best for you."-You answer, I would try to acquiesce. And cannot God speak by actions as well as words? And does not his