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fhall be no more. would incline Men, ftill much more powerfully than they do, to Behaviour of pernicious Confequence on many Occafions, were they influenced by perfonal Confiderations only: but Regard to their Pofterity enlarges their Views, gives them a Sympathy with distant Times, and excites them to prefer without Hefitation and with Pleasure, the lasting Benefit of others, though remote, to the greatest and dearest of their own fhort-lived Advantages and Gratifications.

Indolence and Selfishness

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Now if a Likelihood, merely that their Offspring fhall partake in the general Felicity, is able to fill the Minds of Men with fuch Emotions; what transporting Reflections must they have, whose Descendants appear destined by the Stations of their Parents to be Authors of that Felicity in their Turn and Degree! How strongly must such a Hope induce them to fecure by good Example and Inftruction this highest Honour and Bleffedness to fuch as are to inherit their Dignities! And how warm a Return of moft affectionate Gratitude will they merit and receive from Mankind, if Virtue and Liberty fhall not only be fup'ported

ported by them in the present Age, but trans mitted to fucceeding ones, by their pious Care of forming their Progeny to the Knowledge and the Love of public Good! The Prospect only of Childrens Children would have little Joy in it, without that of Peace upon Ifrael: without a reasonable Expectation of their contributing to the true Glory of the Family, from which they spring, and the true Happinefs of the Nation, over which they are to prefide. But when due Provifion is made for this, both Sovereign and People may take up the Words of the Pfalmift: Like as the Arrows in the Hand of the Giant, even fo are the young Children. Happy is the Man that bath his Quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their Enemies in the Gatei.

But then, as ever we hope to fee either our public or our private Happiness continue, we must be careful to remember,

III, That both depend on the Divine Benediction.

Except the Lord build the House, their Labour is but loft that build it: except the Lord

i Pf. cxxvii. 5, 6.

keep

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keep the City, the Watchman waketh but in vain.-Children, and the Fruit of the Womb, are an Heritage and Gift that cometh of the Lord". These are the exprefs Declarations of holy Writ and both Reafon and Experience humbly subscribe to them. It is not indeed poffible for us in many Cafes to discern particularly in what Manner the Providence of God conducts Things: but we may plainly discern in general, that as the whole Course of Nature is nothing else than the free Appointment, which he hath been pleased to make; as the Motions of the inanimate World proceed from those which he originally impreffed upon it; and all the Thoughts and Actions of intelligent Beings are doubtless abfolutely fubject to the Influence of their Maker; (fince we see they are greatly subject, and often when they perceive it not, to that of their Fellowcreatures ;) it must be in his Power by various Ways, perhaps the more effectual for being unknown, to difpofe of every Thing fo, as may best answer his wife Purposes of Mercy or Correction. And as he evidently can do this, it is likewife evidently worthy of him to

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do it; for the highest of his Titles is that of the moral Governor of the Universe and therefore, we may firmly believe the Scripture affuring us, that he doth it in Fact; that he makes all Things work together for Good to them that love him', and curfes the very Blef fings of those who love him not.

ח

Whenever then we find our Affairs going on to our Content, our Families flourishing, our Healths conftant, our Hearts full of Exultation, and dictating Language to us like that of David, In my Profperity I faid, I fhall never be removed; let us be fure also like him to add, Thou, Lord, of thy Goodness hadft made my Hill fo ftrong". In the Hand of God it is, whether we shall have the Things that we wish for; whether, when we have them, they fhall prove Comforts or Afflictions, the Joy or the Grief of our Souls; whether lastly, if they are ever fo dear to us, they fhall remain with us, or be fnatched from us: and therefore, it unspeakably concerns us all to interest Providence in our Behalf. They whom God favours most, are by no Means exempt from Sufferings but he not only will always make religious Perfons full Amends hereafter, but

1 Rom. viii. 28.

in Mal, ii. 2.

n Pf. xxx. 6.

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ordinarily

ordinarily grant them Deliverance and Confolation here. Thus the Pfalmift, immediately after his above-mentioned Triumph, had Cause to fubjoin, Thou didst turn thy Face from me, and I was troubled'. But it follows, Then cried I unto thee, and gat me to my Lord right humbly. Thou turnedft my Heaviness into Joy: thou hast put off my Sackcloth, and girded me with Gladness". Nor was this a fingular Mercy to him, or confined to the more worldly Jewish Difpenfation: but our bleffed Redeemer hath given a general Promise to his Disciples, that they, who seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteoufnefs, fhall have all Things needful added unto them; and shall, even when molested with Perfecutions, receive now in this Time an hundred Fold of what they undergo, as well as in the World to come eternal Life'.

Perfecutions indeed, more or lefs, the Apostle hath told us, all shall suffer, that will live godly in Chrift: and partly on that very Account. But in these, they shall be enabled to take Pleafure", even when they are the heaviest:

• Ver. 7. Matth. vi. 33. 2 Cor. xii, to:

P Ver. 8.
* Mark x. 30.

9 Ver. 12. 2 Tim. iii. 12.

and

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