SERM.

XI.

"I want; encouraged hereunto by thy gra"cious Promife to give it. Thou knoweft "the Vanities and Follies my unexperienced "mind and age are fubject to; O, give me "Grace to guard against them. Inftru&t

my foolish heart in the precept of Wif"dom, and guide my feet in the ways of « Understanding. Give me to attend to "those things now as my great Concern, "which immediately conduce to my final

Happiness. Help me to difcern things in "their proper Light; to refufe the Evil un«der all it's most tempting Forms, and to "chufe the good under the most discourag

ing Afpects and lead my youthful heart "to centre in thee, as my God, my Portion, my everlasting all.”

This, my dear young Friends, is the way, the only way, to become truly wife; that is, eternally happy.——I will add no more. Thefe eight Directions may be eafily remembered: and if they are often recollected, duly confidered, and faithfully followed, they will (by the Bleffing of GoD) be your fure Guide in the ways of Wisdom, and your fafe Guard against the Temptations you may meet with in after-life.

To

To conclude, Providence hath given many of you great advantages for attaining Wifdom; your Neglect of it then will incur a more inexcufable Guilt. You are folicitous to appear well in the Eye of the World; be but as ambitious to appear well in the Eye of GoD, and you are truly wife, and will be for ever happy. You defire to appear to others under all the advantages of a polite and liberal Education, that you may gain the esteem and affection of those, among whom Providence may call you to converfe: this is very laudable and right; but let me beg of you ftill to remember, that Wisdom is the principal thing; and that all the accomplishments in the world without this will ftand you in no ftead.

In fine, let me befeech you then, from the regard you have to God, who hath given you all those amiable Qualities, which render you dear and lovely to others; from a regard to Chrift, your divine Friend and Saviour; from a regard to your earthly Parents and Friends, who put up fo many fervent Prayers to GOD for you; from a regard to your own future Usefulness, Peace and Comfort in the world; from a regard

SERM

XI.

XI.

SERM. to Religion, and the interest of Virtue, Truth and Goodnefs (for the future Support and Credit of which, we caft our wishing Eyes on you); and from a regard to your own precious and immortal Souls, which must be happy, or miferable for ever, according as you chufe the ways of Wisdom or Folly; By these and by every thing else that is dear to you and facred to us all, let me befeech you to get WISDOM: to regard it as the principal thing; confider where it lies, and never be deterred from an invariable pursuit of it. Thus will you live beloved, esteemed by all that are wife and good on earth: thus will you pass through Life with Peace, Ufefulness and Honour: and then will you be

finally happy in the favour and friendship of GOD for ever.

SER

SERMON XII,

The Symptoms and Cure of a weak

Faith.

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MATT. viii. 26.

And be faith unto them, why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith?

T

HE occafion of these Words was this. Our Saviour and his Disciples were now on board a small Veffel, going over the Sea of Tiberias to the country of the Gergefenes. During their Paffage there arose a great tempeft, info

much

XII.

SERM. much that the Veffel was covered with the waves. But Jefus was all this while afleep in the hinder part of the Ship upon a Pillow. Whereupon his Difciples in great confternation awoke him, faying, Lord, fave us; we perifh. Then he fpake to them in the Words of the Text, faying, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith? Thus he rebuked their Fears, and then the Storm, that raised them; and with a fingle Word difpelled both. Then be arofe and rebuked the Winds and the Sea, and there was a great Calm.

These Words, I conceive, if seriously confidered, may (by the Bleffing of GOD) convey very important Inftruction to the Mind, be of use to correct our Difpofitions, inform our Judgment, and direct to a right Conduct in many parts of the Christian Life.

To this end I propose,

1. To fhew what that Faith is, which is mentioned in the Text.

H. To lay before you fome marks, or indications of a weak Faith.

III. The proper means to ftrengthen and

confirm it.