his heart is totally unacquainted with the re ligion of the humble Jefus? How little and futile is the philofophy of Zeno, Epicurus, and Ariftotle, compared with the wisdom which is from above; with that wisdom which is able to derive A RAY FROM HEAVEN to cheer and direct us, wretched mortals, in our dark paffage through the mazes of human life?

Knowledge, fays the holy Writer, puffeth up, but charity edifieth. It is certainly a truth, however it may mortify the pride of human learning, that the most exalted improvements and the most extenfive acquifitions are but contemptible trifles, compared with genuine charity in the fincere Chriftian. But men of learning are few, in comparison with the great mass of mankind. The majority is condemned to manual labour for the attainment of a fubfiftence, and a very great number is fecluded, by want of inclination, ability, and convenient opportunity, from fuch a degree of application as is required in the pursuit of profound erudition. It is then a moft joyful truth, that learning and ingenuity are not effentially neceffary to our good conduct in the world, nor to our acceptance with God; that honefty of intention, regular obedience, and fimplicity of manners,

will open the gates of mercy upon us, when they shall be shut against the proud philoso→ pher. Rejoice, O ye poor, to whom the gospel is preached, and for whom it seems to have been in a peculiar manner defigned. Before the appearance of the gofpel, the numerous tribes of flaves, and indeed the needy and obfcure in general, feem to have been but little confidered in the fyftems of moral philosophers. It was thine, O most merciful Redeemer, to take upon thee the form of a fervant, and to fhew that the diftinction of ranks is little regarded by him who made both the rich and poor, who profeffes himself to be the father of them all, and who is ready to deliver them from fin and death, whenever they display indubitable proofs of faith and repentance!

Faith and repentance, then, after all the pretenfions of philosophy, are the two great objects, to the attainment of which he who is wife in the wisdom of the gospel will direct his endeavours. The inventions of men are endless. Books and fyftems are fo numerous, that though we were to live to the age of antediluvians, we should never be able fully to comprehend them all, or to reconcile their difcordance. Let us not lament. One book

is fufficient for the most important purpose of life, the infurance of present tranquillity and future falvation. We may certainly amuse and improve ourselves by human learning, and the pleasing productions of cultivated genius, but our chief attention must be fixed on the tablet of duty, plainly written on our own hearts by the finger of God, and in the volume which the spirit of God dictated, and which is juftly called, the Book of Life.

SERMON IX.

RELIGION the Chief CONCERN of LIFE.

ECCLESIASTES, xii. 13.

Let us hear the conclufion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

A

Great variety of guides is fcarcely lefs diftreffing than the total want of them. There was a time when books and inftructors were few, and men deviated from the road, because they were deftitute of direction; but both thefe affiftances abound in the present age, and yet the mistakes of mankind are equally numerous and detrimental. The choice is diftracted; and falfe lights are frequently exhibited fo like the true, that the traveller is often conducted to dangerous O ground,

ground, while he imagines himself treading in the firm and safe road that terminates in felicity.

No tongue indeed can relate the variety of opinions, on the nature of man, on his duties, on his end, which, in various periods and countries, have been advanced by the contemplative. One doctrine contradicts another; and though none of them fhould be found true, yet most of them are specious and plaufible. The ftudious and thoughtful may probably felect from the heterogeneous mafs, a confiftent fyftem. They may congratulate themselves on their discoveries, and even claim the praise of wisdom. But the studious and thoughtful conftitute, comparatively speaking, but a small portion in the great mass of mankind. Their fublime fpeculations, whatever effects they may produce upon themselves, are of little utility to the world at large. The poor, who have neither the advantages of education, nor the opportunities for ftudy, ftand in the greatest need of inftruction. will the labourer, the mechanic, and the husbandman, comprehend the elegant philofophy of an Athenian fchool? Indeed, it may be doubted, whether the refined theories of fpeculative morality produce any beneficial effect

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