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Imposture is all diffonance, let what master foever of it undertake the part; let him har→ monife and modulate it as he may, one tone will contradi& another; and whilst we have ears to hear, we fhall diftinguish it: 'tis truth only which is confiftent and ever in harmony with itself it fits upon our lips, like the natural notes of fome melodies, ready to drop out, whether we will or no;it racks no invention to let ourselves alone, and needs fear no critic, to have the fame excellency in the heart, which appears in the action.

SERM, XVII. P.

48.

CONTENT MEN T.

THE

HERE is fcarce any lot fo low, but there is fomething in it to fatisfy the man whom it has befallen; providence having fo ordered things, that in every man's cup how bitter foever, there are fome cordial drops-fome good circumftances, which, if wifely extracted, are fufficient for the purpofe he wants them, that is, to make him contented, and if not happy, at least resigned.

SERM. XV. P. 19,

UNW

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NWILLINGLY does the mind digeft the evils prepared for it by others;-for thofe we prepare ourselves, we eat but the fruit which we have planted and watered :-a shattered fortune-a shattered frame, so we have but the fatisfaction of fhattering them our felves, pafs naturally enough into the habit, and by the eafe with which they are both done, they fave the spectator a world of pity: but for thofe, like Jacob's, brought upon him by the hands from which he looked for all his comforts, the avarice of a parent-the unkindness of a relation, the ingratitude of a child,-they are evils which leave a fear;-befides, as they hang over the heads of all, and therefore may fall upon any ;-every looker-on has an interest in the tragedy;-but then we are apt to intereft ourselves no otherwife, than merely as the incidents themfelves ftrike our paffions, without carrying the lesson further in a word-we realize nothing:we figh-we wipe away the tear,-and there ends the story of mifery, and the moral with SERMON XXII. P. I'34.

it.

OPPRESSION.

OLOMON fays, Oppreffion will make a

SOLOM S wife man

mad.-What will it do then to a

tender

-tender and ingenious heart, which feels itself neglected, too full of reverence for the author of its wrongs to complain?-fee, it fits down in filence, robbed by difcouragements, of all its natural powers to pleafe,-born to fee others. loaded with careffes-in fome uncheery corner it nourishes its difcontent,-and with a weight upon its fpirits, which its little stock of fortitude is not able to withstand,—it droops and pines away.Sad victim of caprice!

SERMON XXII. P. I

.136.

VIRTUE AND VICE.

WH

HOEVER confiders the state and condition of human nature, and upon this view, how much stronger the natural motives are to virtue than to vice, would expect to find the world much better than it is, or ever has been. For who would fuppofe the generality of mankind to betray fo much folly, as to act against the common interest of their own kind, as every man does who yields to the temptation of what is wrong. SERM. XXXIII. P. 61,

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SIN.

motives have been great enough to reftrain those from fin who have fecretly loved it, and only fought pretences for the prac-. SERM, XXXIII. P. 62.

tice of it.

A

SINCERITY.

N inward fincerity will of course influence the outward deportment; but where the one is wanting, there is great reafon to fufpect the abfence of the other.

SERMON XLIII. P. 246.

TH

WISDOM.

HERE is no one project to which the whole race of mankind is fo univerfally a bubble, as to that of being thought wife and the affectation of it is fo vifible, in men of all complexions, that you every day see some one or other fo very folicitous to eftablish the cha racter, as not to allow himself leifure to do the things which fairly win it :-expending more art and stratagem to appear fo in the eyes of the world, than what would fuffice to make him fo in truth.

It is owing to the force of this defire, that you fee in general there is no injury touches a man fo fenfibly, as an infult upon his parts and capacity: tell a man of other defects, that he wants learning, industry or application,-he will hear your reproof with patience. Nay you may go further: take him in a proper season, you may tax his morals,-you may tell him he is ir

regular

regular in his conduct, passionate or revengeful in his nature-loose in his principles ;--deliver it with the gentleness of a friend,➡possibly he'll not only bear with you, but, if ingenuous, he will thank you for your lecture, and promife a reformation: but hint,-hint but at a defect in his intelle&uals, touch but that fore place,from that moment you are looked upon as an enemy fent to torment him before his time, and in return may reckon upon his refentment and ill-will for ever: fo that in general you will find it fafer to tell a man, he is a knave than ¿ fool, and stand a better chance of being forgiven, for proving he has been wanting in a point of common honefty, than a point of common fenfe.Strange fouls that we are! as if to live well was not the greatest argument of wisdom;and, as if what reflected upon our morals, did not most of all reflect upon our understandings! SERMON XXVI. P. 207.

CORPORAL TRIM'S

REFLECTIONS ON DEATH.

Y young mafter in London is dead! faid
Obadiah.

My young mafter

A green fattin night-gown of my mother's which had been twice fcoured, was the firft idea

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which

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