SER M. inclined to ftretch forth the hand of friend

V.

ship, to utter the voice of forgiveness, and
to wish for perfect reconciliation with him
before he left the world? Who is there
that, when he beholds the remains of his
adverfary depofited in the duft, feels not,
in that moment, fome relentings at the re-
membrance of those past animofities which
mutually embittered their life?" There
"lies the man with whom I contended fo
"long, filent and mute for ever.
"fallen; and I am about to follow him.
"How poor is the advantage which I now

He is

enjoy? Where are the fruits of all our " contests? In a fhort time we fhall be "laid together; and no remembrance re"main of either of us, under the fun. "How many mistakes may there have "been between us? Had not he his vir

...

tues and good qualities, as well as I? "When we fhall both appear before the judgment-feat of God, fhall I be found "innocent, and free of blame, for all the "enmity I have borne to him ?"———— My friends, let the anticipation of such senti

ments ferve now to correct the inveteracy of prejudice, to cool the heat of anger, to allay the fierceness of refentment. How unnatural is it for animofities fo lafting to poffefs the hearts of mortal men, that nothing can extinguifh them, but the cold hand of death? Is there not a fufficient proportion of evils in the fhort span of human life, that we feek to increase their number, by rushing into unneceffary contefts with one another? When a few funs more have rolled over our heads, friends and foes fhall have retreated together; and their love and their hatred be equally buried. Let our few days, then, be spent in peace. While we are all journeying onwards to death, let us rather bear one another's burdens, than harass one another by the way. Let us fmooth and cheer the road as much as we can, rather than fill the valley of our pilgrimage with the hateful monuments of our contention and ftrife,

THUS

1

SERM.

V.

THUS I have fet before you some of those meditations which are naturally fuggefted by the prevalence of death around us; by the death of ftrangers, of friends, and of enemies. Because topics of this nature are obvious, let it not be thought that they are without ufe. They require to be recalled, repeated, and enforced. Moral and religious inftruction derives its efficacy, not fo much from what men are taught to know, as from what they are brought to feel. It is not the dormant knowledge of any truths, but the vivid impreffion of them, which has influence on practice. Neither let it be thought, that such meditations are unseasonable intrufions upon thofe who are living in health, in affluence, and eafe. There is no hazard of their making too deep or painful an impreffion. The gloom which they occafion is tranfient; and will foon, too foon, it is probable, be difpelled by the fucceeding affairs and pleafures of the world. To wifdom it cer tainly belongs, that men fhould be impreffed

with

V.

with juft views of their nature, and their SER M. ftate and the pleasures of life will always be enjoyed to most advantage when they are tempered with ferious thought. There is a time to mourn, as well as a time to rejoice. There is a virtuous forrow, which is better than laughter. There is a sadness of the countenance, by which the heart is made better.

SERM.
VI.

TH

from its original honour, feveral good principles ftill remain in the hearts of men. There are few, if any, on whofe minds the reverence for a Supreme Being continues not, in fome degree, impreffed. In every breast, some benevolent affections are found; and confcience ftill retains a fenfe of the diftinction between moral good and evil. These principles of virtue are always fufceptible of improvement; and, in favour

able