moderation in our paffions. It is a prin- SERM, ciple which should habitually influence XII, our conduct, and form the reigning tem perature of the foul. 1 THE great motive to this virtue is fuggefted by the words immediately following the text; the Lord is at hand. The Judge is coming, who is to close this temporary fcene of things, and to introduce a higher ftate of exiftence. The day is at hand, which will place the great concerns of men in a point of view very different from that in which they are at prefent beheld; will ftrip the world of its falfe glory; will detect the vanity of earthly pursuits; and disclose objects which have the proper title to interest a rational mind. Objects acquire power to engage our paffions, only in proportion as they are conceived to be great. But great, or little, are no more than terms of comparifon. Those things which appear great to one who knows nothing greater, will fink into a diminutive fize, when he becomes acquainted with objects of a SERM. higher nature. Were it oftner in our XII. thoughts, that the Lord is at hand, none of thofe things which now difcompose and would appear of fuffi agitate worldly men, SER PROVERBS, xiv. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a Ir is well known, that men have alwaysSERM. T been much inclined to place their hap- XIII. pinefs in the advantages of fortune, and the diftinctions of rank. Hence these have been purfued by the multitude with fuch avidity, that every principle of honour, probity, and virtue, have been facrificed to the attainment of them. At the fame time, many circumftances might have convinced men, that fuppofing them to be fucpae cessful SERM. cessful in the purfuit, it by no means followed, that happiness was to be the re ward. For if happinefs be, in truth, ef fentially connected with fplendid fortune or exalted rank, how comes it to pafs, that many in the inferior ftations of life, vifibly fpend their days with more comfort, than they who occupy the higher departments of the world? Why does the beggar finge while the King is fad? A small measure of reflection on our nature might fatisfy us, that there are other principles of happiness or mifery, too often overlooked by thei world, which immediately affect the heart, i and operate there with greater force and power, than any circumftances of rank or r fortune. This is the obfervation of the wife man in the text; a what I now pur pofe to illuftrate. I fhall take a view of the chief fources of that bitterness which the heart knoweth, and of that joy with which a stranger doth not intermeddle, and then fall point out the proper improvements to be made of the fubject. K If we inquire carefully into the fources $ ER M. of the joy or bitternefs of the heart, we shall find, that they, chiefly two, that they arife either from 6830 to visit a man's own mind are chi and temper; or, from the connection in which he ftands with fome of his fellowcreatures. In other words, the circumstances which most effentially affect every man's happiness are, his perfonal character, and his focial feelings. EVERY man's own mind and temper is, neceffarily, to himfelf a fource of much inward joy or bitternefs. For every man, if we may be allowed the expreffion, is more connected with himfelf, than with any external object. He is conftantly a companion to himself in his own thoughts; and what he meets with there, muft, of all' things, contribute most to his happinefs or his difquiet. Whatever his condition in the world be, whether high or low, if he find no caufe to upbraid himself for his behaviour; if he be fatisfied that his conduct proceeds upon a rational plan; if, amidst |