The duty of the text explained, with its I. The evil of too great anxiety fhewn, 1. As it is oppofite to feveral plain pre- 2. As it is an invasion of the peculiar province and prerogative of God; 3. As it is built always on a fecret distrust of God's goodnefs towards us, and perpetual watchfulness over us; 158 Which yet very evidently appears to us And from the obfervation of his providence II. The folly of too great anxiety. 1. It makes us feel afflictions which will never overtake us, and multiplies those which certainly will: 160 161 2. It takes away from us the power either to escape or bear them. 3. An anxious concern for futurity robs us of all the eafe and advantages which might arife from a proper and difcreet ufe of the prefent moment. 163 4. The prefence of evils often fuggefts better expedients and wifer counfels, than all our wisdom and forefight can do. 165 5. By our tormenting cares we forfeit our intereft in the divine providence and protection. An exhortation to truft in God. SERMON XI. 166 167 The Wretchednefs of living in a wavering State of Mind. GEN. xlix. 4. Unftable as Water, thou shalt not excel. 169 The occafion of the words. 169 I. The ill condition of that man, who is diftracted between two courses of life, I He is in the meaneft ftate of mind, human nature is capable of, inasmuch as he forfeits the prerogative of his understanding, which was defigned And difgraces the image of God, whose glorious attribute is immutability: 172 And lafly, makes himself lower than the beafts, who act regularly under the 2. He is in a state of perpetual trouble and difturbance to himself; his good fits being like fhort intervals of madness, which ferve only to let the madman into a knowledge of his disease. 174 3. This temper is mifchievous to a man, in point of intereft, as well as ease; not only by rendering him actually govern him throughout, and make him uniformly wife, 179 1. Let him be fure that his belief is right, and found at bottom: 177 2. Let him confider well what that particular weight was, that in the days of his irrefolution, ftill hung upon him, and clogged his virtuous endeavours: 3. Let him take care not to come within the reach of any thing, that may unfaften his refolutions, whilst they are yet young and tender. 4. To thefe endeavours let him add fervent prayer, that he may be ftablished, firengthened, fettled. SERMON XII. 181 182 The duty of living peaceably explained and recommended, in a farewel Sermon at Saint Bride's. ROM. xii. 18. If it be poffible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men, 183 The importance of the duty in the text, VOL. IV. d and and the seasonablenefs of preffing it upon the present occafion. 184 I. Wherein it confifts, in relation to public and private men, opinions and practice. 185 II. The extent of it, with all men. 187 III. The difficulty of practising it, intimated by these words, " if it be poffible," and" as much as lieth in you." We are allowed to ftand up in defence of our fortune or good name, where violent encroachments are made upon them; 188 189 And in defence of the honour of God, and the interefts of virtue, 189 But ftill, as war has its rules and restraints, within which its cruelties are bounded; much more in thefe cafes ought we to have an eye to peace, while we seem to overlook it. IV. The best helps to the practice of this duty are, :90 1. To regulate our paffions; 191 2. To moderate our defires, and fhorten our designs, with regard to the good things of life: 3. To have a watchful eye upon ourselves in our first entrance upon any con test: 192 194 4. Al |