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Satisfaction from standing together fo long, SER M. nor the other complain of not being separated fooner. A Worm that dieth, and a Fire unquenchable (how late foever they may begin) are a Vengeance sufficient for the greatest Oppreffion and Wrong: And a never fading Crown of Glory (though it were not to be received till Millions of Ages hence) would yet come Time enough to recompence the longest Life of Sufferings and Contempt. For fince Punishment and Rewards, when once they begin, must both last for ever; though Ages of Ages were still to pass before they commenced, yet what a Trifle, what a Moment will all thofe Ages appear, compared with that unmeasurable Eternity that must fucceed? From thefe Confiderations therefore we cannot but infer, what an Injury we offer to the Goodnefs, the Justice, and the Sovereignty of GOD, when we either envy the continued Profperity of the Wicked, or think ourselves not timely enough delivered from their Ill-ufage, Infolence and Tyranny.

And thus having gone through the several Heads of my Discourse, and having fhewn it to be our Intereft as well as our Duty, to bear with bad Men; I fhall now endeavour, in very few Words, to apply the whole, by fhew

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IX.

SER M. fhewing what Influence, the Confideration of these Points ought to have upon our Practice.

And here I fhall hope that my Application to you all may be one and the fame: I would willingly perfuade myself that in this Field, or Enclosure, the Seed is all good, and confequently I would fpeak to you in a Language that is adapted rather to Wheat than to Tares. It is true, as the Abundance of Tares enhances the Price of the good Seed; fo I have fhewn that the worst of Men are of Ufe to call forth and to distinguish the best. Since it is to these that the best Men are indebted for the Trial and Proof of their Virtue, which fets them beyond the Rank of those who have no fuch Trials to undergo. In this Way therefore I again repeat, that wicked Men are continually of fignal Ufe to the Good: But then they are of Use to them, juft in fuch a Manner as the Devil is, they mount them to Heaven, by the Rebound with which they escape their Attempts to draw them to Hell. A Reflection, one would think, that if the worft of Men could but once have thought enough to make, they would despise and loath themselves for the Part they carry on and act in the World: Damning themselves certainly by their Attempts

2

VIII.

tempts to damn and ruin others, and plung-S ER M. ing themselves ftill into deeper Damnation by every Design and Attempt that fucceeds: Since every conqueft they gain will most affuredly hereafter hang about them like a Load, and the Sins of others being added to their own, fhall fink them fo much lower in Proportion, into the bottomlefs Lake of Brimftone and Fire. But let us, my Brethren, chufe to humble them another Way: Let us not enhance their own Guilt and Torments, by laying ours at their Door; left by being prevailed on to comply with their Sins, we fhare in their Punishment. But rather let us disappoint and mortify the Designs, by rifing as high proportionably in Virtue, as they would fink us in Vice; and climb to Heaven by thofe Cords of Vanity and Sin, which they make Ufe of as Inftruments to draw us to Hell. And if we can keep ourselves thus free and clear from their Allurements and Temptations ; we shall eafily know in what Manner to behave ourselves with Regard to the Injuries and Oppreffions they lay on us. For we shall only have Occafion for Patience and Forbearance, which by a Soul good-natured and well-difpofed are not difficult to be obtained. For fince the Design of Provi

dence

SER M. dence in continuing the Wicked in the World, IX.' is to bring them to Repentance, it certainly

.

behoves us to forward that Defign (as far as in us lies) by affording them the Benefit of our good Advice and pious Examples. If, notwithstanding all our Endeavours, they continue obftinate, and to mifemploy the Time GOD graciously allows them; Be it to themfelves: We have done our Parts, and therefore the Miscarriage cannot be laid at our Doors.- We are only to be careful not to repine at GOD's Forbearance of them, nor to envy them their present Profperity and Happiness: The greatest Enjoyment this World can afford, being but a poor Exchange for the Lofs of Eternity. And therefore fince they chufe their good Things here, let us commiferate their Choice, but not think them too happy.- Should they at last return us Evil for Good, and load us with Reproaches for our fincere Endeavours; All we have to do is to bear it with Patience, and to remember that though a univerfal Reformation of Mankind, in this State of the World, is what we can never hope for; yet to make our Advantage from the Wickedness of others is And what can a It fhould be, methinks,

what is in our Power.
Christian defire more?

IX.

thinks, a fufficient Confolation under the SER M. greatest Oppreffion and Wrong, to confider that whilft our Enemies are endeavouring to deprefs us, they only afford us Opportunities of rifing higher. It must indeed be owned that these are Trials and Temptations, and that therefore if we do not withstand them, we, fall: But ftill we have the Comfort to know that, provided we refift them for a while, they cannot laft for ever: But that when all things are ripe a Harveft will enfue, and that a Time is coming when all Mankind fhall have abundant Reason to join in that celestial Song of Mofes and the Lamb, Great and Marvellous are thy Works, Lord GOD Almighty, just and true are thy Ways, thou King of Saints, Rev. xv. 3.

SERMON