VI. SERMON beware, lest, abusing our liberty, we suffer it to degenerate into licentiousness. The multitude, we well know, are always prone to find fault with those who are set over them, and to arraign their conduct; and too often this spirit appears when public dangers ought to silence the voice of discontent, and to unite every heart and hand in the common cause. The management of a great empire, especially in difficult times, is the conduct of an unwieldy and intricate machine, in directing the movements of which, where is the hand so steady as never to err? Instead of the violent censures which the giddy and presumptuous are so ready to pour forth, moderation in discussing matters of which they are very incompetent judges, would be much more wise and becoming. The art of government and legislation is undoubtedly the most nice and difficult of all the arts in which the human mind can be engaged; and where the greatest preparation of knowledge, experience, and ability, are absolutely requisite to qualify men for the task. But in times when legislation is considered as a trade which every man is qualified to take VI. take up when the manufacturer quits his SERMON loom, and the artizan lays down his tools, in order to contrive plans for reforming the state, and to constitute societies for carrying his plans into execution; what can be expected to follow from such a spirit, if it were to become prevalent, but the most direful confusion? Were the rashness of some, whose intentions are innocent, the only evil to be dreaded, the danger would be less. But it is always to be apprehended that the operations of such persons are directed by men who have deeper designs in view; who seek to embroil the state, in order to bring forward themselves; whose aim it is to rise into eminence, though it were on the ruins of public tranquillity and order. Let such men, if any such there be, consider well what the consequences may be, of fomenting the spirit of presumptuous innovation. It is a dangerous weapon which they attempt to wield. By the agitation which they raise among a blind multitude, they are giving impulse to the motions of a violent engine, which often discharges its explosions on the heads of those who first touched its springs. UPON SERMON UPON the whole, let us, my brethren, be thankful that our grounds of discontent, whether founded on real or imaginary grievances, are so few; and that, for so great a number of public blessings, we have reason to bless the God of Heaven. We live in a land of pure religion, of liberty and laws, and under a just and mild government. However the opinions of men may differ about this or that political measure adopted by government, it may with confidence be said, that we have much reason to respect those rulers, under whose administration the empire, though engaged in a hazardous and expensive war, has all along continued to hold a high rank among the nations of Europe, and has attained to that flourishing state of commerce, opulence, and safety, in which we behold it at this day: insomuch that perhaps the greatest dangers. we have to apprehend, arise from the jealousy with which rival nations behold our superiority at sea, and our wealth and strength at home.-Let our prayers ascend frequently to Heaven for the continuance of those blessings; for the peace of our Jerusalem; for peace within her walls, and prosperity VI. prosperity within her palaces; and let the SERMON admonition of Scripture never be forgotten; My son, fear thou God; honour the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change. * * Prov. xxiv. 21. 1 Peter, ii, 17. SERMON VIÍ. On a Contented MIND. SERMON 2 KINGS, iv. 13. Say now unto her, "Behold thou hast been 66 careful for us with all this care; what "is to be done for thee? Wouldst thou be 66 66 spoken for to the King, or to the Captain of the Host?" And she answered, "drwell among mine own people." A of PIOUS and respectable woman Shunem had exercised great hospitality to the prophet Elisha. In order to accommodate him in his various journeyings, she had caused a chamber to be built for him, adjacent to her house, where he might be furnished with all that, according to the simplicity of those times, was wanted for |