XI.

SERM, with nothing but fecond caufes, partakes of the violence and irregularity of all the inferiour movements belonging to this great machine. He who refers all to God, dwells, if we may speak so, in that higher sphere where motion begins; he is subject to fewer fhocks and concuffions, and is only carried along by the motion of the universe.

How can mildnefs or forgiveness gain place in the temper of that man, who, on occafion of every calamity which he suffers from the ill ufage of others, has no fanctuary within his own breaft to which he can make retreat from their vexations; who is poffeffed of no principle which is of fufficient power to bear down the rifing tide of peevish and angry paffions? The violence of an enemy, or the ingratitude of a friend, the injuftice of one man, and the treachery of another, perpetually dwell and rankle in his thoughts. The part which they have acted in bringing on his diftrefs, is frequently more grating to him than the diftrefs itself. Whereas he who in every event looks up to God, has always in his view a great and ele

vating object which infpires him with mag-
nanimity. His mind lies
His mind lies open to every
relieving thought, and is inclined to every
fuggeftion of generofity. He is difpofed to
fay with Jofeph, it was not you that fent me
hither, but God; with David, it is the Lord;
let him do what feemeth good in his eyes ; and
with a greater Perfonage than either of thefe,
the cup which my Father hath given me to
drink, fhall I not drink it? Hence arifes
fuperiority to many of the ordinary provo-
cations of the world. For he looks upon
the whole of his prefent life as part of a
great plan which is carried on under the
direction of Heaven. In this plan, he views
men as acting their feveral parts, and con-
tributing to his good or evil. But their
parts he confiders as fubordinate ones;
which, though they may juftly merit his
affection, and may occafionally call forth
his refentment, yet afford no proper found-
ation to violent or malignant paffion. He
looks upon bad men as only the rod with
which the Almighty chaftens; like the
peftilence, the earthquake, or the form.

SERM.
XI.

SERM. In the midft of their injustice and violence

XI.

he can pity their blindness; and imitate our bleffed Lord in praying, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

SERMON XII.

On the CHARACTER of HAZAEL.

2 KINGS, viii. 12, 13.

And Hazael faid, Why weepeth my Lord? And be anfwered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Ifrael. Their ftrong holds wilt thou fet on fire, and their young men wilt thou flay with the fword, and wilt dafh their children, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael faid, But what, is thy fervant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elifba anfwered, The Lord hath fhewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

IN

N the days of Joram king of Ifrael flourifhed the prophet Elifha. His character was fo eminent, and his fame fo widely fpread, that Benhadad the king of Syria, though

SERM.

XII.

XII.

SERM. though an idolater, fent to confult him concerning the iffue of a diftemper which threatened his life. The meffenger employed on this occafion was Hazael, who appears to have been one of the princes, cr chief men, of the Syrian court. Charged with rich gifts from the king, he prefents himself before the prophet; and accosts him in terms of the highest respect. During the conference which they held together, Elisha fixed his eye ftedfaftly on the countenance of Hazael; and difcerning by a prophetic fpirit, his future tyranny and cruelty, he could not contain himself from bursting into a flood of tears. When Hazael, in surprise, inquired into the cause of this fudden emotion, the prophet plainly informs him of the crimes and barbarities which he forefaw that hereafter he should commit. The foul of Hazael abhorred, at this time, the thoughts of cruelty. Uncorrupted, as yet, by ambition or greatness, his indignation arose at being thought capable of fuch favage actions as the prophet had mentioned; and, with much warmth, he replies, But what, is

thy