SERMON XXIII.

THE HAPPINESS OF DETERMINED AND CONSCIOUS INTEGRITY.

JOB Xxvii. 6.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

UNSTABLE as water, thou shalt not excel, said the dying Patriarch to one of his sons; and the sentiment was, indeed, worthy of that wisdom and prophetic knowledge, which the eastern sages were supposed to have been, in a particular manner, favoured with upon the approach of death.

In matters that relate to the common conduct of life, to the progress of art, and the acquisition of knowledge, it is obvious both from reason and experience, that a wavering disposition can never attain either to excellence or to happiness. With regard to reli

gion, the conclusion is equally true. It is in vain for him who putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, to hope for the rewards of that industrious perseverance, which, though it may, for a while, go on its way sorrowing, shall, at the last, return with joy, and bring its sheaves with it.

He only it is who endureth to the end, that shall be saved: he who through all the trying changes of this life, like the Patriarch, will not remove his integrity from him; who holdeth fast his righteousness, and will not let it go; he only it is who may hope for the sublime and distinguished rewards of immortality.

Agreeably to the doctrine of the prophet, if the righteous man forsaketh his righteousness, and falleth into iniquity, in his iniquity that he hath committed shall he die, In due time we shall reap, if we faint not: but if we grow weary in well-doing; if we run not with patience and perseverance the race which is set before us; if we retire with the slothful, and give up the prospect of the promised land, because the sons of Anak are to be grappled with, we may expect that our portion will be appointed with those who are finally accounted unprofitable servants.

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The Christian warfare is, indeed, by no means to be considered as a trivial avocation.

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The sword and the shield must be grasped with unremitting vigilance; for many are the trials we must expect of our faith and patience, of our firmness and integrity.

The author of the text experienced these trials in a severe degree. His circumstances were such as make affliction always the most unwelcome: he had lived in dignity which no impertinence could disturb, in affluence above the apprehension of want, and in health and felicity uninterrupted by pain. His house was the resort of peace and friendship; the voice of the tabret was heard in his dwellings; his flocks filled the mountains, and brought forth thousands, and ten thousands in his streets; his table was clad with the riches of Arabia ; and the incense of Sabea breathed on his altars.

Yet thus magnificently distinguished, thus surrounded with luxurious abundance, he was never betrayed into licentious folly, or inflexible arrogance. He did not look upon riches as the evidence of superior merit; he considered them as the gift of God, and forgot not to bless the hand of the giver. His charity and beneficence were large and diffusive in proportion to his circumstances. He was eyes to the blind, and feet was he to the lame. His

words upheld those that were falling, and he strengthened the feeble knees.

Such was the conduct of this happy and distinguished eastern prince, when it drew upon him the envy of our common enemy, who, represented as conversing with God, would depreciate that integrity he could not corrupt. For doth Job, says he, fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blest the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

In this the deceiver was deceived: when the patriarch was told successively that he was deprived of his sons, his servants, and even all his possessions, he betrayed not one sign of impious resentment, or censorious discontent; the Lord gave, says he, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. When, to add to the distress of poverty and loss of children, he was deprived of health too, and doomed, in all appearance, to languish out the miserable remains of life in sickness and in sorrow, he makes the same pious conclusion; Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?