Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

He who is firmly satisfied of the infinite care of Providence, who acknowledges the justice of his dispensations, and relies on his regard for his creatures, however inconvenient his lot, in the present disposition of things, may appear, will never be dejected at human occurrences. He knows that the all-wise Author of the universe is best able to determine what is necessary or convenient for him; and though his passage through life may appear painful or troublesome, he concludes that it may probably be safer than one that was smoother and less perplexing. If he is obliged to drink the bitter cup of adversity, he remembers, with a consciousness of his own safety, how many have been intoxicated with the cup of joy. And, in short, under every circumstance, he lays hold on this consolation, that whatever the eye of Providence suffers, it must be for the best.

He then who is dissatisfied with his portion in life, must be without a proper sense of the ETERNAL PROVIDENCE; and to be without that sense is a dreadful degree of folly indeed!

Another general cause of discontent proceeds from overrating the good things of this life. More than half of mankind entertain

mistaken opinions of those things which they have never possessed. They look upon the luxury of affluence and the pomp of grandeur as replete with some wonderful degree of felicity which they have never enjoyed; but which, however, in the common estimate of things, they think themselves as well entitled to enjoy, as those that possess them. Dazzled and carried away by shining appearances, they never reflect that happiness is not a substance, but an idea; and that it can no more consist in the advantages of wealth or splendour, than the soul can consist of the gross particles of the body. They never consider how many aching bosoms belong to power and affluence; nor observe that these are, in general, rather productive of misery than content. To them they appear to have a thousand charms; but they are charms which ignorance and novelty alone confer upon them-ignorance that is blind! and novelty that lives but a day!

It is most commonly indeed in little and uninformed minds that a habit of repining at more affluent circumstances finds a place; and, if I might hazard a general observation on this subject, I would venture to affirm, that there is no better argument of the greatness or the excellence of any human mind than the hap

piness it possesses. Not to be shocked at the great misfortunes of life, nor to be affected when the near connections of the heart are broken, is not expected from man, because it is inconsistent with his passions and powers; but to repine at every little accident that thwarts our expectations, or suits not with our convenience, proves that the mind is fixed on little objects.

II. How unfortunate, nay, how impious, as well as foolish, is such a temper as this!

While it renders a man unfit for the pleasures of society, (which he neither enjoys himself, nor suffers others to enjoy through his impertinent complaints,) it makes him equally disqualified for the duties of religion: for how should he apply to that God for assistance or protection, whose providence his complaints either accuse or deny? what acceptable worship can he offer to a Being whom he either believes to be unconcerned in the government of the world, or, if he admits his government, quarrels with his administration? nay, how, indeed, should he entertain any thoughts of his duty, when his secular concerns are too much for his mind?

If we form a right idea of our Creator and ourselves-if we consider our situation in life as the immediate direction of Providence in

the great order of things, we must surely reflect that to be dissatisfied with the determinations of the Supreme wisdom and justice, must be to reproach that wisdom, and to impeach that justice.

But, what! shall the creatures of an hour censure the wise regulations of everlasting knowledge? Shall man, who owes his being to the Almighty's goodness, and the continuance of it to his care, quarrel with his sacred dispensations, and distrust his mercy? Shall a living man complain? Is not such a conduct, in the highest degree, impious and ungrateful? And is not the Divine goodness more than sufficiently vindicated, when those, who thus abuse it, yet live to complain? Surely this is a most dangerous temper of mind; and those who can acknowledge it to be their own, ought to tremble lest the divine displeasure should take from them that being which they bear about with unthankfulness and discontent. God, indeed, is slow to anger, and of great goodness; he knoweth whereof we are made; he remembereth that we are but dust: but then, shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ?

Nothing can be more convincing than the arguments which reason affords in support of the great duty of religious resignation; yet

the selfish and the impious might still, possibly, find some evasion, some excuse for their presumptuous and ungrateful censures on Providence, were not that duty indispensably enjoined in the sacred writings. But when we are there expressly commanded to be thankful, to praise, for every instance of his bounty, our Father who is in heaven, to acknowledge his goodness in all his dispensations, and to bear those evils which are incident to

this life with patience, shall we presume, by the contrary behaviour of cavilling and regret, to transgress or neglect the divine commands? Every holy motive calls upon us, every reasonable inducement invites us, to be humbly grateful, and dutifully resigned. Whatever our situation or our circumstances may be, let us remember that he who gave us this life has an everlasting right to our gratitude for that gift; and that no circumstances whatever of accidental calamity can acquit us of those obligations we have to be thankful to him.

But thankfulness and discontent can never dwell together. The sentiments of gratitude arise from cheerfulness and resignation, and can find no place in a mind that is accustomed to complain. To be grateful for any gift, we must first be pleased with it; for few minds

« AnteriorContinuar »