SER M. attention more, than to keep our minds pure

X.

from uncharitable prejudices, and open to
candour and humanity in judging of others.
The worst consequences, both to ourselves
and to fociety, follow from the oppofite
fpirit. Let us beware of encouraging a ha-
bit of fufpicion, by forming too severe and
harfh opinions concerning human nature in
general. A great proportion of infirmity
and corruption, doubtlefs, adheres to it; yet
tempered also it is with various mixtures of
virtue and good affection. Darkened as the
Divine image now is among mankind, it is
not wholly effaced. Much piety and good-
nefs may
lie hidden in hearts that are un-
known to us. Vice is glaring and loud.

The crimes of the wicked make a noise in
the world, and alarm fociety. True worth
is retired and modeft, and requires parti-
cular fituations to bring it forth to public
notice. The prophet Elijah, in a time of
prevailing corruption, imagined that all true
religion had forfaken the land. I, even I
only, faid he to the Lord, am left to ferve
thee. But the Almighty, who difcerned
what was concealed from his imperfect view,

replied,

X.

replied, Yet have I left me feven thousand SERM. men in Ifrael who have not bowed the knee to Baal*.

The aged, and the unfortunate, who have toiled through an unsuccessful life with long experience of the falfehood and fraud of evil men, are apt to be the most severe in the opinions which they entertain of others. For fuch, their circumftances may be allowed to form fome degree of apology. But if, in youth and profperity, the fame hard fufpicious fpirit prevail; if they who are beginning the career of life fet out with all the scruples of distrust; if, before they have had reason to complain of the world, they betray the diffidence of a jealous, and the malignity of a cenforious mind, fad is the prefage which may thence be drawn of their future dishonour. From fuch, you have nothing to look for that shall be either engaging in private life, or respectable in public character. To youth it particularly be→ longs to be generous in fentiment, candid in opinion, undefigning in behaviour, open * 1 Kings, xix. 14. 18.

SERM. to the most favourable conftruction of ac

X.

tions and conduct. Throughout all the stages of life, candour is one of the most honourable diftinctions of the human character; it is connected with magnanimity ; it is juftified by wisdom; it is fuitable to the relation in which we ftand to one another. But if reason and humanity be insufficient to restrain us from rafh and uncharitable judgments, let that awful denunciation frequently refound in our ears, He shall have judgment without mercy who hath fhewed no

mercy.

SERMON XI.

On the CHARACTER of JOSEPH.

GENESIS, xlv. 5. 8.

Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with
yourfelves that ye fold me hither; for God
did fend me before you to preferve life.-
So now it was not you that fent me hither,
but God.

XI.

N this generous manner, Joseph frames SERM an apology for the unnatural behaviour

IN

of his brethren. He extenuates the atrocity of their crime, by reprefenting the happy effects which it had produced. He looks beyond all fecond caufes; and recognizes, in the wonderful events of his life, the hand of the Almighty.-No human character, exhibited

X 3

SER M. exhibited in the records of Scripture, is more

XI.

remarkable or instructive than that of this. patriarch. He is one whom we behold tried in all the viciffitudes of fortune; from the condition of a flave, rifing to be ruler of the land of Egypt; and in every station acquiring, by his virtue and wisdom, favour with God and man. When overfeer of Potiphar's house, his fidelity was proved by ftrong temptations, which he honourably refifted. When thrown into prifon by the artifice of a false woman, his integrity and prudence foon rendered him confpicuous, even in that dark manfion. When called into the prefence of Pharoah, the wife and extenfive plan which he formed for faving the kingdom from the miseries of impending famine, juftly raised him to a high station, wherein his abilities were eminently displayed in the public fervice. But in his whole hiftory there is no circumftance fo ftriking and interesting, as his behaviour to his brethren who had fold him into flavery. The moment in which he made himself known to them, that moment at which we

are