finite Goodness, and that by it we pleafe and obey our all-benevolent Parent and Preferver. If we feel that we are not influenced by confiderations of this kind, we want one of the moft proper springs of virtue, and we may be fure that our characters are fadly defective. Farther. The goodness of God ought to be imitated by us. It cannot but be his will that we should be merciful as he is merciful, and do good to one another as he does good to us all. It should be our ambition to act thus; and, as far as poffible, to employ our little power in the fame manner that God employs his unlimited power. No being can have a higher or nobler ambition.-What gives luftre to all God's attributes is his goodness. This chiefly is the excellence that makes him amiable. He has given us the power of acquiring fome degree of the fame excellence. Let us not neglect or abufe fo transporting a privilege of our natures. Let us ftrive to copy into our own hearts the the benevolence of our Maker, by cultivating in ourselves every kind affection, and studying to relieve the pains and to increase the happiness of all about us. Thus fhall we be his genuine offspring, and fecure his particular favour and protection. Laftly. The goodness of God should engage us to put our trust in him. I am led particularly to obferve this by the latter part of the verse I have taken for my text Ob! taste and fee that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.— God made us to make us happy. He directs all events in the best manner, and: for the best purpofes. The whole creation is his family, over which he is continually watching. Innumerable beings are every moment brought forth by him. to exist for ever the objects of his liberality. With what confidence fhould we commit our whole existence to this Being, and give up ourselves to his difpofal ? How should the reflexion that he reigns revive our hearts, and diffipate our anxieties? What may we not hope for from his boundless goodness? How fafe are all our interefts under his management ?Let us, however, take care not to forget an obfervation which was made at the beginning of this difcourfe. Let us remember, that our expectations from God ought to be regulated by a regard to his JUSTICE. Though he loves his creatures, he must hate the wicked. Sin is the fubverfion of that order, and an oppofition to those laws by which the world fubfifts; and, for this reafon, even goodnefs requires that it should be punished, and that virtue should be made the univerfal ground and condition of happiness. An ill man, therefore, can build no hopes on the goodnefs of God. To truft in him at the fame time that we counteract his will and live in guilt, would be a wretched folly and prefumption. But to conclude the whole.-Let us, with one heart, give glory to God, and cele celebrate his praises. Let us rejoice in his government, and never fhrink from any thing our duty to him requires. Let us love him with all our fouls and with all our strength, and let our love to him fhew itself by loving all his creatures.His mercies are more than we can number; and it is not poffible for us to make him any adequate returns.-Oh! fing unto the Lord a new fong. (Pfal. ciii.) Sing unto the Lord all the earth. Sing unto the Lord. Blefs his name. Shew forth his falvation from day to day. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Say among the Heathen that the Lord reigneth.-Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad. Let the fields be joyful, and all that is therein. For the Lord is good; his mercy is from everlafting, and bis truth endureth to all generations.— Blefs the Lord bis angels that excel in frength. Bless the Lord all ye his hofts; ye minifters of his that do his pleasure. Blefs the Lord all his works in all places of his dominions. ye Y |