Of t7e proper Improvement 231 purpofes ; it anfwer'd his defigning idea, S E R M. and contained a glorious difplay of his per- X. feE,tions, particularly his goodnefs ; yet with `'"'J refpett to human happinefs it is utterly in- fufficient : Which kind of vanity arifes not from the Rate and nature of outward things themfelves, for that is juft as it fhoüld be under the direttion of perfett wifdom ; but partly from the conftitution of the human mind, which is plainly intended for pur- pofes beyond this prefent fcene, and partly from mens irregular delires and expee`tati- ons, whereby being led to flatter themfelves with foolifh hopes of contentment, and fa- tisfattion of mind, in the pofrefïìon of fome worldly good, they are plunged into per- petual difappointments and vexation of fpirit. The preacher proves his dottrine by a gene- ral furvey of the courfe of this world, which, though governed by Ready counfel, is fo various, and to our underftanding uncertain, that no man knows what outward events may happen to him, nor what is really and in the whole for his advantage. He ex- amines alfo particular things, on which men fet their hearts, hoping for great happinefs in them, fuch as riches, grandeur, know- ledge, reputation for wifdom, and religious 4 profeffions,
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