of Occciions of Sorrow. 237 gifts of liberal providence within the bounds S E R M. of innocence and virtue. Almighty God has X. fo framed the human nature, adapting its ""'""' conftitution to our Rate of being, that we have a variety of affections anfwering to the various objects without us, which may be in feveral ways neceffary to our prefervation, and to fuch happinefs as we are now capa-. ble of. We have defires towards thofe things which contribute to life and health, and there is pleafure annexed to the ufe of them ; we have fears, dire ling us to avoid what may be hurtful or inconvenient ; and our forrows themfelves have a falutary ten-. dency to our advantage. But there is a fub- ordination in our powers and affe ±ions ; force higher in their kinds than others, and more important to the ends of our being ; and there is a proper regulation of their ex- ercife, which in a great meafure depends upon ourfelves, yet not without fufficient intimation from the author of nature how it is to be concluded. None of our affec- tions are to be pronounced evil ; they are the contrivance and the workmanthip of a wife and good agent, and they all ferve good purpofes ; but experience (hews that they are capable of being abufed ; by being immo- derately
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=