in all Circumflances it ujìrated 26 r en him, and abundantly pardon him ; and SE R M. who doth not know, that the fame is í}i11 XI more clearly taught in the new teftament: "'"J But it is alfo perfe ly agreeable to our na- tural fentiments concerning the Deity; what hope could men have towards him, if it were not fo, and how infignificant would religion be to its main profeffed ends ? If this be the true notion of the righteous man, a charafer concerning which every one is the heft judge for himfelf, being confcious of the operations of his own mind, and of the affeEtions, the principles, and motives from which he ads; and indeed, as the apoftle john teaches us, when we can allure our hearts before God, and they do not reproach us for infrncerity, or pre- vailing evil affeEtions, then we have confi, deuce towards him; but, I fay, if this be the true notion of the righteous man, our next enquiry under this head, is, in what fenfe it (hall be well with him. The mean- ing certainly is not, that he fhall poffefs all external advantages and enjoyments in this world, whereby his condition (hall be ren- dered more eafy and profperous than that of the wicked. That is contrary to fad and experience, as well as to many plain decla- S 3 rations
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