The Excellency of Wrfdons. 55 tereft in a flourifhing condition. It was a S E R M. fIrange perverfenefs in Haman's temper, that IL when he was in a profperous ftate, applaud - ``Y`J ing -himfelf in the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, and his high pro- motion in the court of Ahafuerus, diftin-- guifhed by the favour of that great monarch and his queen, which was the ruling defire of his ambitious mind ; yet all this availed him nothing, becaufe a Jingle man, fo little efteemed by him as Mordecai the Jew, did not pay him the refpeá he required. We find by experience the power of innocent amufements in an afliifted frate of mind ; the pleafures of the fenfes and the imagina- tion, agreeable founds, the beauties of na- ture and of art, foothe the pallions, and charm the troubled mind to refs. Now, is not the beauty of holinefs, the excellence of wif- dom, a nobler fubje t, and which muff have a greater force, if we turn our ferious at- tention to it, when we are oppreffed with cares ? In the laft place, the excellence of wif- dom Ihould affe ft the charadfers of men in our efteem, and regulate our regards to them. If it be fo excellent in itfelf, then, certainly, E 4 t.hofe
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