SERMON X. 285 smiles of providence : and somewho are as much untaught to bear the frown of it : For their piety is ever changing, as their circumstances are. The first sort are they whoare never very serious and de- vout but when they lie under the chastisements of God: They seem humble, penitent, and pious when the rod of heaven is upon them, but when that is once removed, they forget their sorrows and their seriousness together. Such were the rebellious and inconstant Jews of old, when the Lord slew them, they sought him early, and enquired after God ; but they took every new oc- casion to murmur and rebel again : There was no truth in their religion; f0 their heart was not right with God," nor " were they stedfast in his covenant ;" Ps. lxxviii. 34. as In trouble they visited thee, OLord, and pouredout aprayer when thy chasten» ing was upon them ; but their goodness was like a morning cloud, and as the early dew, it vanished away ;" Is. xxvi. 16. Hos. vi. 4.. There is another sort of men who behave well enough in matters of virtue and religion when they are in peaceful and easy circumstances ; but if oncethey are smitten in their flesh, in their good nameor their estate, or haveany of the comforts óf lifeem- bittered to them, they grow, peevish and passionate, and nothing can please them ; they vent their impatience on theirfriends, and throw their vexation of spirit all around them, as though they resolved to imitatethat brutal character which the prophet men- tions, like a wildbull in a net, struggling, and raving, and JOof fury under the rebuke of the Lord ; Is. li. 20. Surely both these qualities are very contrary to that serene and uniform practice of true godliness that becomes a saint. 3. In all places, as well as. in all times andcircumstances, the true christian appears the same, and is just to his owr. profession. Wheresoever he dwells, or sojourns, where he spends an hour or a year, he is constant to himself, and consistent with himself still. He ever maintainsthe same pious designs, and adorns and glori- fies the doctrineof the gospel inall things. When at home and whenabroad, he is the same person. When at church payinghis honours and devotions to heaven ; when in his own family among his children and servants, or when in his shop and in the affairs of life when in the street or on the exchangeconversing withthe world, ; friends and strangers, known and unknown ; when in his closet and secret chamber, still he is the same good man : still acting consistent with himself and his profession, still pursuing a regularsteady course of piety, and his dyingpillow confirms the sincerity and practiceof his life. Religion is ever uppermost in his heart, and all his affairs and businesses in the world, are ' managed with regard to his last great end. Thus though his engagements andactions of life be very various daily, according
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