880 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, a prosperous providence attends them, they are tempted to excessive .vanity and carnal joy ; their hearts are not filled with thankfulness to that God from whom their mercies come? being'too thoughtless and regardless of the original donor. On the other hand, when affliction smites them, they are in danger of despising the stroke of the rod, nor does the correction of their heavenly Father make so deep and useful an impression upon their spirit as it ought to do. When in thecourse ofour lives we maintain suchagrave and composed frameas becomes a christian, we find our hearts more ready for all theduties oftvorship. We are prepared to receive evil' tidings as well as good, and to attendon thewill of God in all his outgoings of providence. We are ready to receive mes sages of sorrow, or the summons ofdeath, for we are still conter- singwith God : We keep the invisible world in the eye of our faith : And our spirits are ready prepared to depart from the flesh, and to meet our God and our Saviour in the unknown re, gions oflight and immortality, HYMN FOR SERMO& XXIII. Çhristiare illoralityf viz. Gravity, Decency, 4.c. ARE we not sons and heirs ofGod ? Are we not bought with Jesus' blood ? Do we not hope for heavenly joys, And shall we stoop to trifling toys? Can laughter feed th' immortal mind? Were spirits of celestial kind Made for a jest, for sport and play, To wear our time, and waste the day ? poth vain di$ceorse or empty mirth Well suit the honours of our birth ? Shall we be fond of gay attire, Which children love,and fools admire? What if we wear the richest vest, Peacocksand flies are better dress : Thisflesh, with all its .gaudy forms, Must dropto dust and feed the worms. Lord, raise. Our hearts and passions higher, Touchone vain souls .with sacred fire ç Then with an elevated eye We'll pass these glittering trifles; by. We'll look on all the toys below With such disdain as angels do, And wait the call that bids us rise Topromis'd niassions in the skies,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=