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of the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Let us go forth into the vineyards, let us lodge in the villages; let us see whether the tender grapes appear, and whether the pomegranates bud forth. All nature now invites us abroad: the pastures are covered with flocks; the valleys stand thick with corn; the field is joyful, and all that is in it; and all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. These appearances are so calculated to cheer the spirits, and tune every heart to the exercise of praise, that he must needs be unbelieving and insensible, who can look upon them without secretly adopting the language of the Psalmist—I will shew forth thy loving kindness, O Lord, in the morning, and thy truth in the night season: for thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works, and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.

Thus the whole frame of nature yields us matter of unceasing joy and wonder.

Secondly-The divine mercies minister to us endless cause of exultation and thanksgiving. If we look back upon the days and years

things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created!

Now this divine exhibition is ever before our eyes. Above, beneath, and all around us, we behold the wonders God hath wrought. And they are placed within our view, in order to excite our admiration, and draw forth our praise. The inferior animals are incapable of admiring the construction and beauty of the world they inhabit: they look with a vacant eye upon all the wonders that surround them; while man alone seems to be formed for the satisfactory contemplation of all this goodly fabric, with all that it contains.

The vernal season, through which we are at present passing, is calculated to draw forth our warmest feelings of gratitude and joy. The earth is now arraying itself in all its most inviting ornaments. Our path is every where strewed with sweets; and to whatever point we turn our eyes, they are delighted with a superabundance of pleasing objects. Come with me from Lebanon, look with me from the top of Shenir and Hermon : for, lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time

SERMON II.

of the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Let us go forth into the vineyards, let us lodge in the villages; let us see whether the tender grapes and whether the pomegranates bud appear, forth. All nature now invites us abroad: the pastures are covered with flocks; the valleys stand thick with corn; the field is joyful, and all that is in it; and all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. These appearances are so calculated to cheer the spirits, and tune every heart to the exercise of praise, that he must needs be unbelieving and insensible, who can look upon them without secretly adopting the language of the Psalmist—I will shew forth thy loving kindness, O Lord, in the morning, and thy truth in the night season: for thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works, and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.

Thus the whole frame of nature yields us matter of unceasing joy and wonder.

Secondly-The divine mercies minister to us endless cause of exultation and thanksgiving. If we look back upon the days and years

that are past, we feel ourselves constrained to acknowledge, that they have been strongly and affectingly marked with tokens of God's goodness. His mercies have been new every morning, and every evening has been crowned with loving kindness. Among our ten thousand obligations to the Giver of all good, there are some which should especially be sought out and dwelt upon with more than ordinary feeling—such as his gracious care of ourselves, our families, and our friends; the regular supply of our wants, adequate support under affliction, and unexpected deliverance out of trouble. Of these a careful record should be kept, that we may never lose the sweet remembrance of His grace and goodness, who forgiveth all our sin, and healeth all our infirmities; who redeemeth our life from destruction, and filleth our mouth with good things.

To past favours, present privileges and comforts are to be superadded. The sun of our prosperity is still shining, and the hosts of God are still encamped about our dwellings; while God himself is near unto us in all that we call upon him for. Yea, he is about our path, and about our bed, every where watch

ing over us with a paternal eye, and daily waiting to do us good. If we look forward, our prospect is enlivened with many promising appearances of future consolation. There are greater and better things before us than we have hitherto enjoyed. As affectionate fathers lay up for their children, and provide against their probable wants; so the Lord our God is laying up for us a rich store of comforts and blessings against the time to come. His fulness is inexhaustible, and his compassions fail not. All other things may and will change: but He remaineth the same. Many difficulties may arise, and many unexpected events may take place: but He hath graciously engaged to overrule all for good. He who took the charge of us in our youth, will not forsake us in our age, and when our strength faileth: for thus saith the Lord, Even to your old age, I am He; and even to hoary hairs will I carry you. So that, if at any time a threatening cloud should obscure our skies, and awaken a discouraging thought, we may thankfully rise above every fear, with the language of an ancient saint upon our lips-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in

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