them wifer in the Contrivance, and more refolute in the Execution. We fee therefore that a State of Difficulty and Trialtends to make us more indifferent in our Wishes, more cautious and yet more vigorous in our Undertakings: The Soul is both burnish'd and fortify'd by it; these Circumstances are the proper Soil for Vir

tue to thrive in: For Wisdom and true Greatnefs to flourish, and grow remarkable. If we confult the Records both of facred and prophane History, we shall find that Eafe and Indisturbance feldom makes any Heroes. The most illuftrious Examples, who have carried human Nature to the highest Pitch, have owed the bravest Part of their Character to the Troubles they met with: 'Twas Danger and Oppofition which open'd their way to Glory: They were harras'd and perfecuted into Greatnefs; and, as the Apostle speaks of our Saviour, made perfect through Sufferings. This made St. Paul glory in Tribulations; and St. James exhort his Converts to count it all Joy when they fell into divers Temptations: For, as he goes on, the Tryal

Tryal of their Faith would work Patience, and when Patience had her perfect Work, they would be entire, wanting nothing. This would teach them to filence their Fears, and check their Defires; and in a great Measure make them independent upon the Accidents of Life.

And as that we call Misfortune is the most likely Difcipline to train us up to Virtue and Greatnefs; so it gives us the faireft Occafion to fhew our Improvement. Tis true, a profperous Man might behave very well under a different Condition; but then this can't be known as long as his Profperity continues. Those who never were in the Field may be Perfons of great Refolution. The Honourable might bear Difgrace, and the Wealthy Poverty, with great Decency and Submiffion to Providence, if they were put upon it: But we can never be certainly affured that they have all this Worth and Spirit and Refignation, till they have undergone the Tryal. In an eafy and undisturbed Condition the most noble Qualities of the Mind lie hid and undifcerned: In fuch

Cafes

Cafes the Owner himself does not know how well he his furnished. For though his Inclinations may ftand fair for Virtue, yet no Man can tell the Strength of a good Refolution till he is put to the Proof; for many come on with a great deal of Bravery, and yet fail in the Encounter, not that they are deferted by Providence, but by themselves. They find the Trouble of the Temptation greater than they imagined, and therefore meanly furrender to it. But though we had an Affurance of our own Conftancy, no body could know it but our felves except we were put to the Try. al. The Reputation of a great Mind would be loft this Way, and there would be nothing of Example for the Benefit of others. Who could ever have known that Socrates and Regulus and Cato were fuch invincible Spirits, had it not been for the Trouble they met with? had they not been unfortunate they Had been obfcure, and Mankind had wanted those Inftances of Heroick Fortitude to inftruct them. 'Twas the strong

Tempta

Temptations which Abraham and Job were exercised with, which made their Faith and Patience fo much celebrated. This drew their Virtue into publick Notice, and made their Light Shine before Men with fo great Advantage. For as the Son of Syrach obferves, Gold is tryed in the Fire, and acceptable Men in the Furnace of Adversity, Ecclus. ii. Adverfity is the only true Touchstone to try the Value of the Soul. It discovers the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart, and makes our Temper and Inclination more legible to the World. When Men are diftreffed by Malice or Cafualty, or dif appointed by Ingratitude; when they are unfupported, forfaken, or oppreffed; when they are not propt up with any outward Advantages, then they have the fairest Occasion to shew the Strength and Independency of their Minds. Such Circumftances afford them the best Opportunities to fhew how much the better they are for their Religion, and how far they are influenced by the Belief of another World. Now they may give un

questionable

questionable Proofs of the Efteem they have for a good Confcience, and a brave Action. This is the only Time to dif cover the Command they have over their Paffions, how indifferent they are to the Things of this World; and to what Perfection of Patience and Fortitude and Refignation they are arrived. Affliction both improves and discovers a Man's Worth; it fhews how unconcern'd and fedate and magnanimous he can be under fo many Difcouragements: It fets his Virtues in the trueft Light, puts them in the richest Equipage; and thus they make a more illuftrious Figure than they could do otherwise. And now fuppofing the Evils we labour under don't all proceed from the Nicenefs of our Imagination, but have fome real Foundation in Nature, yet when we confider how much the Advantage will over-balance the Inconvenience, this, one would think was enough. to filence our Difcontent. When we confider that if we don't mismanage the Op. portunity, we are in the most probable Condition to grow wifer and better, and

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