At peace with all mankind, his mind irradiated with light, and enlarged with the most noble conceptions of the divine character and government, he at length lies down in peace and composure upon his dying bed, and gently breathes out, — "Farewell, conflicting joys and fears, Farewell, inconstant world, farewell! He sweetly sinks to rest, and leaves behind him a good name, that can never die, and an example, for others to imitate, worth more than fortunes in gold. His memory shall survive, when the tomb on which it is inscribed shall crumble into ruin, and his example be a light to future generations. SERMON XII. MIND NOT HIGH THINGS. "Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate." ROMANS XII. 16. THAT mysterious and incomprehensible Being, who gave us existence, has sown in our nature the seeds of mortality. By the irresistible laws of his empire, which he has, from the beginning, established for the regulating of the animal creation, we are soon to be carried to the silent grave. All, without exception, are formed out of equal clay, are subject to the same hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, while on earth, and are all destined to the slumbers of death, where we must exhibit the emblem of perfect equality. Imma-. terial how far one may exalt himself above another, while passing through this momentary existence, immaterial how far he may rise above his fellow-men, in the scale of intellect and refinement, immaterial how exalted the station he may have obtained, - how brilliant the powers of his imagination may sparkle, or how soft and sublime his eloquence may flow, — immaterial how nobly soever he may dazzle in the sunny smiles of fortune, or how secure he may repose in the fond embrace of friends, yet it is a melancholy truth, that he must, sooner or later, resign the whole, let go his eager grasp on all those pleasing joys, bid an everlasting farewell to those exalted splendors, and descend to the dark shades of death, where the rich and the poor, the servant and his master, the oppressor and oppressed, all lie mouldering and forgotten together. This solemn consideration, it seems, when forcibly presented to the mind, ought to be sufficient to check the levity of man, to soften his bosom to his fellow-beings, to moderate his desire in pursuit of wealth and greatness, and completely to unarm him of all hostile feelings towards those with whom he associates, and with whom he is so soon to lie down in death. This, it seems, is sufficient to make us of one heart and mind in promoting each other's happiness and welfare in the world, and to make us obedient to the exhortation of the text, not to mind the high things of earth, but to condescend to men of low estate. But such is the strange infatuation of man, that he acts as though his residence on earth were eternal, and as though the whole errand of life consisted in providing for an eternity below. We are capacitated for enjoyments of a higher and more perfect nature than we can attain to on earth. Of this we are sensible, from the fact, that there is no condition in which we can be placed here below, that is so adapted to our na It ture as to afford us permanent satisfaction. Uninterrupted felicity is not a plant of earth. cannot flourish in a clime where the blighting storms of malice and envy wither all that is fair, sweet, and blooming. And though we are sensible that such is the fact, yet, deaf to all that experience, example, and observation conspire to teach, we are exerting all our powers to obtain it here below, where the united voice of earth and heaven assure us it cannot be found. We cast our eyes around us, and see the human family in every varied condition of life, from the beggar on his bed of straw, up to the king in regal splendor on the throne of nations; but in defiance of this immense distinction, they alike breathe the deep sigh of discontent. We also cast our eyes over the historic page, and scan the general fate of man in by-gone ages; but here, too, we learn the same lesson, that no external condition has ever added to the rational enjoyments of the soul. We see the same uneasiness, the same longing desires pervade every bosom. Our object is happiness; and amidst all the various pursuits of life, what is the reason so many fail of obtaining it? The answer is readily given. We make riches, honors, and the high things of the earth our chief pursuit and aim, and fondly imagine that our happiness. lies in them. Here is our error. Man is destined to a world of mental felicity, where those external pursuits of fortune will be unknown; where all that he here pursues with so much eagerness will be removed from his desires forever, and where all the channels of the soul will be opened to the true fountain of felicity, and completely ravished in its flowing streams. In order, therefore, to enjoy that happiness, in this momentary state of being, which God has placed within our reach, we must make mental felicity the main pursuit of life, and the riches and conveniences of earth our secondary pursuit. We must completely reverse our conduct in order to obtain those rational enjoyments that flow from virtuous habits and dispositions. We must, as Jesus says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Food and raiment are all that we can enjoy of the external comforts of life. All other enjoy Secure ments must be of a mental character. first your mental joys, a pure unsullied conscience in the punctual discharge of all your social and relative duties to mankind, and be you rich or poor, you will be happy. The righteous discharge of this first great duty will not embarrass you in obtaining the comforts of life, but, on the contrary, aid you. A peaceable and honest course of conduct towards others, a condescension to men of low estate, a due respect for the opinions and rights of others, will endear you to all, |