them, by trade or otherways, to make a provision for themselves, their offspring and de pendents; that thereby, their paffage through life, may be comfortable to themselves, and useful to others. In like manner, Almighty God, who is the common parent of his creatures, and who has a much greater regard for the happiness and wellbeing of mankind, than any earthly parent can possibly have for the well being of his children, has, in the general course of his providence, distributed gifts and abilities to each individual of our fpecies; that in a right and proper ufe of them, each one might act the part affigned him in the creation, by pursuing and carry ing on the general end of being, viz. a gel neral happiness; and thereby, might render himself both a useful and a happy creature.

Verse 13. And not many days after, the younger fon gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted bis fubstance with riotous living. In this branch of the parable is fet forth the ill use that many of our species make of their power and those abilities providence has blessed thein with; and that whilft they indulge them selves in a vicious course of life, they keep themselves as far as poffible from all restraint or control. As a general happiness must be the general end of creation to a wife and kind Creator: so this globe (with all its furniture and inhabitants) is wifely conftituted to anfwer this valuable purpose. And as man is the

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the chief or principal inhabitant of this globe, and thereby is qualified for, and rendred capable of contributing greatly towards the general end of creation, (and which indeed is likewise the general end of being to intelligent beings) viz. a general happiness; fo those very abilities render him capable of contributing greatly to the contrary. Those abilities which render him capable of purfuing their own good, in conjunction with the happiness of others, do likewise render them capable of pursuing their own pleasure, in distinction from, and in oppofition to the common felicity. And in that composition of selfish and benevolent affections, which was wisely placed in the human constitution, in order to dispose each individual, not only to pursue his own good, but alfo that of others, the selfish part is capable of being indulged to excess, by which means, men, instead of being virtuous and useful, which was what their wife and kind Creator originally intended, and therefore qualified them for, become vicious and hurtful, and thereby difappoint the end and purpose of their creation. And indeed it is a too great indulgence of the affections of self-love, which is the great corruption of human nature, and is the grond and foundation of all our miscarriages, as it is the root from which every evil action springeth. For, tho' vice may apappear in various shapes, and men may be hurtful to others in a variety of ways; yet, I think, it may truly be said that it is mens paying too great regard to themselves which is at the bottom of all, or at least, that this is generally the cafe. And therefore what St. Paul faid of the love of money in particular, 1 Tim. vi, 10. may more justly be faid of covetousiness at large, or a vicious self-love, viz. that it is the root of all evil. When self-love becomes the fole principle of action in men, or at least, when the affection becomes greatly viciated, it then renders them greatly injurious to the common felicity, by disposing them to gratify their appetites and passions at all hazard, and then they run into any extravagancy, even tho' it be greatly to the hurt and damage of their neighbours. And tho' fuch pursuits seldom or never answer; yet as this is what they will not learn from any former experience with regard to themselves; so they seldom look abroad to observe the final event of fuch pursuits with regard to others. And tho' men are endued with reasoning faculties, to direct and guide their behaviour; yet when the affection of self-love is become viciated as aforesaid, then reason becomes only an handmaid to mens vices, by guiding them in the pursuit of those pleasures they have immediately in view, and by helping them the more speedily, and effectually to obtain them; whereas its aid is seldom or never called in, to inform them of the nature, or the consequences of their actions. And when men are thus determined to gratify their inclinations whatever they be; then they keep themselves, as far as poffible, from all restraint or control; then they carefully avoid the place, the company, and every thing which may check, or restrain their defires, or difturb their enjoyment. The younger fon gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted, his fubstance with riotous living.

Verf. 14, 15, 16. And when he had fpent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and be began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and be sent him into bis field to feed fwine. And he would fain have filled bis belly with the busks which the fwine did eat: and no man gave unto him. In these verses is. intended to be shewn the great unhappiness which very often attends a vicious course of life in this world; and the certain mifery which will follow it in another, if the finner's repentance and reformation does not pre vent it. This is represented by the diftreffed and unpitied condition, which the prodigal's riotous living had brought him into; be began to be in want, and defired to be fed with the busks which the fwine did eat: and no man gave, unto him. As man was made a focial creature, and confequently was defigned and conftituted, not to be happy alone, but in and with society, and as the happiness of each individual does in great measure result

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of the whole: fo whoever inverts this order of nature, by attempting to monopolizę happiness to himself, and by purfuing his own pleasure in diftinction from, and in oppofition to the common felicity, such an one is very often his own greatest enemy even as to this life, by his disappointing himself of that abundance of pleasure which he proposed to taste, and by his bringing upon himself that unhappiness which he chose to avoid. This, I fay, is often the cafe with regard to a violent and extravagant purfuit of pleasure, or a vicious self-love, in what way so ever the passion may shew itself. And as a vicious course of life naturally leads to, and is very often attended with great un happiness in this world: so certain misery will follow it in the next, if the finner's repentance and reformation does not prevent it. For as a general happiness, must needs be the great and general end of creation to a wife and good Creator; and as man is fo conftituted and circumstanced as to be rendered capable of contributing greatly to this end, or greatly to the contrary, (tho' fome more, fome less:) so when a man pursues the great end of creation, by employing that power and those abilities he is possessed of in promoting the common good, then fuch an one must, in the nature of the thing, render himfelf highly approvable, and justly rewardable to his Maker; and therefore we may be affured, that when the scene of action is over

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