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SERMON XIII.

ORIGIN OF EVIL,

LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH iii. 32, 33.

For though he cause grief, yet will be bave compassion according to the multitude of bis mercies.

For be doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve

the children of men.

THE HE misery of human life has been the SER M. universal complaint of all ages and of all

ranks of men; the high as well as the low, the rich as well as the poor, equally confess and lament that permanent happiness is no where to be found. Of the justice of this

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XIII.

XIII.

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SERM. Complaint we may be convinced, both from what we may observe passing around us, and also from our own experience :disappointment in the pursuit, and dissatisfaction in the possession of the objects of their desire; losses, sicknesses, and disgraces, are some or other of them the portion of almost the whole of mankind. The observation of this constitution of human affairs has afforded occasion, to some, to disbelieve in the being of a God; and to others, to arraign his goodness: and even of those whose presumption does not carry them such daring lengths, it has driven too many into discontent and despondency-highly unbecoming of them, 2 both as men and as Christians,

I propose, in this discourse, first, to
In propose,

endeavour to clear up the difficulty of the

existence of misery, and to reconcile it with the benevolence of the great Creator and Governor of all things; and, secondly,

to

to point out the unreasonableness and in- SERM. gratitude of discontent and despondency.

I will endeavour to clear up the difficulty of the existence of misery, and to reconcile it with the benevolence of God.

When man was first created, he was created innocent and happy; had he and his posterity persevered in their innocence, their happiness had still been continued to them - neither misery nor death would have found entrance into the world. To try his obedience, a certain condition was proposed; -the favour of his Maker was promised him on his observing it - the punishment of its violation was death.Seduced by the artifices of the grand deceiver, and abusing the gift of free will, with which God had endowed him, he fell ; he transgressed the law which was imposed on him-he ate of the tree, whereof it had been commanded him that he should not eat; and, by his transgression, entailed on himself and his posterity-woe and death.

If

XIII.

SERM. If this be the true cause of the evils XIII

which we see in the world, as we are assured by the Bible that it is, it is clear that they cannot be charged on God; he created man happy-he gave him an easy law to obey he told him what terrible consequences would follow, if he broke this law:-yet, with his eyes open, he voluntarily did break it; therefore himself alone can he justly blame for all the dreadful effects of his rebellion. But still furtheras unhappiness was not the original lot of mankind, so neither shall it be the final lot: sin and misery entered into the world by Adam, but it was not God's intention that they should reign there for ever he has opened a way, by the sufferings and death of our Redeemer, for the penitent part of his subjects to regain his favour to recover the dignity of their natures -and to be again, what they were at first created in Paradise, innocent and happy! Surely this is a consideration

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