the bustle of life. A thorough fense of religion alone can difpel her apprehenfions, give calmness to her mind, and fteadiness to her conduct. For while we confider ourfelves under the immediate guidance and protection of an allwife and all-powerful Being, what have we to fear? True confidence arifes from fuch a dependence, and fills the mind with "that fweet peace "which goodness bofoms ever.".

MR. ADDISON very justly obferves, "That a mind which has the leaft turn to religion, na❝turally flies to it in affliction."

We then begin to feel our own infufficiency, we are humbled by forrow, and perhaps only then deduce real fatisfaction from a thorough conviction that there is a fuperior Being, whofe aid is gra

ciously promised to those who finterely feek it.

BUT though

"Religion's force divine is beft difplay'd "In a desertion of all human aid,”

we must by no means prefume to hope for the confolation it can bestow in the days of affliction, if we have neglected to receive and

fubmit

fubmit to its legislative authority in the hours of youth and profperity. You must first apply to it

as the guide of life, before you can have recourfe to it as the refuge of forrow." But if labouring under the fevereft ills which this world can inflict, we can truly fay, I have endeavoured to do my duty in the state I have been called to, I have walked humbly with my God, have made my peace with him, and patiently submit to his all-wife decrees; "fuch reflections will chear

"the lonely houfe of virtuous po

Dr. Blair's Sermons.

66

verty,

verty, foothe the complaints of "grief, lighten the preffure of old age, and furnish to the bed of "fickness a cordial of more grate-.

ful relish and more fovereign "virtue, than any which this "world can afford *"

THOUGH the motives which I have hitherto urged for an early attachment to our religious duties feem only to relate to the happy individual who, like Solomon, "has fought Wisdom early, and "found her," there can be no

Dr. Blair's Sermons.

3

doubt

doubt of the innumerable benefits which fociety muft reap, as far as her influence extends, from the conduct and example of a truly, In whatever religious woman. point of view the may be placed,. as Daughter, Wife, Mother, Sifter, or Friend, the governing principle of her life, the love of God, will

operate upon her conduct in the relative duties of her ftation, and render that perfect in each and every degree.

I CANNOT conclude this important fubject, without presenting to my fair Readers that elegant portrait