HYMN FOR SERMON IV. _Flesh and Spirit; or, the Principles of Sin and Holiness._ What vain desires, and passions vain, Attend this mortal clay! Oft have they pierc’d my soul with pain, And drawn my heart astray. How have I wander’d from my God, And following sin and shame, In this vile world of flesh and blood Defil’d my nobler frame! For ever blessed be thy grace That form’d my spirit new, And made it of an heaven-born race, Thy glory to pursue. My spirit holds perpetual war, And wrestles and complains, And views the happy moment near, That shall dissolve its chains. Cheerful in death I close my eyes, To part with ev’ry lust, And charge my flesh whene’er it rise, To leave them in the dust. How would my purer spirit fear To put this body on, If its old tempting powers were there, Nor lusts, nor passions gone! SERMON V. _The Soul drawing near to God in prayer._ JOB xxiii. 3, 4.—O that I knew where I might find him: that I might come even to his seat; I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. THE FIRST PART. This book of Job might, perhaps, be the first and earliest part of all the written word of God; for learned men, upon good ground, suppose that this history was elder than the days of Moses, and yet it hath many a sweet lessen of experimental religion in it, to teach the disciples of Christ; we may learn many duties and comforts from it in our day, _upon whom the ends of the world are come_. The style of it in some parts is so magnificent and solemn, in others so tender and affectionate, that we must feel something of devout passion when we read this history, if our hearts are but in a serious frame, and if our temper or circumstances of mind or body have any thing a-kin to the grief or piety of this good man.