223 SERMON XII. ECCLES. VI. 16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that feek the Lord shall find him. A MONGST all thofe pleasures SERM. which have the fanction of reason to warrant, and the feal of innocence to guard and protect them, there is not perhaps one, whofe fenfations are fo exquifite, and whofe joys are fo refined as that of virtuous friendship: there is not in all earthly gratifications, one so becoming the dignity, fo fuitable to the frame and difpofition, so productive of the happinefs of our natures. With the most elegant propriety, therefore, doth the XII. XII. SERM. wife man ftile it the medicine of life: a fafe, a fweet and pleafing remedy; not like thofe medicines which the art of. man hath discovered to preferve and reftore our bodies, which, how falutary and efficacious foever they may be, are almost always naufeous and unpalatable. The pleasures of human life, or those enjoyments which conftitute our ideas of happiness, may, I think, be divided into the rational and the fenfual: to convince mankind that the joys of the former are, (contrary to the prevailing opinion) not only equal to, but even far fuperior to the latter, is a tafk worthy the best heads to plan, and the best hearts to execute ; and it has indeed been the fuccefslefs endeavour of the wife and good in all ages. To enhance the charms of virtue, and unite our happiness with our duty, would perhaps be of greater fervice to religion, 3 |