If then not only the pious author^ of the
text, but the divine Author of our faith him*
3elf, found retirement and recollection neces*
sary to the purposes of a holy life, there can
be little doubt of its use and importance to all
that are desirous of treading in their steps. But
I shall endeavour to«how still more distinctly
the advantages attending it, by laying before
you the following considerations ; considera*
tions, which the present holy season*, setiapart

* This Sermon was preached at St. James's Chapel on
the first day of Lent, f eb. 6, 1788.
V0L.II. G for



82 S E R M O N IV.
for the practice of this very dutj, will, I hope,
assist in pressing home upon your hearts.
I. In the first place, it is a truth too noto-
rious to be denied, and too melancholy not to
be lamented, that the objects of sense, which
here surround us, make a much deeper im-
^ression.upon,the mind than the objects of our
faith. And the reason is plain. It is, because
the things that are temporal are seen; are per-
petually soliciting our senses, and forcing them-
selves upon our observation; whilst the things.
that are eternal, merely because they are not
seen, and therefore want the ad vantage of con-
tinual importunity and solicitation, have but
little influence upon our hearts. It is, there-
fore, the first and most obvious use of re-

m

tirement, to take off our attention from the.
