Inconfiftent creature that a man is! who at that inftant that he does what is wrong, is not able to withhold his teftimony to what is good and praife-worthy. I have now done with the parable, which was the first part proposed to be confidered in this difcourfe; and fhould proceed to the fecond, which fo naturally falls from it, of exhorting you, as our SAVIOUR did the lawyer upon it, to go and do fo likewife: but I have been fo copious in my reflections upon the ftory itfelf, that I find I have infenfibly incorporated into them almost all that I fhould have faid here in recommending fo amiable an example; by which means I have unawares anticipated the task I proposed, I fhall therefore detain you no longer than with a fingle remark upon the subject in general, which is this: 'Tis obfervable in many places of fcripture, that our bleffed SAVIOUR, in defcribing the day of judgment, does it in fuch a manner, as if the great enquiry then, was to relate principally to this one virtue of compaffion-and as if our final fentence. may vien to me a man of a ather good gamlities--on what I cal, depend-whom I LAN SHUA Win nr wiemy chilrets 21 farrane and repetation-Tis tars, #8 the Apofie argues from the nople—~ that he will not com "mit adultery-that he will not kill"that he will not fteal-that he will "not bear falfe witnefs." That is, the forrows which are ftirred up in men's hearts by fuch trefpaffes, are fo tenderly felt by a compaffionate man, that it is not in his power or his nature to commit them. So that well might he conclude, that charity, by which he means, the love to your neighbour, was the end of the commandment, and that whofoever fulfilled it, had fulfilled the law. Now to God, &c. Amen. for pity from another man, there was little aid or confolation to be looked for from fo unpromifing a quarter. Alas! after I have been twice paffed by, neglected by men of my own nation and religion, bound by fo many ties to affift me, left here friendlefs and unpitied both by a Prieft and a Levite, men whofe profeffion and fuperior advantages of knowledge could not leave them in the dark in what manner they should difcharge this debt which my condition claims -after this-what hopes? what expectations from a paffenger, not only a stranger, -but a Samaritan releafed from all obligations to me, and by a national dislike inflamed by mutual ill offices, now made my enemy, and more likely to rejoice at the evils which have fallen upon me, than to stretch forth a hand to fave me from them! 'Tis no unnatural foliloquy to magine; but the actions of gen compaffionate tempers baf - when he came where he was, and beheld his diftrefs, all the unfriendly paffions, which at another time might have rofe within him, now utterly forfook him and fled: when he faw his misfortunes-he forgot his enmity towards the man,dropped all the prejudices which education had planted against him, and in the room of them, all that was good and compaffionate was fuffered to speak in his behalf. In benevolent natures the impulfe to pity is fo fudden, that like inftruments of mufic which obey the touch-the objects which are fitted to excite fuch impreffions work so instantaneous an effect, that you would think the will was scarce concerned, and that the mind was altogether paffive in the fympathy which her "as excited. The truth is Own th bufi the te |