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long and is kind, envieth not, vaunteth SERM. not itself, is not puffed up, doth not be- II. have itself unfeemly, feeketh not her own; 1 Cor. iv. is not eafily provoked, thinketh no evil, re-5, 6, 7. joiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things,

things, bopeth all things.

believeth all

Nay we are

commanded to be rich in good works, reddy to diftribute, willing to communicate ; 1 Tim. vi. and even to lay down our lives for the 18. brethren; walking in love, as Chrift alfo 1 John iii. bath loved us, and hath given himself for 16 Eph. v. 2. us, an offering, and a facrifice to God for a fweet fmelling favour. this command our Saviour lays a particular ftrefs, and makes it the very characteristic of a Christian.

And on

55.

10.

Our holy religion inculcates farther, not only the most difinterested and generous, but the most extenfive benevolence; love Luke iv. to ALL MANKIND, notwithstanding Chap. x. difference of nation, religion, intereft, Gal. vi. 24, &c. love for even our enemies, not rendering! evil for evil, or railing for railing, but 9. contrariwife bleffing. It gives us frequent affurances, that this virtue is, in a par- Mat. xxv. ticular manner, pleafing to God, and will 2 Cor. ix. entitle us to a moft glorious reward.

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1 Pet. iii.

34, &c.

6, 7

II.

A&ts x.

38.

SERM. It fets before us an example of it, in our own nature, in the character of the author and finisher of our faith, who went about doing good; and requires, that we look not only on our own things, but every man alfo on the things of others; and that the fame mind be in us which was also in Christ Jefus, who, tho' he was in the form of God,-made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and, to accomplish our falvation, became obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs. Nay, it propofes to our imitation, the example of the fupreme creator and father of mankind, whofe goodness is unlimited and univerfal; especially in giving his fon to die for 1 John iv. us, even whilst we were enemies; for if 10, 11. God fo loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Phil. ii. 4.

&c.

Luke vi.

36.

From this fhort view of the christian doctrine 'tis plain, that it lays down the most exalted scheme of benevolence, fupported and enforced by the strongest motives. And, indeed, it has ever been reckon'd one of the chief intrinfic excellencies

of

of Christianity, that the goodness it recom- SERM. II. mends is fopure and difinterested, and aims, as much as poffible, at promoting the general happiness. But yet, upon this very account has it been reflected on, as if it had pafs'd by, or loft in a general, loofe and undetermin'd charity, two of the most fublime and noble inftances of benevo

lence, private friendship, and the love of our country. I intend, therefore, to take this for the fubject of my next discourse, wherein I shall endeavour to fhew (befides the unanswerable reafons that there were, from the circumftances of the world at that time, why these things should not be particularly inculcated) that both private friendship, and the love of our country, fo far as they have any thing truly rational and excellent in them, are included in, and must be entirely fubfervient to, the great law of univerfal benevolence, which is an infinitely more important and generous principle; that particular friendfhips may be extremely bafe and mifchievous, and the love of our country fupporting a faction against the common rights of mankind; but that, on the contrary, to D 3

be

II.

SERM. be fteddy and inflexible in our endeavours to promote the universal good, tho' we are oblig'd, in order to it, to facrifice private friends, nay the interefts of any fingle fociety, how great and flourishing foever, is manly, noble, godlike,

SER

SERMON III.

The perfection of the Chriftian scheme of benevolence; in anfwer to the objection from its not having particularly recommended private friendship, and the love of our country.

ROM. v. 7.

For Scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet, peradventure, for a good man fome would even

dare to die.

H

AVING, in my laft difcourfe, SERM,
shewn the excellence of bene- II.
volence, that 'tis vaftly fupe-
rior to juftice, and the no-

bleft virtue in focial life; and having

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