III.

SERM. gancies that arise from it; and this he has effectually done, in the cafe before us, by enforcing the obligations of univerfal goodness, which will regulate all inferior affections without deftroying them: For the obferving this rule will lead to every instance both of friendship, and love of our country, that is really amiable and beneficial, and discourage fuch only of either kind as are unmanly, and mischievous. Let me observe,

3dly. That there was a particular reafon, from the circumftances of the world at that time, why the Chriftian religion fhould not directly and ftrongly recommend the love of our country: In general, 'tis not a thing neceffary to be infifted on, becaufe 'tis included in the love of mankind, and what all are powerfully inclin❜d to by education, custom, their own particular intereft, and the like; but rather expedient that fuch narrow prejudices fhould be remov'd, by inculcating more generous and extenfive views: And 'twas much lefs to be expected at a juncture when an affection for particular countries was a general nufance, and tri

umph'd

umph'd over juftice and humanity: For SERM. 'tis well known, that the Jews were fo IHI. partially fond of their own nation, that they look'd upon themselves as the only favourites of heaven; which made them fevere and rigid in their cenfures, and morofe and unfociable to all who were not of their religion: And, undoubtedly, the notion that feems, generally, to have prevail'd among them, that the Meffiab was to be their temporal prince, and extend his dominion over all the earth, would have put them on fubduing and oppreffing other countries, as foon as they imagin'd they had a favourable opportunity for it: They wanted nothing but the power to effect this vile and barbarous defign, which their selfishness and pride fuggefted. And as for the Romans, whofe noble lectures of benevolence and generofity are so much boasted of, and their love of their country reprefented as the very perfection of heroic virtue; the Romans, I fay, were the plagues and Scourges of mankind, and had actually carried their arms and conquefts, and, together with them, terror, flavery, and ruin,

2

SERM. ruin, thro' the greatest part of the then III. known world.

Was this now a time to recommend narrow views, and an attachment to particular focieties, when the general intereft had fuffered fo much by it? ----It was rather the way to have destroy'd public benevolence altogether: The proper leffon to be inculcated, in fuch a confus'd and degenerate state of things, was certainly universal goodness, in order to put a stop to the progrefs of ambition, avarice and luxury, which had introduc'd fuch dreadful desolation, and fubverted liberty, juftice, and all focial virtues : This was the only remedy that could be applied to the prevailing diforder: So that our Saviour's fcheme of benevolence is not only, in itself, the noblest and most godlike that we can conceive of; but in keeping to fundamental and general principles, and not defcending to leffer confiderations, he acted the part of a wife reformer; — a friend to the univerfal happiness; ---- and an enemy to oppreffion and tyranny. Suffer me to add

In the laft place, that tho' the Chrif- SERM. tian religion has not particularly enjoin'd III. private friendship, and the love of our country, because, fo far as they have any thing virtuous and commendable in them, they fall in neceffarily with the regular purfuit of the general good, and because 'twas needlefs in itself, this being the conftant bent of human nature; and finally, because 'tis always more proper to restrain the exceffes of these principles, than to allow them scope and latitude; and was fo particularly at the time of our Saviour's appearance; tho', I fay, for thefe very fufficient and weighty reafons, they are not directly enjoin'd in the Chriftian religion, yet 'tis à falfe infinuation, that it has given no encouragement to them: For we have, in the character of Chrift himfelf, an eminent example of each of these virtues, which is equally binding, as an express law, upon all who acknow ledge his authority: He chofe but twelve perfons to be his immediate and conftant followers, and one of them he made his friend: Accordingly we read, in the hiftery of the New Teftament, of the dif

ciple

SERM. ciple whom Jefus loved; whom he always III. treated with confidence, and particular marks of tenderness and affection.

Joh. xix.

20.

41.

Here was a friendship that sprang from virtue; from a confent and harmony of the most benevolent, mild and amiable dispofitions; it was entirely rational, difinterested, generous and faithful; fubfervient to the univerfal good, being founded in the love of goodness itself; and confequently a perfect pattern for our imitation.

And was not this weeping over JeruLuke xix. falem, from a sense of its impending ruin, a noble proof of his ardent concern for the public welfare? were not all his labours to make his people happy, by reforming their corruptions and vices? was it not for this that he fuffered fo many abuses? nay, did he not even die for the good of his country? I may add to this the example of St. Paul, who was so transported by his affection for his countrymen, as to wish that the greatest of evils might befal himself, even to be Rom. ix. accurs'd from Chrift, if, by that means, he might be the inftrument of pre

3.

ferving