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Gal. 6. 1.

Thus, would we remember, that in the Neighbourhoods, and Societies of the World, we do not converfe with Angels, but with Men of the fame Infirmities with our felves; that we are all frail and inconftant in our Paffions and Humours; not always under the Conduct of a Sedate, and confiderate Temper; but that an unwary Expreffion, or a fudden Provocation, or an improper Application, may fometime fall from us, without any malicious Intention or Defign; and if it be fo with us, why should we not make the fame Allowances to others? Confidering our felves, left we alfo be tempted

Again, we fhould do well to remember what little Reason we have, to fall into fuch fudden Fits of Anger, and Heats of Rage against our offending Neighbour; when God is fo patient and forgiving towards us, notwithftanding our daily Provocations against him, in Thought, Word, and Deed: How continually do we ftand in need of his Favour and Pardon that if he should be extreme to mark what we have done amifs, we, fhould not be able to answer him one of a Thousand; and fhall our Heavenly Father forgive us Pounds, and Talents, all that Debt, because we desired him 5 and fhall we take our Fellow Servant by the Throat, infift upon the utmost Farthing, caft him into Prifon, till he have paid the Debt?

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Perhaps it will be faid, Our Neighbour was firft in the Tranfgreffion; he was the Aggreffor; be did us wrong without any Provocation on our Part; well, fuppofing that, he is the greater Object of our Compaffion and Pity. And here comes in the Obligation, and the Reward of Chriftian Forgiveness. Bear ye v. 2. one another's Burdens, and fo fulfil the Law of Chrift. Brethren, if any do err from the Ja. 19. 20. Truth, and one convert him, he fhall fave a Soul from Death, and bide a Multitude of

Sins.

But to take off the whole Force of the Objection, it ought to be further, and chiefly confidered; that the Forgiveness of Injuries, is only a Rule to Chriftians, in their private Neighbourhoods and Converfations; in Matters of lefs Moment and Concern. To this Purpose, that Law of Forgiveness in the Seventeenth of St. Luke (which feems to bear hardeft upon our Natures) If thy Brother tref- v. 4 pafs against thee feven times in a day, and feuen times turn again to thee, faying, I repent; thou fbalt forgive him; is by fome Verfions rendered. Si peccaverit frater tuus in verbo. If thy Brother trefpafs against thee in a Word, in a Rafh, and Paffionate, or in a difrefpectful, and contumelious Expreffion, thou shalt forgive him. But as to Matters of a Higher, and more enormous Nature; if he fin against thee, by affaulting thy Life, by invading thy Right; by circumventing thee in thy Property, thou mayeft have recourse to fecular Courts and JuF dicature.

dicature. The Law is open; there are proper Judges, where Chriftians may implead one another, only without Malice, and Breach of Charity.

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Thirdly, By virtue of this Precept, we are above all obliged to ferve our Neighbour in his Spiritual Wants, and the much dearer Interefts of his Salvation; by all the Methods of Chriftian Zeal, Perfwafion, and Charity; by our Prayers, by our Inftructions, by our Reproofs, by our Example, by our Authority; or if there be any other way, whereby a truly good Man may be ferviceable to the Soul of his Neighbour.

This is certainly a Piece of Charity we all owe to our Neighbour, very neceffary in our converse in this World, as it unites us together, both in Civil, and Religious Society. But alas! How rare is this Virtue in this Age? And yet how many Obligations do we lie under to practice it? How Inoffenfively, how Succeffively might it be carried on, if Men would put on a little Pious Difcretion and Refolution? For indeed there is much Prudence and Caution to be used in this Matter tho' 5. Religious Advice be always Good, it is not always Seafonable nor Profitable: Many who ftand in need, are not always difpofed to receive Inftruction. But there are the Mollia tempora fandi, which must be observed: We muft watch their fober Moods and Intervals, take Advantage of their Morning Thoughts,

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and difpaffionate Hours, when their Confciences are open and awake, at liberty from the Pleasures, or the Cares of this World. Thus, if Men be naturally of Religious Tempers, and Difpofitions, but unhappily over-fway'd to Wickedness, by Cuftom, and Evil Examples; how proper, how acceptable would it be, (at convenient Seafons) to fhew them their Error, by difcourfing unto them, of the unfpeakable Satisfaction of Chriftian Faith; the Pleasures of Devotion, the Security of a good Confcience, that conftant Serenity of Mind, and chearfulness of Life, they enjoy, who unfeignedly love and Fear, and worship God; which they who live in Wickedness know nothing of. Thus again, If their engaging upon a wicked Courfe, proceeded from groundlefs Miftakes, and falfe Principles, from want of due Information, from youthful Incogitancy, from the Prejudices of an unhappy Education; as if when Men take upon them the Yoke of Chrift, they muft bid Adieu to all the Pleafures and Relaxations, of human Life; be tied down to the Rules of the Afcetick Difcipline, to perpetual Devotion, Mortification, and Self-denial; here it will be feafo nable, and neceffary, to acquaint them with the true Genius, and Spirit of the Christian Religion; that its Commands are neither difficult nor greivous, but its whole Service is the moft perfect Freedom in the World; that it is no Enemy to true Honour, or true Pleasure, but Men may ferve God, and maintain their

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juft Efteem, and Character; ufe all the Innocent Hofpitalities of Humane Conversation, and enjoy them with the pureft Relish, and the most lafting Satisfaction. Once more, If their Condition be afflicted, difconfolate, vifited with fome Calamitous Providence: Or, if through natural Melancholy of Body, or accidental Defpondency of Spirit, they mourn under the Apprehenfion, and the heavy Burden of the Divine Desertion: Ah! here we fhould fympathize with them, in the tendereft Bowels of Christian Affiftance and Charity. By our most pathetical Interceffions, and Pleadings with God for them at the Throne of Mercy, by our beft Advices, Admonitions, and Confolations; laying before them the natural Clemency of God to all his Creatures, the exceeding Love of Jefus Chrift to the Contrite, and broken in Spirit, the Comfort of the Chriftian Promifes, the Glorious, and Eternal Rewards of Heaven. These are Inftances of Christian Duty we owe to our Neighbours, and to the whole Race of Mankind, by Virtue of this Precept.

From what hath been difcourfed, I prefume you are fufficiently inftructed, as to the Meaning, the Extent, and Obligation of this Commandment: Whom we are to understand by our Neighbour; what Degrees are implied in loving him as our felves, and what Inftances of Charity we are to extend to him, which was the General Head laid down to be spoke unto. It may be now time very briefly to proceed to.

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