the esteem of the world is never to be despised, and we ought at all times to fear its juft reproach, yet he will never make this the principal object of his actions. If he enters into public office, it is chiefly with the view of being really ufeful to fociety; his benevolent actions flow fpontaneously from his heart, he rejoices in every opportunity of exercising his benefi

cence.

As he tenderly feels for the diftreffes of others, fo his expreflions of fympathy are not feigned, but the language of nature. In deeds of charity he knows it to be more bleffed to give than to receive; he wishes them to be concealed, and to hide from his left hand. what his right hand bestows.

Laftly, While the Christian kindly affectioned acts from a principle far fuperior to that of vanity and oftentation, he is alfo diftinguished from thofe whofe affections flow chiefly from prejudice or paffion. Persons of this character are very common in the world, and we are ready to say of them, if our friends, that they have very warm and affectionate hearts. In one respect, it is true, they deserve this character; they are poffeffed of an enthusiasm of friendship for the objects of their regard; they weep with them when they weep, and they rejoice with them when they rejoice, exerting all their abilities to ferve them ing easily affected, every tale of wo brings tears from their eyes. So far their difpofition is amiable; but it is not uniform. The fame keenness of temper renders them fufpicious, jealous,

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jealous, and eafily offended. It is not uncommon to fee those who but lately were the objects of their warmeft affections, become, from the most trivial quarrel, the objects of their bittereft refentment. Their hatred is violent like their love, and the fevereft reproaches often fucceed to tender endearments.

The kind affections of a Chriftian are much more fteady: they proceed from principle, and not from prejudice or paffion. Though they maintain good-will towards all mankind, yet they do not rafhly chufe a bofom-friend. They weigh well his good qualities with his infirmities before they fix; but when once fixed, they are not foon moved: they are not eafily provoked, but bear long before they break the ties of affection; and however warm their hearts may be to their friends, yet they harbour no angry or malevolent paffion towards any of the human race: there may be many who, on account of their vices, they cannot regard, yet they become the objects of their pity rather than of hatred; they wish for their reformation, and pray for their good.

To conclude, at this time, with the exhortation of the apoftle to the Ephefians: "Let "all bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and "evil-fpeaking, be put away from you, with "all malice; and be ye kind and tender heart"ed, forgiving one another, even as God, "for Chrift's fake, forgave you."

SER.

IN

SERMON VII.

The Subject continued.

ROM. xii. 10.

Be kindly affectioned one to another.

PART II.

N the former part of this discourse I have endeavoured to difcriminate the character of a Christian kindly affectioned from fome other characters common in life, which, though they cannot be termed immoral, yet come far fhort of that benevolence of difpofition which the gospel recommends. I have shown wherein he is diftinguished from the man whofe principles and temper are rigid and fevere; from him alfo who is of a proud and overbearing fpirit; from the man of a cold and felfish heart; from the man who acts from vanity or oftentation; and from the perfon whofe affections flow from prejudice or paffion his difpofition is, in many refpects, fuperior to any of these.

:

But to be yet more particular in the delineation of this character which we mean to defcribe,

Let us further obferve, That a Chriftian kindly affectioned cultivates a difpofition to pleafe

please and to be pleafed. While he endeavours to live happily in fociety, he ftrives, to the utmost of his power, to promote the happiness of others. This ferenity of mind may be fometimes interrupted by fcenes of deliberate wickednefs and vice, which he cannot witness without the most sensible pain; and he may be alfo difquieted by confidering the deep diftreffes which many endure, where it is beyond his power to relieve or to comfort. Yet thefe do not materially affect his happinefs, or the temper of his mind; which will appear by remarking, that the greater part of human life does not confift in deeds which are either notoriously bad, or eminently good; but in actions which do but in a fmall degree approach either to the one or the other. The happinefs, therefore, or the mifery of life, does not confift in tranfports of joy, or in the anguish of affliction; but in feelings of an inferior kind, which, though lefs violent, yet are much more frequent than these poignant fenfations. Hence it comes to be in our power to make others miferable in life, not fo much by deeds of cruelty or injustice, which we dare not or cannot commit, as by indulging a malevolent or uncharitable difpofition towards them; and it is in our power to make them happy, not fo much by fignal and material fervices, which are feldom in our power, as by the inferior offices of kindness and benevolence, which we are able more constantly to exercise. Thus a man who gives way to

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a bad temper, though he may not be chargeable with any immoral or unjust action, yet often renders every one around him unhappy: he banishes kind and chearful looks by the fournefs of his countenance, and excites in others difquieting thoughts in place of pleafing emotions. A Chriftian kindly affectioned, on the other hand, diffufes chearfulnefs and complacency; he is on his guard, left he should give uneafinefs even to the meanest, and ftrives to make the hours pafs fweetly on. -In like manner; a person of an invidious difpofition, though his confcience may not fuffer him to do an actual injury, yet being difquieted and uneafy at the happiness of his neighbour, he fpeaks flightingly of his merit, and doubtfully of his good qualities; he catches every opportunity to mortify him; he mifles no occafion of a fatirical remark; and by thus hurting a tender part, may often render him more unhappy than he could have done by an open act of injuftice. A Chriftian of kind affections abhors this ill-natured meannefs. As he wishes for the happinefs of others, fo he rejoices in their profperity; he is cautious of faying any thing, though true, which may give pain, unlefs he hopes to do a greater good; and though he will never flatter, yet ftudies how he may fay or do what is pleafing. - Again, a perfon of a fretful and difcontented temper, by continual peevifhnefs, makes all with whom he is nearly connected uneafy. While he is unthankful for many bleffings he VOL. III. enjoys,

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