Quality, and to the exigency of the Occafion. But here alfo Love is free and bountiful, open-hearted and openhanded, and fo hates to do indecent things, that in doubtful Cafes fhe ever choofeth the Errour on the Right-hand, rather than that on the Left; to do with the most rather than with the least, to exceed and over-do, rather than to fall fhort of her Duty.

8. The last Instance fhall be in obscene and filthy Speeches, light and wanton Behaviour. Some there are who think nothing graces their Speech, or commends their Converse, more than fuch Words and Actions, as are not only unfeemly, but odious in the Eyes of all fober Perfons; and which none delight in, but they who have arrived at that measure of Boldness that they blush at nothing. This Inftance I confess may not seem so proper and pertinent to the Apostle's defign in this place; but it being fo common a Miscarriage in thefe Times, when Filthinefs is grown impudent and fhameless, I thought it not amifs to mention it however, And though it be not fo exactly agreeable to the Apostle's present fcope, yet neither is it altogether wide

of

I Cor.15.

33.

of it: For we may find upon a very little Inquiry, that this kind of unfeemly Behaviour is also repugnant to Charity, in divers refpects.

(1.) As it offends chaft Ears: Charity would not give Offence to any by Speech or Behaviour.

(2.) As it tends to the corrupting of others. Evil Communications corrupt good Manners. And this is that which Charity would much more avoid.

Now a word or two of Application, and I fhall have done with this Property of Charity.

Use. From what hath been faid we are ftill further informed how fmall a portion of Charity we have attained, and therefore what cause we have to bewail our defect therein. How many ways, and in how many respects are we guilty of unfeemly Behaviour! How many Indecencies do we run into in one kind or other every day. Let us reflect upon our felves, and be humbled where our Hearts condemn us: and let's still impute all to our want of Love, and be much afhamed that we fhould have no more of that excellent Grace which is the fulfilling of the Law,

and

and the fum and abridgment of our whole Duty. And to the end we may henceforth demean our felves as becomes the Gospel, and be guilty of no fuch Indecencies as are unfuitable to our Profeffion.

1. Let us labour to get more Love. Charity doth not behave it felf unseemly: She is the best Mistress to teach us what is becoming us as Chriftians, and what is not For Charity will alfo fweetly frame and mould us to a Behaviour fuitable to thofe Rules which the layes before us. He that hath much Love, hath an inward Principle of Decencies, which will ftand him in more ftead for the framing and regulating of his Behaviour, than all the outward teachings in the World. The Apostle writing to the Theffalonians, faith, that they needed not that he should write unto them

concerning Brotherly Love for they were taught of God to love one another. I Theff. 'Tis God that infuseth the Grace of 49. Love; and he that hath it, according to the measure in which he hath it, is taught of God to behave himself with that Chriftian Comelinefs and Decency which is fuitable to his Profeflion, and to that high and holy Calling with which he is called 2. Keep

M 3

2. Keep the fenfe of God's prefence upon your Heart; be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long; in all Places and Companies remember that he is with you, and is a witness of your Words, and a fpectator of all your Actions. The prefence of a fober, wife, and grave Man, for whom you have a Reverence, how careful and follicitous will it make you to carry your felf in a decent and becoming manner before him! And how much would it trouble you afterwards, if you should have been guilty of any Indecency in his Eye and Prefence. How much more then would the constant fenfe of God's Prefence ingage you to behave your felf in all refpects fo, as might become his Prefence!

SERMON

SERMON V.

1 COR. xiij. 5.

-Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no Evil.

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Go on to the next Property of Charity; She feeketh not her own. That is, She feeketh not her own Things to the prejudice, or with the neglect of the concernments of other Men. A Man may lawfully feek his own things, mind his own affairs, and manage them as prudently as he can with reference to his own advantage, provided that this be done regularly and orderly. And a Man then, and then only feeks his own things regularly, when he doth it Charitably, or when therein he obferves those Rules which Charity prescribes. And they are as to this matter, thofe two but juft now mentioned.