ferves. Gratitude confifts in an equal return of benefits, if we are able; and of thanks, if we are not. Con- Gratitude to fequently, every receiver is debtor to his benefac- benefactors. tor, whether spiritual or corporal. And he must not only acknowledge the benefit received, and pray to God for him; but he owes him, when he hath opportunity, a fuitable return. And though my benefactor gives me his benefit freely, as having no need of it himself, or not fo much as I, and therefore cannot legally demand a repayment of it; yet whatsoever he gives me, be deferves of me; and if ever circumstances change, and he hath my need, and I his ability, I am in confcience as much obliged to repay it, as if he had lent it me upon legal fecurity; because in this cafe my ability is security for the benefit I owe him, and his need is a juft demand of it; and fince what he hath merited of me is his due, I am unjust, if I do not repay him fo far as I am able to repay him, or he hath no occafion for it, I am in juftice to exprefs my gratitude in thankful acknowledgements, and, by all the fervices I can render him, to express a willingness to make him a full return. Thus, as in matter of debt, he, who cannot pay all, must compound and pay fo far as he is able; fo, in the matter of benefits, he who cannot make a complete requital, is obliged in justice to make fome compofition, and pay fo much as his ability extends to; and, if he can do no more, to give thankful words for benefits received, which generous benefactors efteem the nobleft return: so he, who receives benefits, without fome thankful acknowledgement, acts the part of a fwine, that greedily devours the acorns, and never looks up towards the tree from whence they drop: and he, who requites benefits with injuries, acts the part of him, who would fain have thrown that bleffed Being out of heaven, who created and placed him therein.

SUNDAY XII.

I. Of charity or love to our NEIGHBOUR's foul and body, as it refpects our affections, fhewing the effects, motives and pleasantness of this duty; and, II. As it refpects our actions, fhewing in what cafes, and how to admonifb the vicisus, and how to behave towards thofe that are fick, in prifon, or perfecuted, with a caution to thofe that profecute an offender, go to law, or imprison an infolvent debtor. III. Of charity to men's goods, including almfgiving; with the manner, object, proportion, and reward of that duty. IV. Of charity to our NEIGHBOUR's credit and reputation, with rules to perform it; including, V. Peace-making, going to law, and loving our enemies.

I. THE fecond general branch of duty to our

Of charity. neighbour is CHARITY. By Charity, I do not mean only almfgiving; for that is only one branch of it, and one outward expreffion of this duty: I mean the most liberal fentiments and the most enlarged affections towards all mankind. A charitable man will endeavour to fee every thing through the mirror of good-nature, which mends and beautifies all objects, without altering any. Far from furmifing evil, where there is none, he will rather think no evil, where there really is; judging it better to err through a goodnatured credulity, than through an undistinguishing fufpicion. He will never hate any body or community of men, provided there be nothing immoral in their profeffion, howeyer he may diflike fome individuals in it. He will not pass a hard precipitate cenfure upon a whole nation or country. Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? was a low, confined, ungenerous thought: goodness is not limited to, or excluded from any place: the good are diffused throughout all nations, all fects, all perfuafions, all ranks and orders of men. True charity ever dwells with a largeness of foul, which takes in all mankind; fincerely wifhing, that all, who are in any material error, may embrace the truth; and all, that embrace it, may hold a pure faith in a pure confcience. In 5

fhort,

fhort, true charity is to deteft nothing but vice; and to defpife nothing but contracted, illiberal notions. This is the charity, or the love of our neighbour, which confifts in doing all good offices, and fhewing kindness towards our neighbour both in our affections and in our actions, is a duty to which we are difpofed by the frame of our nature, and our inclination to fociety, in which there can be no pleafure nor advantage, without mutual love and compaflion. This is the best expreffion of love towards God, fince our neighbour is God's creature and his image, and the object of his love and mercy. And this is the particular command our blessed Saviour urged upon his difciples fo earnestly, as if he required nothing else in comparifon thereof. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. This is the proper badge and cognifance of the chriftian profeffion; by which the difciples of Jefus were to be diftinguished from the difciples of any other profeffion; so that in the beginning of chriftianity this virtue was fo well practifed, that the very heathens did admire and fay, behold how these christians love one another! for, though this commandment may be supposed to have some foundation in nature, yet it is by our Lord and Saviour fo much enlarged as to the object of it, having extended it to all mankind; fo greatly advanced as to the extent of it, even to the laying down our lives for one another; fo effectually taught, fo mightily encouraged, so very much urged and infifted on, that it may very well be called a new commandment; for though it was not altogether unknown to mankind before; yet it was never taught in this manner, nor fo much ftrefs laid upon it by any other appointment. Therefore by this, Chrift faith, fhall all men know that ye are my difciples if ye have love one to another.

our

The charity of our affections difpofes us to love neighbour in fuch a manner, that if he be virtu- In the af ous, it will make us esteem him; if he be honest, fections. but weak in judgment, it will raife pity and fuccour; if he be wicked, it will incline us to pious admonition in order to reclaim him; if he receives good, it will make us rejoice; if he receives evil which we cannot redrefs, it will make us take pity on him; if we can, it will make us relieve him, by fup

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plying his neceffity, or by hiding his difgrace, if it be deferved, which is concealing our neighbour's defects; and by wiping it off, where it is not deferved, which is vindicating his reputation or good name. When he is our inferior, it will make us affable and courteous; if our equal, it will make us candid, and ready to maintain a good correfpondence; if our fuperior, refpectful and fubmiffive; if we receive good from him, it will make us thankful, and defirous to requite it; if we receive evil, it will make us flow to anger, eafy to be intreated, ready to forgive, long-fuffering, and merciful when we are justly angry.

To their bo

In which defcription of charity towards our neighbour is included a defire to do all the good in our power to their fouls, bodies, goods and credit. And firft, This should make us conTo the fouls cerned for the falvation of their fouls, and put us of men. upon means to recover them from a ftate of finand unbelief. The next branch of charity regards the bodies of men, to which we are to with all health and welfare. Wherefore obferve that, although natural dies, goods, blemishes and defects, fuch as lameness or crookand credit. ednefs, the want of our fenfes, or the difproportion of our parts or features, render our bodies lefs ufeful, or lefs graceful and lovely, and do not only upbraid us to ourfelves, but create a contemptible opinion of us in the minds of others, the fufpicion of which is apt to grieve and afflict our minds; charity requires us notto contemn men, not to upbraid or reproach them, upon the account of any bodily infirmity; but to render them all refpect, which the graces and virtues of their minds are worthy of. The body is not the man, but the immortal mind that inhabits it; even as many times the richeft diamonds wear the roughest coats. So that fuch natural blemishes are infelicities, which men cannot prevent and rectify; and therefore to deride and expose them for any blemish in their compofition is to fling falt into their wounds, to fret and inflame their miserable condition. Nor muft our defires for our neighbour's welfare ftop here; for whoever does not wish that his neighbour's goods and credit may thrive and profper, can never be faid to love his neighbour as himself.

So

So when the love of God fecures our own duty: when it makes us earnestly concerned, that all the world The effects fhould be influenced by the fame divine flame, of this chaand that our neighbour fhould become a fit object rity. of infinite mercy; when we are fenfibly touched with the blindness and obftinacy of wicked chriftians; and endeavour by the propereft methods to cure their ignorance, and to remove their great indifference as to the bufinefs of religion : when we are careful to propose and establish the rules of piety in our families and among our friends and relations: when our difcourfe and converfation are edifying: when we recommend it by our own example, and by our prayers for the converfion of finners, and for the perfeverance of the righteous: when we conceal all things that may offend the weak, and publish whatever may tend to increase the love of virtue : when we take all occafions to praise those that live well, to honour them before the world, and to give them the preference to those favours we are able to confer: when the civilities and liberalities we exercise, and the friendships we contract, aim at the recovering the foul from evil ways, and improving it in what is good: when the comfort of relief we give to the poor, the fick and the afflicted, tend to make the defign of God's providence towards them effectual for their amendment, if they are bad; or for their improvement, if they are good; that they may learn to adore the Author of their afflictions, and wifely fix their minds upon a good that is stable and permanent; then fhall we be fure that we act like difciples of Christ, and that the Holy Ghoft has added zeal to our charity; especially when it is obferved to be dealt towards all men without refpect of perfons. And then this principle of love and charity and good-will to mankind will not only render the mind quiet and eafy, calm and compofed, but make a man happy in himself, and a bleffing and comfort to all about him; and confequently attracts the love and esteem and admiration of all thofe that fee and feel the kind and benign influences of fo divine a temper..

This will not only caft out envy; for, as the apostle faith, Charity envieth not, will not fuffer us to grudge and repine at another's good: but it alfo

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