Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

and wife inftruction." Go thou, and do likewife, and thy charity fhall be rewarded by the God of Abraham.

Liberty of Prophefying.

TH

JOHN WILKINS, D. D.

BISHOP OF CHESTER.-DIED 1672.

HERE are feveral truths which are not of fo great confequence as peace, and unity, and charity. And therefore, in fuch things, there ought to be a mutual forbearance towards one another; and men should endeavour, by all means of amity and kindness, to join together for the promoting of those more fubftantial truths and duties wherein they agree, according to that rule of the apostle: And if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God fhall reveal even this unto you: nevertheless whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the fame rule; let us mind the fame thing. To fhut up all in a word; it would exceedingly conduce to our common peace and fettlement, in times of differences and controverfy, if thofe rules of Christianity, so often inculcated in scripture, were more regarded and observed amongst the profeffors of it; that men would be wife unto Sobriety, and not above what is written. Not thinking more highly of themselves, and their abilities, than they ought, but be ready to condefcend to men of lower parts, and to demean

ourfelves towards every one, according to the different meafure of gifts which God hath been pleafed to difpenfe to them, Speaking the truth in love. Endeavouring to heal differences in the moft placid, gentle manner, without envyings, ftrifes, backbitings, whisperings. Doing nothing through ftrife or "vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, every one efteeming others better than himSelf. They that exceed others in knowledge fhould exceed them likewife in the ftudy of peace. The best of us do know but in part, darkly; that time is to come when all thefe differences fhall be cleared up, and we shall have a full vifion of the true state of things. In the mean space it concerns us to forbear one another, in those leffer things about which we differ; and to be very zealous about those great matters in which we agree; namely, righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Sermons.

ISAAC BARROW, D. D.

MASTER OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
DIED 1677.

THOU fhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; this is the firft and great commandment, -The fecond is like unto it; thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This is, indeed, the highest

commendation whereof any law is capable; for as to be like God is the highest praise that can be given to a person, so to resemble the divinest law of love to God, is the faireft character that can be affigned of a law; the which, indeed, representeth it to be as St. James calls it, a royal and fovereign law, exalted above all others, and bearing a fway on them. St. Paul telleth us, that the end of the commandment (or the main fcope of the evangelical doctrine) is charity out of a pure heart and a good confcience, and faith unfeigned; that charity is the fum and fubftance of all other duties, and that he that loveth another hath fulfilled the whole law; that charity is the chief of the theological virtues, and the prime fruit of the divine fpirit, and the bond of perfection, which combineth and confumeth all other graces, and the general principle of all our doings. St. Peter enjoineth us, that to all other virtues we add charity as the top and cream of them; and above all things (fays he) have fervent charity among yourselves. St. John calleth this law, by way of excellence, the commandment of God; and our Lord himfelf, claimeth it as his peculiar precept. This (faith he) is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another; and maketh the obfervance of it the special cognizance of his followers: By this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye love one another. Thefe, indeed, are lofty

commendations thereof, yet all of them may worthily yield to this; all of them feem verified in virtue of this, because God hath vouchfafed to place this command in fo near adjacency to the first great law, conjoining the two tables, making charity contiguous, and, as it were, commensurate to piety.

It is true, that in many respects charity doth resemble piety, for it is the most genuine daugh- ter of piety; thence in complexion, in features, in humour, much favouring its sweet mother. It doth confift in like difpofitions and motions of foul. It doth grow from the fame roots and principles of benignity, ingenuity, equity, gratitude, planted in our original conftitution by the breath of God, and improved in our hearts by the divine fpirit of love. It produceth the like fruits of benificence towards others, and of comfort in ourfelves. It, in like manner, doth affimilate us to God, rendering us conformable to his nature, followers of his practice, and partakers of his felicity. It is of like use and confequence towards the regulation of our practice, and due management of our whole life. In fuch respects, I say, this law is like to the other, but it is, however, chiefly fo, for that God hath pleased to lay fo great ftrefs thereon, as to make it the other half of our religion and duty; or because, as St. John faith, this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God loveth his brother alfo; which is

to his praise, a moft pregnant demonftration of his immense goodness to us.

The best, most excellent, and most happy of beings delights to be ftyled, and accordingly to express himself, the God of love, mercy, and peace; and his blessed Son to be called the Prince of Peace; and who is also faid, from on high to have vifited us, to give light to them that fit in darkness and in the fhadow of death, and to guide our feet in the ways of peace.

Sermons.

ROBERT LEIGHTON, D. D.

ARCHBISHOP OF GLASGOW.-DIED 1684.

GRACE unto you, and peace be multiplied. We may and ought to wish to the church of God outward bleffings, and particularly outward peace, as one of the greateft, so one of the most valuable favours of God. Thus prayed the Pfalmift-peace be within thy walls, and profperity within thy palaces! But that wisdom that doth what he will, by what means he will, and works one contrariety out of another, brings light out of darkness, good out of evil, can and doth turn tears and troubles to the advantage of his church; but certainly in itself, peace is more fuitable to its increase, and, if not abufed, proves fo too. As in the apoftolic time it is faid, the

C

« AnteriorContinuar »