comes his punishment. Those paffions. which prompt him to wreek his vengeance on his enemies, war against his own foul,. and are inconfiftent with his peace. Whether he is at home or abroad, alone or in company, They ftill adhere to him, and. engrofs his thoughts; and Providence hath with the greatest reason ordained, that whofoever meditates against the peace of another fhall, even in the defign, lofe his own. The thoughts of Revenge break in upon his most ferious and important bufinefs, embitter his moft rational entertainments, and forbid him to relish any of those good things which God hath placed. within his reach; ever intent on the contrivance of mischief, or engaged in the execution, mortified with difappointments, or, his defigns accomplished, tortured with reflection, he lives the life of a devil here on earth, and carries about a hell in his own breast. Whereas the meek man, who lives in a conftant courfe of good will to all, who gives no man caufe to be his ene

my,

my, and dares to forgive those who are fo without a caufe, hath a conftant spring of pleasure in himself; let what will happen from without, he is fure of peace within. So far from being afraid to converse with himself, he feeks and is happy in the opportunity of doing it, and meets with nothing in his own breaft but what encourages him to keep up and cherish that acquaintance. The Paffions which he finds there, instead of being tyrants, are fervants; he knows the danger of obeying, and the impoffibility of rooting them out; and, whilft he forbids them to affume an undue influence, makes them the inftruments of promoting his happiness. Happy in himself, he is eafy to all; he is a friend to mankind in general, and not an enemy even to those who hate him; doth a momentary thought of revenge arife in his mind he fuppreffes it; if on no other confiderations, for his own fake; this he knows to be his duty, and this he finds to be his pleasure; bleft with those feelings, which fhall

fhall not leave him at the grave, he imitates the Deity in benevolence, and obtains, as far as mortals can obtain, the happiness of the Deity in return.

Least these confiderations prove ineffectual, let me add the neceffity we lay under of forgiving our enemies, or of relinquishing all hopes of being forgiven. There is no alternative. We must do it, or refign all pretenfions to the benefits of Christ's paffion. Though the performance of this duty alone will not entitle us to the forgiveness of our fins; yet this we are most specially instructed in, that the performance of all other duties, without this, will be of no avail. The difficulty, attending this work, instead of taking off our attention, ought to double it, and quicken our endeavours; That it is necessary to be done, the Scriptures inform us, and therefore it must be undertaken; That it is difficult to be done, our own feelings inform us, and therefore it fhould be undertaken with

with fpirit; That it is not impoffible to be done, and that we may accomplish it if we will, the very enjoinment of the duty implies; That, when accomplished, we shall not lofe our reward, the Confiderations I have already mentioned, with our own obfervation and experience, will happily evince.

Now to God the Father, &c.

SERMON