not only heard with Pleafure, and pro- SER M. duce perhaps fudden and real Effects, in IX. the Times and Places of publick Devotion; (which is what our Saviour expreffes by receiving the Word with joy, like Seed speedily fpringing up in fhallow ground, without having Root in itself;) But the true Evidence of Sincere Goodness is, when the Confiderations of Reason and Religion influence Men habitually in the whole Courfe and Method of Common Life, in their Bufinefs and Tranfactions of all kinds, in their very Freedoms and Diverfions themselves, in circumstances of Temptations, and in Cafes attended with Difficulties, as well as in Seasons of profeffed Devotion: When the Precepts of Virtue, and the Doctrines of Practise, which true Religion teaches, are imbibed, digefted, and converted as it were into the Food and Nourishment of Life: Which is what our Saviour, in the Sixth chapter of St John, calls eating his Flesh, and drinking his Blood: Juft in the fame fenfe, as Wisdom is introduced fpeaking, Eccluf. xxiv. 21. He that Eateth me, fhall yet be Hungry; and He that Drinketh me, shall yet be Thirsty.

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2. BESIDES

SERM. 2. BESIDES this larger and more ufual IX. Senfe of the word, Good, expreffing Vir

tue in general, as oppofed to all Wickedness or Vice; there is another fenfe of the word, as denoting a particular Kind of Degree of Virtue, by way of Excellency above other Virtues. And in This fenfe, a good man ftands diftinguished, by way of Eminence or Superiority, aboye other even juft and righteous perfons. Goodness in This fenfe, is univerfal Virtue, joined with a fingular degree of Benignity and Beneficence in particular.

IN the defcribing or taking, account of Actions; the phrafe, doing of Good, is frequently applied peculiarly to the Virtue of Beneficence or Charity. Thus Heb. xiii. 16. To do Good, and to communicate, for get not. Again, 1 Tim. vi. 17. Charge them who are Rich in This world,- that they do Good, that they be rich in Good Works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate. And from hence, in the Characters of Perfons, a Good man very of ten fignifies, not only One who leads in general a virtuous Life, but who moreover is particularly eminent for Benignity

of

of Temper; One who always does more SBR. M2 for the Benefit of Others, than could in IX. Arictness of juftice be demanded of him; and exacts lefs for himself from Others, than in ftrict Right appears to be his due and readily takes greater Pains for his Neighbour's Advantage, and voluntarily undergoes more Troubles and Difficulties for the Good of Mankind, than, accord ing to the common Measures and Eftimation of Duty, he could be understood to be obliged to. Concerning This Character it is, that St Paul declares, Rom. V. 7. Scarcely for a Righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a Good man, fome would even dare to die. And in This fenfe, the character of Good feems to be given to Barnabas in the Text! He was the person who firft ventured to introduce Paul among the Disciples at ferufalem, when the reft were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a Difciple, ch. ix. 26. And He being the perfon chofen by the Church at Feru falem, to travel as far as Antioch, and confirm the Faith of thofe Grecian or Gentile Converts, which had been brought 0 4

over

SER M. over to Christianity by the preaching of IX. Some of those Disciples, who, upon the Perfecution that arofe about Stephen, were Scattered abroad from Ferufalem for fear of the Jews; he performed this Office, with a fingularly good and charitable Concern for the Happiness of Mankind. Having feen the Grace of God, that is, having feen Evidences of God's univerfal Mercy and Compaffion towards the Gentiles as well as Jews; he was glad, and exhorted them All, that with Purpose of Heart they would cleave unto the Lord, ch. xi, 23: For he was a Good man, and full of the Holy Ghost.

CONCERNING the latter part of This character, full of the Holy Ghoft; 'tis ta be observed, that the Holy Ghost, in Scripture-language, fometimes fignifies the Perfon of the Holy Ghoft, fometimes his Miraculous Gifts, and fometimes the Moral Effects and Influences of the Doctrine delivered to us by the Spirit of God. In either of the two former fenfes, a Prophet is fpoken of as being full of the Holy Ghoft, when he is actually infpired by him, or miraculously conducted and direct

I

ed

3.

IX.

ed by him either in Words or Actions. SER MC Thus Jefus, being full of the Holy Ghoft, was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Luke iv. 1. And Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, faw the Glory of God, Acts vii. 55. In the latter fense of the word, a man is then faid to be full of the Holy Ghoft, when his mind, under the Moral Influences of the Spirit of God, and of the Doctrine which is according to 1 Tim. vi. Godliness, is, in an eminent manner, zealous for the promoting of Truth, and for the Practife of good Works. Thus the Seven Deacons appointed by the ApoAtles, Ats vi. 3; were men of koneft Report, full of the Holy Ghoft and Wisdom; Men of honeft Report, that is, of known integrity, of virtuous and upright. character, and of exemplary Zeal. And in the fame fenfe, Barnabas is in my Text described to have been a Good man, Full

of the Holy Ghoft and of Faith. Upon a like account, and after the fame manner of speaking, very wicked perfons, or men intending to attempt any very wicked enterprize, are in Scripture reprefented as being filled with the Evil Spirit. Thus

when