rejoice and triumph, that there is no Condemnation to them, who are in Chrift Jefus*. But whatever wilful or habitual Tranfgreffor, whatever Perfon hitherto indifferent or inattentive to the State of his Soul, at any Time hears us, to him we must say, if there be any Conviction of your Danger awakened in your Breaft, do not fupprefs it, do not run away from it, do not fuffer Company, Amusement or Bufinefs to wear it off: but go, and in fecret bewail yourself before God, earnestly beg Pardon and Grace for the Merits of your crucified Redeemer, throw yourself entirely on the Mercy freely offered in his Name, firmly resolve, in Confidence of his Strength, not your own, against all Sin, all Imprudence, all Negligence for the future; and recollect every Day of your Lives that folemn Admonition: Be not deceived: God is not mocked: whatsoever a Man foreth, that shall be alfo reap. For he that foweth to his Flefh, fhall of the Flesh reap Corruption: but he that foweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting".

Rom. viii. 1.

u Gal. vi. 7, 8.

SER

SERMON III.

GAL. vi. 10.

As we have therefore Opportunity, let us do Good unto all Men: efpecially unto them, who are of the Household of Faith.

E are all born with a natural Principle

WE

of Love to our Kind: we all fee and feel the Exercise of it to be fit and right: and the continual Need, which we have, of the Service and Friendship of others, continually reminds us to be serviceable and friendly in our Turns. Were Men univerfally fo, the World would be as happy, as our Endeavours can make it. And though it is not univerfally fo, but far otherwife; yet whoever determines to practise this Duty himself, let those around him do as they will, is fure to find his Account in the Course, which he takes. For he will generally acquire a large Share in the Efteem, and good Offices of Mankind; efpecially of thofe, whom

D 4

whom he values: and he will always experience a delightful Consciousness of intending well to them, and deferving well from them. But his chief Advantage beyond Comparison is, that if his kind Actions proceed from a devout Sense of God's commanding them; and humble Trust in the Aid of his holy Spirit for performing them; and a lively Faith in the Merits of his bleffed Son for the Acceptance of them; he will then be intitled to the present Protection and final Approbation of his Maker and Judge: who hath declared, that our Treatment of our Brethren shall be a principal Rule, by which he will go in his Treatment of us. The Truth of these things is univerfally acknowledged : the Inference, that we are most highly concerned to be mutually useful, is extremely evident: and yet of how very little Ufe are moft of us, compared with what we might be; and how much do we lose and suffer by our Neglect !

The Caufes of fo general a Failure undoubtedly are various. Reciprocal Provocations and Refentments are both a powerful and a comAnother, ftill more extenfive, is,

mon one.

that wrong judged Selfifhnefs, which poffeffes Men with fuch a blind Eagernefs for their own Intereft,

Intereft, that they cannot allow themselves to stay and think, in what it confifts; and thus they fail of receiving, as well as communicating, the Satisfaction, which a different Conduct would produce. But befides thefe, others, by no Means ill disposed towards their Fellowcreatures, contribute much less to their Benefit and Comfort than they might, either from not obferving how frequently Occafions for it present themselves, or from not distinguishing rightly the proper Objects of their humane Intentions. And therefore it may promote confiderably the Practice of this Duty, if we make fome Reflections, as the Text leads us,

I. On the Opportunities, which we have, of doing Good.

II. On the Choice of the Perfons, to whom we do it.

I. The Opportunities. Now these are so many, of one Sort or another, that fome have understood the Apostle to speak here of our whole Life, as one continued Opportunity. And therefore, in the Sentences before the Communion, his Words are translated, While we have Time, let us do Good unto all Men. Life is the Time allotted for this Purpose. It must be for fome End, that we are placed together

in Society: and it could not be for a worthier, than to copy and perfect in ourselves the Image of our Maker, by cultivating and exerting a benevolent Spirit, one towards another. We were purpofely made fo neceffitous and mutually dependent, that Means for the Exercise of mutual Goodness might never be wanting. And indeed fcarce a fingle Part of our Beha→ viour is of fo wholly an indifferent Nature, but fome of thofe about us will be, more or lefs, the better or the worfe for it.

Life.

Confider, what unceafing Opportunities there are of acting agreeably, or difagreeably, even in the flightest Intercourfes of human One fhall be, as the Son of Sirach expreffes it, like a Lion in his Houfe: terrible to all who approach him, especially at Times; and perhaps for no Manner of Reason; no good one, to be fure. Another fhall be cold and dry, dark and distant: and perplex, as well as offend, fuch as have to do with him. A third, by the habitual or unfeasonable Melancholy of his Looks and Difcourfe, fhall banish all Comfort from the Place, in which he lives or appears. How vaftly preferable to this unsociable Deportment is a Behaviour of constant univer

a Ecclus iv. 30.

fal