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SERM.

The last claufe in the text is: If there be XV. any virtue, and if there be any praife. In which two particulars it may be either fuppofed, that the Apoftle would fummarily comprehend every thing already mentioned: or, that he would be understood to say: "And if there be any thing elfe that is vir"tuous and praise-worthie, think of it, and "reckon yourselves obliged to it."

One thing, which I apprehend to be defigned and implied, both here and elsewhere, is difcretion or prudence: which, certainly, is praife-worthie, for the honour of particular perfons, and focieties, and religion in general. You are to condefcend very often. often. But yet it must be fometimes without familiarity. You are to reprove with mildneffe:

but

yet you are not to connive at faults that are manifeft. You are to be kind and charitable but yet you should not be impofed upon. And it will neither be for your credit, nor for the credit of religion, to maintain the robust and strong in floth and idleneffe. You are to comply: but still you muft confider, when, to whom, and how far. You are to be courteous and affable and conde-'

fcending :

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SERM. fcending: but yet you should keep the dignity of your character. You should forgive, if men repent, and acknowledge their fault: and you fhould pray for them that perfecute you, and speak evil of you. But you are not obliged to confide in all, without difcrimination, nor to put trust in those who shew enmity to you. There is a neceffity of weighing circumstances, and calmly confidering perfons, tempers, times and feafons. We fhould join those two confiderations, and obferve those two properties: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise: whatever things are true, and of good report. Meekneffe is a virtue. But it is apt fometimes to invite injuries. He who by an imprudent exercise of what he calls meekneffe, neglects his own fafety and fecurity from unreasonable men, and thereby often brings troubles upon himself, and those concerned with him, confults not his own credit, nor the credit and reputation of the religious principles he profeffes.

These are the feveral branches of virtue and goodneffe, which the Apostle here recommends. And they should be thought of

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XV.

by all in the fenfe and manner before ex- SERM. plained and defcribed. For the exhortation is addreffed to all. Every one fhould think of what fuits his ftation and condition. The Bishops, or Overfeers, and the Deacons in this church, to whom the Apostle was writing, were to attend to and perform the duties of their offices. The rich and the hono❤ rable were in like manner to perform the duties of their circumftance and ftation: they fhould endeavor to be useful in the world, and think of every thing that is good and laudable. The poor likewife were to think of what fuits them, and be refigned, contented, humble, induftrious, faithful, thankful. For fuch things are virtuous, and praiseworthie in them. Such is the exhortation to the Chriftians of that time. And it is to be attended to by the followers of Jesus in every age.

II. I fhall now conclude with a few in-
ferences by way of application.

1. We hence learn, that there are fome things, which are fit and excellent in themfelves, true, juft, and virtuous.

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SERM. 2. We also perceive hence, that the Christian religion teaches and recommends. every branch of virtue and goodneffe: and that Chriftians ought to reckon themselves obliged to every thing that is true, juft, lovely, of good report, virtuous and commendable, according to the ftations they are in.

3. The Chriftian doctrine does not exclude, or altogether neglect and overlook any reasonable argument to the practise of real duty. Indeed many precepts are delivered in the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Teftament, in an authoritative way, as the will of God, and with promifes of happineffe, or threatenings of woe and miferie, which none but God can perform and accomplish. Nevertheless arguments from the internal excellence, or the apparent comelineffe of things, are not entirely omitted. Nor ought they to be overlooked or flighted by us. The Apostle here advises, and directs If there be any virtue, if there be any praife, think on thofe things.

4. We cannot eafily forbear obferving, that this exhortation of the Apostle is not only excellent for the fenfe, but engaging

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alfo for the manner of addreffe. He treats the SERM. Philippian Chriftians, as men of understanding. XV. And without a prolix enlargement propounds it to them to think of, and reckon themselves obliged to, whatever things are true, boneft, virtuous and praife-worthie. The fame things are now in a like manner propofed to you. The fewer words are ufed in recommending them, the more do you think of them: that you may be fully fatisfied of their reasonableneffe, and be ever ready to practise them, as occafions require, in the moft agreeable and acceptable manner.

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