SUMMARY OF SERMON XXVIII.

HEBREWS, CHAP. X.-VERSE 24.

THAT which is here recommended as the common duty of all Christians, may well be thought the special duty of those appointed to instruct and guide others: various considerations therefore are offered to excite and encourage men in this practice.

I. We must remember that we are men, and as such obliged to this duty, since it is very agreeable to human nature, the which, not being corrupted or distempered by ill use, inclines to it, approves it, and finds satisfaction and delight therein. St. Paul, when he charges us to have a natural affection one toward another, supposes this affection to be inbred to men, which should be stirred up, improved and exercised this subject enlarged on.

II. We should consider what our neighbor is, how near in blood, how like in nature, how much in all considerable respects the same with us. Should any one wrong or defame our brother, we should be displeased; should we do it ourselves, or omit any office of kindness towards him, we should blame ourselves: yet every man is such, of one stock, of one blood with us; and as such may challenge and call for real affection from us. Every man also, as a Christian, is in a higher and nobler way allied to us; whence an improved

charity is due to him on that score.

III. Equity plainly requires charity from us: for every one is ready not only to wish and seek, but to demand and claim love from others, so as to be offended, and to complain, if he

do not find it. In all reason and equity, if I would have another my friend, I must be a friend to him: hence the law of charity is well expressed in those terms of doing to others whatever we would have them do to us.

IV. Let us consider that charity is a right noble and worthy thing, tending greatly to perfect our nature, and dignify our soul: it is the imitation and copy of that immense love which is the fountain of all being and of all good: whilst therefore charity raises our nature towards that of heavenly beings, uncharitableness on the contrary debases us into an affinity with the meanest things, making us to become like beasts, or fiends.

V. The practice of charity is productive of many great benefits and advantages to us; so that to love our neighbor involves the truest love to ourselves: wherefore not only duty obliges, but interest encourages us in this matter, by a consideration of the manifold comforts and conveniences of life; some of which will be enumerated.

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VI. 1. Charity frees our souls from those bad dispositions and passions which vex and disquiet them; banishing anger, envy, rancor, and revenge; stifling fear, suspicion, and jealousy of mischief intended against us; removing discontent or dissatisfaction in our state; curbing ambition and avarice, those impetuous, insatiable, and troublesome dispositions, &c.

VII. 2. It consequently settles the mind in a serene, calm, and cheerful state; in an even temper and harmonious order of soul.

VIII. 3. It preserves us from various external mischiefs and inconveniences to which our life is exposed; for if we have not charity towards men, we shall have enmity with them; and on that wait troops of mischiefs; this point enlarged on.

IX. 4. As charity preserves us from mischiefs, so it procures many sweet comforts and fair accommodations of life, by encompassing a man with friends, with many guards of his safety,

supports of his fortune, patrons of his reputation, succorers of his necessity, and comforters of his affliction.

X. 5. Charity does in every state yield advantages suitable thereto : it renders prosperity not only innocent and safe, but useful and fruitful to us: it solaces adversity by the consideration that it does not arise as a punishment for doing ill to others, and that it is not attended with the ill-will of men.

XI. 6. We may consider that, without the exercise of charity, all the goods and advantages we have, our best faculties of nature and best endowments of soul, the gifts of Providence and the fruits of our industry, will become vain and fruitless, or noxious and baneful to us: this point enlarged on.

XII. 7. Charity greatly amplifies and advances a man's state, putting him into the possession or fruition of all good things: a charitable man can never, in a moral account, be poor, or vile, or miserable, except all the world should be cast into and distress; for whilst his neighbor hath any thing, he will enjoy it.

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XIII. 8. If therefore we love ourselves, we must love others, and do them good; since by this means we enable and dispose them to make grateful returns, and besides all other benefits, we get that of their prayers, which of all prayers have a most favorable audience and efficacy.

XIV. We may consider that charity is a practice specially grateful to God, and a most excellent part of our duty.

XV. Seeing also that God vouchsafes to esteem whatever is done in charity to our neighbors (if done with an honest pious mind, as to his friends) to be done unto himself, we become in a manner benefactors to him, and shall be accordingly requited.

XVI. We may consider that charity is a very feasible and easy duty, requiring no sore pain, no grievous trouble, no great cost for it consists only in good will, and that which naturally springs from thence.

XVII. It is the best, most easy, and most expedite way of performing all other duties towards our neighbor; for love is the fulfilling of the law.

XVIII. Charity gives worth, form, and life to all virtue; so that without it no action is valuable in itself, or acceptable to God: this subject enlarged on.

XIX. So great benefits doth charity yield; yet if it did not yield any of them, it would deserve and claim our observance; for it carries a reward and a heaven in itself, the very same which constitutes God himself infinitely happy, and beatifies every blessed spirit in proportion to its capacity and exercise thereof.

XX. Whereas the great obstacle to charity is self-love, or an extravagant fondness of our own interests, yet uncharitableness destroys that; for how can we love ourselves, if we have not charity? how can we appear lovely to ourselves, if we are destitute of so worthy an endowment?

These are some considerable inducements to the practice of this great virtue: others of a higher nature are reserved for another discourse.

SERMON XXVIII.

MOTIVES AND ARGUMENTS TO CHARITY.

HEBREWS, CHAP. X.-VERSE 24.

Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.

THAT which is here recommended by the Apostle, as the common duty of Christians toward each other, on emergent occasions, with zeal and care to provoke one another to the practice of charity and beneficence, may well be conceived the special duty of those, whose office it is to instruct and guide others, when opportunity is afforded: with that obligation I shall now comply, by representing divers considerations serving to excite and encourage us to that practice: this (without premising any description or explication of the duty; the nature, special acts, and properties whereof I have already declared) I shall immediately undertake.

I. First then, I desire you to remember and consider that you are men, and as such obliged to this duty, as being very agreeable to human nature; the which, not being corrupted or distempered by ill use, doth incline to it, doth call for it, doth like and approve it, doth find satisfaction and delight therein.

St. Paul chargeth us to be eiς ἀλλήλους φιλόστοργοι, or ‘to have a natural affection one toward another :' that supposeth a Oropyn inbred to men, which should be roused up, improved, and exercised. Such an one indeed there is, which, although often raked up and smothered in the common attendances on the