As it is a certain sign, that you love yourself, because you are tender of every thing, that concerns you, so it is as certain a sign that you hate your neighbour, when you are pleased with any thing, that hurts him.

But now, if the want of true charity be so great a want, that, as St. Paul saith, it renders our greatest virtues but empty sounds; how highly does it concern us, to study and practise every method of raising our souls to this state of charity?

Such daily, constant devotion is the only mean of preserving you in such a state of love, as is necessary to prove you a true follower of Jesus Christ.

CHAP. XX.

Of the necessity and benefit of intercession, considered as an exercise of universal love. How all orders of men are to pray and intercede with God for one another. How naturally such intercession amends and reforms the hearts of those, that use it.

THAT intercession is a great and necessary part of Christian devotion is evident from Scripture.

The first followers of Christ seem to support all their love, and to maintain all their intercourse by mutual prayers for one another.

Paul, whether he write to churches, or particular persons, shows his intercession to be perpetual for them.

Thus to the Philippians, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always, in every prayer of mine for

you all, making request with joy. Here we see continual intercession, performed with so much gladness, as shows, that it was an exercise of love, in which he highly rejoiced.

His devotion had also the same care for particular persons. I thank my God whom I serve from my forefathers, with a pure conscience, that, without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day. How holy a friendship was this; how worthy of persons, raised above the world, and related to one another, as new members of a kingdom of heaven!

Apostles did not only thus bless particular churches, and private persons; but they themselves also received grace from God by the prayers of others. Thus saith Paul to the Corinthians, You also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift, bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. This was the ancient friendship of Christians, cementing their hearts, not by worldly considerations of human passions, but by mutual communication of spiritual blessings, by prayers and thanksgivings to God for one another.

It was this holy intercession, that raised Christians to such a state of mutual love, as far exceeded all, that had been praised in human friendship. When the same spirit of intercession is again in the world; when Christianity has the same power over the hearts of people, it then had this holy friendship will be again in fashion, and Christians will be again the wonder of the world, for that exceeding love, which they bear to one another.

For frequent intercession with God, earnestly beseeching him to forgive the sins of all mankind, enlighten them with his spirit, and bring them to everlasting happiness, is the divinest exercise, that the heart of man can be engaged in.

Be daily therefore on your knees in deliberate performance of this devotion, praying for others with such earnestness, as for yourself; and you will find little illnatured passions die away, your heart grow generous, delighting in the common happiness of others, as you used only to delight in your own.

He, that daily prays to God, that all men may be happy in heaven, takes the likeliest way, to make him wish for their happiness on earth. It is hardly possible to beseech God, to make any one happy in the enjoyment of his glory to all eternity; and yet be troubled, to see him enjoy the much smaller gifts of God in this low state of human life. How unnatural would it be, to pray God, to grant health and longer life to a sick man; and at the same time to envy him the poor pleasures of agreeable medicines ? Yet this would be no more unnatural, than to pray God, that your neighbour may enjoy his mercy and favor; and yet at the same time envy him the little credit he has among his fellow creatures.

When, therefore, you have once habituated your heart to a serious performance of this intercession; you have done a great deal, to render it incapable of spite and envy, and to make it delight in the happiness of all mankind. This is the natural effect of general intercession for all mankind But the greatest benefits of it are then received, when it descends to such particular instances, as our state and condition in life more particularly require of us.

Though we are to treat all mankind, as neighbours and brethren; yet, as we can only live in the actual society of a few, and are by our condition more particularly related to some, than others; so, when our intercession is made an exercise of love and care for those, among whom our lot is fallen, or who belong to us in a nearer relation; it then becomes the greatest benefit to ourselves, and produces its best effects in our own hearts. If, therefore, you should always change your intercessions according, as the necessities of your neighbours seem to require; beseeching God, to deliver them from such or such particular evils, or to grant them this or that particular gift, or blessing; such intercessions, beside the great charity of them, would have a mighty effect upon your own heart, disposing you to every other good office, and to the exercise of every other virtue toward such persons, as have so often a place in your prayers.

This would make it pleasant to you, to be courteous, and condescending to all about you; and make you unable to say, or do, a rude thing to those, for whom you had used yourself to be so compassionate in your prayers. For there is nothing, that makes us love a man so much, as praying for him; and, when you can once do this sincerely for any man; you have fitted your soul for the performance of every thing, that is kind and civil toward him. This will fill your heart with generosity and tenderness, that will give you a better and sweeter behaviour, than any thing, that is called fine breeding and good manners.

By considering yourself, as an advocate with God for your neighbours, you would never find it hard to be at peace with them yourself. It would be easy to you, to bear with, and forgive those, for whom you particularly implored the divine forgiveness.

ness.

Such prayers, among neighbours would unite them to one another in the strongest bonds of love and tenderIt would ennoble their souls, and teach them to consider one anothér, as members of a spiritual society, created for the enjoyment of the common blessings of God, and fellow heirs of the same future glory; they would not only be content, but glad to see one another happy in the little enjoyments of this transitory life. These would be the natural effects of such an intercession among people of the same town or neighbourhood.

Ouranius is a priest, full of the spirit of the gospel, watching, laboring, and praying for a poor country village. Every soul in it is as dear to him, as himself; and he loves them all, as he loves himself; because he prays for them all as often, as he prays for himself. If his whole life is one continual exercise of zeal and labor, hardly ever satisfied with any degree of care and watchfulness; it is because he has learned the value of souls, by often appearing before God, as an intercessor for them.

He never thinks he can do enough for his flock; because he never considers them in any other view, than as so many persons, who, by receiving the gifts and gra

ces of God, are to become his hope, his joy, and his crown of rejoicing. He goes about his parish, and visits every body in it; but visits in the same spirit of piety, that he preaches to them; he visits them, to encourage their virtues, to assist them with his counsel, to discover their manner of life, and to know the state of their souls, that he may intercede with God for them, according to their particular necessities.

When Ouranius first entered holy orders, he had a haughtiness in his temper, a great contempt for all foolish and unreasonable people; but he has prayed away this spirit, and has now the greatest tenderness for the most obstinate sinners; because he is always hoping, that God will sooner or later hear those prayers, that he makes for their repentance. The rudeness, or perverse behaviour of any of his flock, used at first to betray him into impatience; but it now raises no other passion in him, than a desire to be upon his knees in prayer to God for them.

Thus have his prayers for others amended the state of his own heart. It would delight you, to see with what spirit he converses, with what tenderness he reproves, with what affection he exhorts, and with what vigor he preaches; and it is all owing to this, because he reproves, exhorts, and preaches to those, for whom he first prays to God. This devotion softens his heart, enlightens his mind, sweetens his temper, and makes every thing, that comes from him, instructive, amiable and affecting. At his first coming to this little village, it was as disagreeable to him, as a prison; and every day seemed too tedious, to be endured in so retired a place. He thought his parish was too full of poor and mean people, who were none of them fit for the conversation of a gentleman.

This put him upon close application to his studies. He kept much at home, wrote notes upon Homer and Plautus; and sometimes thought it hard, to be called to pray by any poor body, when he was just in the midst of one of Homer's battles. This was his turn of mind, before devotion had got the government of his heart. But now