the principles of the world, the flesh and the devil;-which fet up fo ftrong a confederacy, that there is need of all the helps which reafon and christianity can offer to bring them down.

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But this contention is not that against which fuch exhortations in the gospel are levelled;-for the Scripture must be interpreted by Scripture, and be made confiftent with itself.-And we find the diftinguishing marks and doctrines, by which all men were to know who were Chrift's difciples, was that benevolent frame of mind towards all our fellowcreatures, which, by itfelf, is a fuffici ent fecurity for the particular focial duty here recommended:-fo far from meditations of war;-for love thinketh no evil to his neighbour ;-fo far from doing any, it harbours not the least thought of it; but on the contrary, rejoices with them that rejoice, and weeps with them that weep.

This debt chriftianity has highly exalted; though it is a debt that we were fenfible of before, and acknowledged

to be owed to human nature,-which, as we all partake of,-fo ought we to pay it in a fuitable refpect.-For, as men, we are allied together in the natural bond of brotherhood, and are members one of another.-We have the fame Father in heaven, who made us and takes care of us all.-Our earthly extraction too is nearer alike, than the pride of the world cares to be reminded, of-for Adam was the father of us all, and Eve the mother of all living.The prince and the beggar fprung from the fame ftocks, as wide asunder as the branches are.-So that, in this view, the most upstart family may vie antiquity, and compare families with the greatest monarchs.-We are all formed too of the fame mould, and must equally return to the fame duft.-So that, to love our neighbour, and live quietly with him, is to live at peace with ourfelves. He is but felf-multiplied, and enlarged into another form; and to be unkind or cruel to him, is but, as Solomon obferves of the unmerciful, to be

cruel to our own flesh.-As a farther motive and engagement to this peaceable commerce with each other,-GOD has placed us all in one another's power by turns, in a condition of mutual need and dependence.-There is no man fo liberally stocked with earthly bleffings, as to be able to live without another man's aid.-GoD, in his wifdom, has fo difpenfed his gifts, in various kinds and measures, as to render us helpful, and make a focial intercourse indifpenfable. The prince depends on the labour and industry of the peafant; and the wealth and honour of the greatest persons are fed and fupported from the fame fource.

This the Apoftle hath elegantly fet forth to us by the familiar refemblance of the natural body;-wherein there are many members, and all have not the fame office; but the different faculties and operations of each, are for the use and benefit of the whole.-The eye fees not for itself, but for the other members;-and is fet up as a light to

direct them:-the feet ferve to support and carry about the other parts; and the hands act and labour for them all. It is the fame in ftates and kingdoms, wherein there are many members, yet each in their feveral functions and employments; which, if peaceably dif charged, are for the harmony of the whole ftate.-Some are eyes and guides to the blind;-others, feet to the lame. and impotent;-fome to fupply the place of the head, to affift with council and direction;-others the hand, to be useful by their labour and induftry. To make this link of dependence ftill ftronger, there is a great portion. of mutability in all human affairs, to make benignity of temper not only our duty, but our intereft and wisdom.There is no condition in life fo fixed and permanent as to be out of danger, or the reach of change:-and we all may depend upon it, that we fhall take our turns of wanting and defiring.-By how many unforeseen causes may riches take wing! The crowns of princes may be

fhaken, and the greatest that ever awed the world have experienced what the turn of the wheel can do.-That which hath happened to one man, may befal another; and, therefore, that excellent rule of our Saviour's ought to govern us in all our actions,-Whatsoever ye would that men fhould do to you, do you also to them likewife.-Time and chance happens to all;-and the most affluent may be ftript of all, and find his worldly comforts like fo many withered leaves dropping from him.Sure nothing can better become us, than hearts fo full of our dependance as to overflow with mercy, and pity, and good-will towards mankind.-To exhort us to this, is, in other words, to exhort us to follow peace with all men:-the firft is the root, this the fair fruit and happy product of it.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, in the bowels of mercy, let us put away anger, and malice, and evil speaking; let us fly all clamour and ftrife; let us be kindly affected one to another,