The first Thing to this Purpose, is the SERM. Result of all the past Difcourfe, which I X. hope is, that the Duty muft appear unexceptionable to our Understandings, if it has been so stated as to put by the common Objections, which arife from mifunderstanding the Nature and Extent of it; if it has been fhew'd to be by no Means inconfiftent with the neceffary Maintenance of Mens juft Rights, and their private and publick Safety, and to exclude only Pride and Covetousness, and Choler and Cruelty. For the Confequence preffes home; the more eafy and reafonable the Duty, the more inexcufable the Tranfgreffion.

But the fingular Motives arife from Religion, the Religion of Christians; and as fuch, the great Revelation of Jefus Chrift is the Means of our Reconcilement to God, offended by our Violations of his Law, Upon this Head, Mankind was before under great Diftrefs of Mind for Want of a particular Foundation and declar'd Certainty. But all this good Hope and Confolation, the bleffed Reconcilement itself, and every Privilege that refults from it,

are

SERM. are made by the fame Revelation to deX. pend most emphatically upon our loving

and forgiving our Brethren, as we have been beloved, and defire to be finally forgiven ourselves.

As to the Title of Pardon in general; hear what the Author of it fays; Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain Mercy: Matt. v. 7. And his Apostle; He fall bave Judgment without Mercy, that hath fhewed no Mercy. Jam. ii. 13.

Secondly, As to the Privilege of obtaining Pardon and all other Bleffings, by the Means of Prayer, purchased us by Christ; Whatfoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you; it is entirely vacated to the Unforgiving; for it depends on thefe Terms, When ye ftand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: That your Father which is in Heaven may forgive you your Trespasses: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your Tref paffes, Mark xi. 25, 26. Nay, the Condition is by our Lord inferted into the very Form of that Prayer which he hath prefcribed for our Ufe, that it may perpetually ftop the Mouths of the Difobedient.

Thirdly,

Thirdly, Our Reconciliation by Chrift SERM is followed with the Advancement of us X. to the glorious Title of the Sons of God;

And yet
this Adoption too is loft by the
fame Default. In this the Children of God
are manifeft, and the Children of the De-
vil; whofoever doth not Righteousness, is
not of God, neither he that loveth not his
Brother. You see the Apostle comprehend-
ing all other Duties under the Word Righ-
teousness, hath chosen to express this single
one particularly.

Laftly, By the fame Title we claim to be Heirs of eternal Life: But we incur a fpecial Forfeiture of that likewife by Unmercifulness: We know that we have paffed from Death unto Life, because we love the Brethren: He that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death. Whofoever hateth his Brother, is a Murderer: And ye know that no Murderer bath eternal Life abiding in him.

These Reflexions will I hope, be fufficient, (though they might be more inlarg'd,) to induce us to a full and constant Obedience of our Lord's New Commandment; as they shew, that by a contrary VOL. I. S Be

SERM. Behaviour a Man fruftrates his own PrayX. ers, or rather turns them into Sin; tears

off the Badge of a Difciple of Jefus Chrift; excommunicates himself from the Church and the Sacrament; and effectually renounces all the prefent Benefits and future Hopes of his Christianity.

SERMON XI.

SERMON XI.

Of giving Scandal.

MARK ix, 42.

Whofoever shall offend one of thefe
little ones, that believe in Me,
it is better for him that a
Milftone were hanged about his
Neck, and he were caft into the
Sea.

HE Apoftles of our Lord, SE RM.
being not as yet enlight- XI.
ned by the coming of
the Holy Ghoft, were
mighty full of a falfe
Idea of his Kingdom, as

appears by the immediate Occafion of these
Words: For by the Way they had difputed