Of Repentance. 57 exhorted his hearers to repent, they afked S E R M. him more particularly what he meant by it, III. and what he would have them to do, ex- plains it th::s, Luke iii. from ver. i t. ac- commodating his exhortation to their various circumftances ; the common people he di- rected, inftead of outward ceremonies and forms, in which the religion of that time chiefly confifted, to abound in works of fubftantial piety and charity, and to give out of their plenty for the relief of their indi- gent fellow - creatures ; the collectors of taxes, called Publicans, he exhorted to perform what was given them in charge juftly and mercifully, never extorting from any man more than what the due and faithful dif- charge of their truft required ; and the foldiers, that they fhould not behave them - felves infolently and opprefl'ively, but be con- tent with their wages. This was the Baptift's doctrine of repentance, and it may very ea- fily, by parity of reafons, be applied to all the various relations, circumftances, and conditions in human life. In general, let men forfake their wicked ways and unrighte- ous doings, and turn to the Lord, practifing the virtues which are contrary to their former vices. And in particular, Let him that fiole, ,Peal no more; let him that has been covetous, break
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=