in the Day of yudgment, 189 vigilance againft all occafions and ways of S n x M offending. St. James fays, chap. iii. 2. If VIII. any man offind not in words, the fume is a per - fec`i man. Again, eminency in the practice of charity, and mercy, is an important part of religious perfe&ion, of which I fhall only give you one plain proof from the words of our Saviour, Matth. v. When he had earneft- ly recommended this virtue to his difciples, as 'tis evident his inflitution carries it higher than any other ever did, urging them to love their enemies, to biefs, to do good to, and pray for fuch, as curs'd, defpitefully ufed, and perfecuted them; the conclufion of that difcourfe is in thefe words, ver. 48. Be ye therefòre perfect, as your father who is in hea- ven is perfect; which are thus varied in Luke vi. 36. at the conclufion of the fame difcourfe, be ye therefore merciful, as your father is merciful; intimating, that the molt extenfive difinterefled goodnefs and mercy is true moral perfection, and the belt imitation of the Deity which the human nature is ca- pable of. And laflly, by a perfevering pa- tience and fleddy adherence to the caufe of truth and virtue, under all the difficulties, aflii6}ions, and perfecutions we meet with in life,
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