16 Mutual Edification, the Duty of Chrifiians. SERM. body itfelf, and of each other ; for, whether I. one fifer, all lujèr with it ; or, if one is ho- ! J noured, all rejoice with it *. The head and feet, the hands and eyes, have a mutual fympathy, and under the dire &ion of one principle con- tribute their good offices on every occafion to the whole; fo is the body of Chrift, and fo ought all the members in particular to be dif- pofed. As the members of the natural body difcharge their feveral fun &ions by a neceffity of nature, in fuch a manner (purfuant to the wife conftitution of its author) as to preferve the union, and promote the advantage of the whole, fo chriftians, being by one fpirit bap- tized into one body, ought to be folicitous for the common profperity, and for the good of every one of their fellows in particular, as they have opportunity. And the truth is, by doing fo, they ferve themfelves in the belt manner, and moll effe &ually promote their own trueft and higheft interefl. It is a moil undoubted truth, as will appear to every one who tho- roughly examines it, that virtue, which con- flits in good -will to other moral agents, has a neceffary connection with private happinefs; which is a moll fatisfying argument to in- duce us to the practice of it, and demonftrates 4 i Cor. xii. z6. that
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