4 2 Of Brotherly Kindnef and Charity. SERM. All our daily returning wants, and we can - IX not number them, are plentifully fupplied by w`) him. What devotion, what gratitude to him muff this excite in an attentive mind? But the belt expreffion of it is in following him as dear children, that is doing good, relieving' the neceffitous, comforting the afìii ted, gi- ving and hoping for nothing again ; in fine, being merciful as he is. Our goodnefs can- not extend to God, nor can a man be profit- able to his Maker. He is infinitely above the need or poffibility of receiving any thing from us. The principal return he requires, is, that we fhould exercife fome little fimilitude of that mercy and compaffion he has (hewn to us. This obligation with refpe t to God will appear to be very firong, if we confider, not only the infinite difproportion between that bene- ficence he has exercifed towards us and that which he requires from us in return ; efpe- cially, that we owe to his goodnefs our re- demption as well as our being, and that while we were fanners, he gave his fon to die for us ; I fay, if we confider not only this, but far- ther, that he has a fupreme and abfolute do- minion over all the good things he bellows on us; they are his own, no, one can call him to account, he may do with his own what he
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