zo Mutual Edification, the Duty of Chrfians. SERM. their weakneffes about them, not only mil - I. takes, which however involuntary and tole- "'"v"' rable, the man who is differently minded cannot confent to with fincerity; but they have alto finful paffions and froward difpofi- tions, which, tho' they ought to be forgiven, and pitied, muff not give laws to their neigh- bours, nor is the rule of pleafing them to be fo underiood. It can never be reafonably thought that the fervants of Chrifls are put in a Rate of fervile fubjeEtion to the humours and caprices of their fellows ; nay, as the apoftle fays elfewhere, if we fo pleafèd men, we f:ould not be the fervants of Chri/l. The neceflàry exprefs limitation is this, that we Mould pleafe our neighbours, fo far only as tends to their edification, that is, as I have (hewn you, to their inftru6tion, or encreafe in religious knowledge, to their eflablifhment in the faith and profeffion of chriftianity, to their growth in virtue, and the promoting of concord and peace on truly fcriptural founda- tions. Except in that cafe, the precept does not take place ; and in that cafe, the defign of pleafing his neighbour is the moll generous and worthy that a man can poffibly have. It is, as the apoflle reprefents it in the text, a noble imitation of our Lord fefus Chrill, who for
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