3 58 Prudence nec jfary in .converfng S E r. M. highly difpleafing to God ; and it íhews fuch XIX. a bitter malevolent fpirit as provokes him to "^v""' treat men with greater feverity than other- wife he would do. On other occafions the fame divine . teacher affures us that the fove- reign ruler and juft judge of the world, whofe proceedings are all according to the exa6teft rules of equity, will, in the diftribution of recompences to his fervants, have a great re- gard to the ufage they give their fellow-fer- vants, as here he exprefsly fays, with what meajicre you mete it Jhall be meafured to you again: To divert us from this evil, our Lord points out to us the true, the more proper and pro- fitable ufe, which is to be made of our re- fleding powers, our reafon and the fenfe of good and evil which is planted in our minds ; and that is, in examining ourfelves, our own tempers, and 'our lives, that we may apply ourfelves carefully to the amending of them. Befides other and greater advantages which would accrue to us from thus employing our thoughts namely, the perfeEting us in all virtue, and preparing us for the higheft hap - pinefs of our nature, it is a moft neceffary qualification for the office of reproving others e fe .lually and fuccefsfully. For how appa- rently
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