36 z Of the Ble f dnefs of the Pure in Heart. S E R M. verfe, when he called upon his hearers to XIII. repent, and urged it by very ftrong mo.. tives, they enter into converfation upon it, and afk him what he intended they ihould do ? The fubftance of his anfwer, (hewing the true nature of that repentance which he preached, was, that they Mould alter their courfe of aftion, and do good works direct- ly oppofite to their former tranfgreflions, re- pairing, as far as they could, their neglets and trefpaffes, by fubftantial fruits of piety, juftice, and mercy ; and he accommodateth his exhortations to their various circumftan- ces, the common people he direted, in- ftead of outward ceremonies and forms in which the religion of that time chiefly con- lifted, to abound in works of charity, and to part with what might well be fpared out of their plenty, for the relief of their indi- gent fellow-creatures. The tax- gatherers, called Publicans, he exhorted to perform what was given them in charge, juffly and mercifully, never extorting from any, more than what the due and faithful difcharge of their office required ; and he charged the foldiers that they fhould not behave them - (elves infolently and oppreffively, but be content with their wages. This was the Bap/0's doctrine of repentance ; and it may eafily,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=