inContribing st; ati'0 ifricDcitiption 309 faults to us, movedonly by his Mercy. Andhow reafon- Chap. 16. able is it that we Ihould at his command remit a few Y faults to our Brethren r To extinguilh the thong incli- nation that is in corruptNature to Revenge,our Saviour bath fufpended the promife of Pardon to us upon our pardoningothers. For ifyeforgive men their trefpaf fes, your Heavenly Father will alföforgiveyou.But ifye forgive not their trefpaffes,neither atherforgiveyour tref- paffes. He that is cruel to another cannot expeé} Mer- cy, but in everyPrayer to God indites himfelf,and vir- tually pronounces his ownCondemnation. q.. The Gofpel enjoyns Contentment in every flare, which is our great Duty and Felicity,mainly influential upon our whole life to prevent bothSin and Mifery: Be Heb. 13 f. content withfuch things asyouhave, for he hath faid, 1 will never leave thee, nor forfake thee. It forbids all Mur- murings againft Providence, which is the feed of Rebel lion,and all anxious thoughts concerning things future : rake no thoughtfor to morrow. We thould not anticipate Mat. 6.31' evils by ourapprehenfions and fears, theycome fait e- nough ; nor retain their afflicting memory to imbitter our lifes, they flay long enough : Sufficientfor the day is the evil thereof. Our corrupt defiresare vaft and railefs as the Sea, andwhen contradióted they betray us to Dif- contentand Difobedience. The Gofpel- therefore re- trenches all inordinateaffe&ions,andvehemently -:on- demns Covetoufnefs, as a Vice not tobe named among Saints but with abhorrency,It difcovers to us molt clear- ly, that temporal things are not the materialsof our Happinefs : For theSonof God voluntarily denied him- felf the enjoyment of them. And as the higheft Stars are fo muchdiftant from an Eclipfe,as they are above the Shadow ofthe Earth ; fo theSoul that in its efleeln and delires is above the world, its brightnefs and joy cannot be darkenedor eclipfedby any accidents there.T.he Gof- rei'
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=