206 'Ibe Harmony of tbe Vivine Attributes "'-..A/1 This Religious tendency of the Soul to God, as the Supreme Lord and our utmofl End, Chap.;.6. fanftifies our A[tions, and gives an ' excellen~y t6 them above what is inherent in their own VV'"\...1 Nature. Thus moral Dmies towards Men, when they are direct'ed to God become Divine, Heb. '3· 16. Acrsof Charity are fo many facred Oblationsro the Deity. Men are bur the Altars upon which we lay our Prefents: God receives them, as if immediately offer'd to his Majefly, and confumed to his Honour. Such was the Charity of the Philippimu towards the relief of the Apoflle, wlilch he calls n11 Odour of a fweet fmeU, a Sacrifice acceptable, weU-plujing to God, Phi!. 4· 18. The fam'e-Bounty was an Aft of Compafiion to Man, and Devotion 10 God. This changes the Nature of the meanefl and moll trouble-' Come things. What was more vile and harfh than theemployment of a Slave? yet a refpecr to God makes it a Religious Service, that is, the moft noble and voluntary of all humane Al.lions. For the Believer addre!ling hk fcrvice to Chrift, Ephef. 6. 5· and the Infidel only to his Mafler, he cloth chearfully what the other cloth by conflrainr, and adorns the GoJpel of God our Saviour, 'Tit. 2. to. as truly as if he were in a higher condition. All Vertues are of the fame Defcent and Family, though in refpefr of the matter about which they ate converfanr, and their exerci[e, they-are different. Some are heroical, fame are humble; and the lowefl being condull:ed by Love to God in the meanefl Oftices, fhall h.ve an etern~l Reward. In fhorr, Piety is the Principle and chief Ingredient of Righteoufnefs and Charity to Men. For, fince God is the Author of our common Nature, and the Relations whereby we are united one to another: 'tis neceJfary that a regard to him fhould be the ji>ft, and have an influence upon all other Duties. I fhall further confider fome particular Precepts, which the Gofpel doth efpecially en, force upon us, and the Reafons of them. 1. That concerning HJJI;;i/ity, the peculiar Grace of Chriftians, fo becoming our State as Creatures and Sinners; the parent and nur[e of other Graces, that preferves in us the Light of Faith, and the heat of Love; that procures Modefly in Profperity, and Patience in Adverfity; that is the Root of Gratitude and Obedience,and is fo lovely in God's Eyes, th3t he gave his Grace to the Humble. ' This our Saviour makes a necelfary qualification in all thofe who fhall enter into his Kingdom: Except ye be converted and become fll little Children, ye fbaU not enter into the King~om ofHeavC11, Mat. 18, 3· As by Humility he purehafed our Salvation, fo by that Grace we poffers it. And fince Pride arifes out of Ignorance, the Gofpel to caufe in us a jufl and lowly fenfe of our Unworthinefs, difcovers the Nakednefs and Mifery of the humane Nature, devefled of its primitive Righteoufnefs. It reveals the tranfiiJiflio" of Original Sin, from the firfl Man to all his Poflerity, wherewith they are infecred and debafed; aMyrtery fo far from our knowledge, that the participation of it feems impoffible, and unjufl: to carnal Reafon: I'Ve arc dead in Sins and Trefpa.!Jes~ Ephef. 2. without any Spiritual Strength to perform our Duty. The Gofpel afcribes all that is good in Man to the free and powerful Grace of God : He wod<,s in "' to will and to do of his good plenfore, Phi!. 2. 12. He gives Grace to fome, becaufe he is good; denies it to others, becaufe he is jufl; but cloth injury to none, becaufe all being guilty, he ows it to none. Grace in its Being and Atl:ivity entirely depends upon him. As the drowfy Sap is drawn forth into flourifhingand Fruitfulnefs by the approaches of the Sun: So habitual Grace is drawn forth into a/1 by the·prefence and influences of the Sun ofRighteoufnefs. 1¥ithout me, our Saviour tells his Difciples, (John 1 5· 5·) J01t ca.n do nothing. 1 have laboJtred more a.b1mdantly thdn thq aU, faith the Apofrle, 1 Cor- 11. 1 3· JCt not !, but the Gr~tce of Gocl ill me. The Operations of Grace ar~ ours,but the Power that enables us is from God. Our pre[ervation from Evil, and Perfeveran'ce in good, is amort free unmerrited Favour, the elfecr of his renewed grace ill the courfe of our Lives. Without his fpecial aliifiance, we fhould every hour forfake him, and provoke him to forfake us. As the Iron cannot afcend or hang in the Air longer than the virtue of the Load!lone draws it; fo our Affetl:ions cannot afcend to thofe glorious thin~s that are above, without the continually att~afring Power of grace. Tis by humble Prayer wherein we acknowledge our wants and unworthinefs, and declare our dependence upon the Divi ne Mercy and Power, that we obtain grace. Now from thefe tl.eafons the Gofpel commands Humility, in our demeanour towards God and Men. And if we feriouOy confider them, how can any crevice be opened in the Heart fort he leafl breath of Pride to enter? How can a poor difeafed Wretch that hath neither Mony, nor can by any induflry procure Nourifhment, or Phyfick for his deadly Difeafes, and receives from a merciful Perfon not only Food, but Sovereign Medicines brought from •~other World (for fuch is rhe divine Grace fent to us from Heaven) without his defert, or ponibility of retribution, be proud tO\-vards his Benefactor? How can be that only lives upon Alms, boafl that he is rich ? How can a Creature be proudofthegifrsofGod, which it cannot poffefs without Humility, and without acknowledging that they are derived from Mercy ? If we had continued in our Integrity, the Praife
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