zo8 'The Harmony of the Vivine Attributes ~ Ef\are, which is the fum of the fecond T able. The extent of our Love mu!t be eo al l Chap. 16. that partake of the fame common Nature. The univerfa l confanguinity between Men, ~ _fh?.u ld make us regard them as our Allies. Every Man that wants our help, is our Ne~ghbour. Dogood to nU, is the command of the Apof\ le, Gal. 6. 10. For the quali- ~y.ofour Love,, lt mujl be m~feignetl, without dij]im11lation, 1 Pet. I. 2:! . The Image of 1t m _Words, wtthout real effeCts, provokes the Divine Difpleafore : For as all faHhood IS od•ous to theGod ?f Truth, fo efpecially the counterfeiting of Charity, that is, the In~pref!1on of hiS Spmt, and the Seal of his Kingdom. A fincere pure AffeCtion that reJoyces at.the Good, and refents the Evils of others as our own, and expre.lfes it fdf in all rea l Ofhces, not for our private Refpefrs, but their Benefit, is required of llS. And as to the degree of our Love, we are commanded above all tbingJ to bave fervmt Charity ( ') ~ ""· 4· amo11g ourfeliJes ( r). This principally refpeCls Chriftians, who are united by fo many fa- ~; ~;~{if:~~~:"- cred and amiable bands , as being formed of the fame Eternal Seed, Children of the fame 1:m:mis ~ha- Heavenly Father, and joynt~Heirs of the fame Glorious Inheritance. Chrifl:ian Charity ~:Y.1111~u~~·n~· t~~e 3o~~~~~!~ ~:~~~~id!~ r~l7e~~~s~~~a~~~: ~~e~a~u~; ~e~~; ~~dp~~c;e~~u~r~~n~h~ more Divine Pattern, the Example of Chrif\; who harh by his Su!ferings reflored us to the F.woc r of God, that we fhould love one anothe r as He bath loved us. This Duty is mort fl riClly injoin"d, for without Love Angelica! Eloquence is but an empty noife, ( r Cor . q . ) and all other Venues have but a fa lfe Luf\re; Prophefy, Fairh, Knowledge, Miracles, the highefl outward Al:ts of Charity or Self. denial, the giving our Eltares to the Poor, or Bodies to Martyrdom, are neither pleafing to God, nor profitable to him that does them. llefrdes, That fpecial Branch of Love, the forgiving of Injuries, is the peculiar Law o f our Saviour. For the whole World confents to the returning Evil for Evil. The vicious Love of our [elves makes us very fenfible, and according to our perverfe Judgments, to revenge an Injury feems as juft as to requite aBenefit. From hence Revenge is the mofl rebellious and obf\inate Paffion. An Offence remains as a Thorn in the Mind, that inflames and torments it, till 'tis appeared by a Vindication. 'Tis more difficult to ove~· come tbe Spirit, thtw to gain a Batte/. We are apt to revolve in our thoughts Injuries that hwe been done to us, and after a long diflance of time the Memory reprefents them as frefh as at the firfl . Now the Gofpel commands a hearty and intire fo rgivene[s of Injuries, though repeated never fo often, to feventy [even time.r, and allows not the lea(\: :~:rg,~~ft~~~e t~::~~~e~~r ;e~~~([E~~~~~~y lfo;~~t~h;o;,,irL~:e ~~~eE~~~Jes:i~~i tbem that curji yoiJ, do good to them. that bate you, prayfor tbem which defpitefuUy tifi JOII and perfectttc you, Mat. ) . 44· This is urged from the confideration of God"s forgiving 11s, Col+ , 3 . who being infinitely provoked, ye~ pardons innumerable .Faults to us, mov.ed only by his Mercy. An<) how reafonable IS 1t that we lbould at hiS Command remtt a few faults to our Brethren? To extingui!b the frrong inclination that is in corrupt Nature to • Revenge, our Saviour bath fufpended the Promife of Pardon to us upon our pardoning others. For if ye forgive Men their Trefp•Jfes, your HenveniJ Father wiU a/fo forgive JOU. But if le forgive not tbeir Trefpajfes, neither wiU y~ur Father forgive your T~efp~jfes. _He that is cruel to another ca~notexpeCl Mercy, but m every Prayer to God, md1tes htmfelf, and virtually pronounces his own Condemnation. 4 . The Gofpels enjoyns Contentment in every f\ate, which is our great Duty and Fe- ::~;:~;uTJ,,~)/t),~!~e~~i;!,~r.~e~forlJ~tJJ.~J~ f'!~~n;,~~:\~: ~2!~!~~Jo~f~~ ;h;.~ Heb. 13· 5· It forbids all Murmurings againfl Providence, which is the Seed of Rebellion, and all anxious thoughts concerning things fmure, Tak.._e no thought for to morrow, Mat. 6. 31. We fhould not anticipate Evils by our Apprehenfionsand Fears, they come faf\ enough; nor retain their affiiCling memory to imbitter our Lives, they flay long enough: Sufficient for the day;. the evil thereof Our corrupt Defires are vaf\ and refllefs as the Sea, and when contradiCted , they betray us to Difcontent and Oifobedience. The Gofpel therefore _retrenches all inordinate Aff;Clions, a?d vehemently conde?'ns Coveroufnefs, as a VICe not to be named among Samts but with abhorrenqr . It d1fcovers to 115 moll clelrly, that temporal things are not the material s of our Happine~s : For the Son of God voluntarily denied himfelf rhe enjoymeot of them. And as the htghef\ Stars are [o much difl ant from an Eclipfe, as they are above the Shadow of the Earth; [o the Soul that in its efleem and defires is above the World, irs Brightnefs and Joy cannot be darken· ed or eclipfed by any Accidenti there. The Gofpcl forbids all nin Sorrows, as well as ''ain Plea[ures; and dift:inguifhes real Godlinefs from an appearance ~y Contentment as its in feplfable Character. Godlinefs with content is great gain, 1 Tun. 6. 6. When
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