534 CHARACTER O$ A SOUND, findethso much pleasure as maketh him think it the most delight- ful life in the world ; and he lootteth for most of his receivmgs from God, in a way of duty ; John v. 29. , Gal. vi. 10. Heb. xiii. 16. 1 Pet. iii. 11. 2. But.. the weak Christian,though he have the samedisposition, is far less profitable to the world: he is more for himself,.and less able to do good to others: he wanteth either parts, or prudence, or zeal, or strength. Yea, he is oft like the infants, and sick per- sons of a family, that are not helpful, but troublesome to the rest. They find work for the stringer Christians to bear their infirmities, and watch them,,and support and help themy Indeed, as an infant is a comfort to the mother, through the power of her own love; even when she endureth the trouble of its crying and uncleanness, so weak Christians are a comfort to charitable ministers and peo- ple; we are glad that they are alive, but sadded often by their distempers; Rom. xiv. 1. xv. 12. .. 3. The seeming Christian liveth to himself, and all his, good works are done but for himself,to keep up his credit, or quiet his guilty conscience, anddeceive himself withThe false hopes of a re- . ward, for that which his false-heartedness maketh to be his sin.. If he be a man of learning and good parts, he may be very service- able to the church ; but the thanks of that is due to God, and little to him, who seeketh himself more than God, or the good of others, inall that he doth ;.Matt. xxv. 24=26. XLII. 1. A Christian indeed doth truly love his neighbor as himself. He is not all for his own commodity: his neighbor's profit or good nameits as his own. He feeiéth himself hurt when his neighbor is hurt; and ifhis neighbor prosper, he rejoiceth as if he prospered himself. Though his neighbor be not united tohim,' in the nearest bonds of Christianity or piety, yet he is not disre- gardful of the common unity of humanity. Love is the very soul of life ; Lev. xix. 18. Matt. xix. 19. xxii. 39. Rom. xiii. 9. Gal. v. 14. James ü. 8. Mark x. 21.' 1 John iv. 10. 2. But the love that is in weaker Christians, though it be sin- cere, is weak as they are, and mixed with too much 'selfishness, and with too,much sourness and wrath. Little matters cause dif- ferezices and fallings out. When it, cometh to MINE andTHINE, and their neighbors cross their -interest or commodity, or stand in their way, when they are seekingany preferment or profit to them- selves, you shall see too easily, by their sourness and contention, how weak their love isi; Matt. xxiv. 12. 1, Tim. vi. 10. Luke xxii,. 24. .. 3. But in the seeming Christian, selfishness is predominant, that he loveth none but for himself, with any considerable love.
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