Of the Reltgtou:r. r.27 rofity. The righteous is gracious and fitll if compajfion; he Jhewet!? favour a11d lendeth; and makes it his work to ferve n1ankind as. n1uch as he is able. His boanty is ~ot con– fined to his kindred and relations, to thole· of his own party and tnode of religion: this were but a difguifed kind of felf-love•. It is enough to him that they are ChrifH– ans; or, if £hey were not, yet are they . men; and therefore deferve our pity, but not our hatred or negleCt, becaufe of their· errors. It is true, he carries a fpecial kind– nefs for thofe in whon1 he difcovers a prin– ciple of goodnefs and virtue; in thofe ex– cellent ones' is all his delight. But then, he doth not take his n1eafure fo much from their judg1nent and opinions, as fro1n the· integrity of their life, and exaetnefs of their praCtices. Hi~ charity ·cloth not exprefs itfelf in. one particular in!l:ance, as that of giving of alms; but is vented as 1nany ways as the variety of occafions do call for, and his · power can reach to. I-Ie affifieth the poor– with his money, the ignorant with his. couufel, the a:ffi.ieted with his comfort, the fick with the beft of his ikill, all with his bleffings and prayers. If he cannot build l1qfpitals, yet he will fiudy to perfuade thofe ·
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