1'68 7'he h~difpenfable Duty juries and affronts, he is firm as a rock,. which no winds can fuakc, no waves re– move. :fie is happy -in the calmnefs and ferenity of his fpirit; and is fure either tG conyert or ihame·his adverfary by his pa– tience and friendly behaviour. And then the co.nfcioufnefs of performing his duty, and affurance of future rewa.rd, afford hin1 inhbitely more pnr.e and folid plca– fure and delight, than any can ex-pect by indulging a-nd gratifying their vengeful humour-. The advantages oof this duty will more dearly appear, .when we take a view of thofe prejudices which commonly are en- · tertained againll: it; wl1ich iliall be our next w-ork. . , . · Firft, then, fome ~ry out upon this precept as injoining impoffibilities; doing "io– lence to the very confiitution , of nature,– and obliging men to a debt that no n1an is a:ble to pay. They will tell you that it is as eafy to hate ourfelvcs, as to love ·our enemies; to love pain, as to bear an injury meekly: flefu and blood can't endure it. What arrogance and prefun1ption. is this, thus to i1npeach the divine laws? It is im– ~ffible; therefore ·God lhould not have con1tnanded it. Such is their reafoning. w .ere
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=