On the-Nativif.1.,. 27r . ful temper ·which wexecotnmend', is very improper for thefe bad times. wherein·we live: and,. though we had no trouble on account of our own intcrefis, th? miferies. of others. n1ight oblige us to fadnefs, ·and , blunt and damp all our joys. 1 anfwer, .. Con1paffion indeed is aChrifiian ~irtue, and , a good n1an will. be concerned in the miferies undG.r whi~h ' he ' fces hi_s~ neighbour grone, atJ,d be t:ea~y tq a(Ilfl: hhn ·with his. counfd, h~s la.bour, _or his purfe, if' that ·will ,re1ieve hin1. But he is not ablig~d to– fuffer the calam-ities. of others to !ink fo, deeply intn ·his fpirit,. as. to diftnrb the peace and hannony of his foul, elfe, £nee· the world is a great hofpital of mifery, and we fee well nigh as many n1iferable per- . fons as. n1en, we n1ufl needs draw as much mKery. on aurfelves, as. all thdrs. ~ doth , a– mount to, and fo. d.eferve more comp~ffion, . than any of then1. Again,.. if we partake of the miferies of others, fo maywe in their· happinefS; if we ought to mqurn with . thofe that mourn,~ fo. we· ought_ to. rejoice·· :with · th~m that rejqice. ·And though mi– .fery is far ·more frequent, in the w0rld' than . . happinefs,. this.c.an be no. rneafure for the. .whole creation;; . and for a·ny thing, we kno~,, for one finful wretch, there may be ten I
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