Serm. CLIX. more than that ofReceiving. Evangelfs. And Stjobn exprefly tells us, that Jefus did innumerable things not recorded in the Hiftory of his life: And there is no doubt but the Difciples ofour Lord remember'd many particular fayings of his, not fet down in the Gofpels, which upon occafion they did relate and communicate to others, as they did this o St. Paul. The words themfelves are the Propofition I fhall fpeak to, It is a more bleffed thing togive, than to receive. This I know feems a Paradox to molt Men, who know no happinefs but in hoarding upwhat they have, and in receiving and heap- ing up more ; but as ftrange as this faying may appear, the fenfe ofit is owned and affented to by thofe great Oracles of Reafon, the wifeft and molt confiderate Heathen; .f c¿pnA ((fNear aó lu ro1671, aó lu new' xeo', It is amore virtuous thing to do, than to receivegood, fays Ar/otle; whichaccording to his opinion was to fay, it is a greater happinefs, becaufe he placed happinefs in the praftice and exercife of Virtue. To the fame- purpofe is that faying ofPlutarch, to zrolcly iiblóv Rtv rrdaxEV. There is more pleafure in doing a kindnefs, than in taking one. And that of Seneca, Malim non recipere beneficia, quam non dare ; Of the two, I had ra- ther not receive benefits, than not beflow them. And that the Heathenhave fpoken things to the fame fenfewith this fayingof our Saviour's, is fo far from being any prejudiceto this fayingofour Saviour, that it is a great commendation of it, as be- ing an Argument that our Saviour hath herein faidnothing, but what is very agree- able to the beft notions of our minds, and to the higheft Reafon andWifdom of Mankind. In the handlingof this Propofition, I fhall do thefe two things, Firfl, Endeavour to convince Menof the Truth and Reafonablenefsof it. Secondly, To perfuade Men toaft fuitably to it. Firfl, To convinceMen of theTruth and Reafonablenefs ofthis Principle, that It is more bleffed togive, than to receive. And this will fully appear by confider ring thefe three things. I. That it is an Argument of a more happy Spirit and Temper. II. Of a more happy State and Condition. And, III. That it fhall have the Happinefs ofa greater Reward. L To be governedby this Principle, is an argument ofa more happy Spirit and Temper. Todo good, to be ufeful and beneficial to others, to be ofa kind and obliging difpolrtion, of a tender and compaffionate Spirit, fenfible of the ftraits and miferies ofothers, fo as to be ready to eafe and relieve them (for to this kind of Goodnefs andCharity the Apoftle applies this faying ofour Saviour, as appears by the Context) this certainlyis the happieltSpirit and Temper in the World; and is an Argument of a noble, and generous, and large Heart, that is not contrafted within it felf, and confined to little and narrow defigns, and takes care of no body but it felf, envying that others should (hare with it, and partake of its Happinefs but is free and open, ready to dogood, and willing to communicate, and thinks its own happinefs increafed, by making others happy. It is the property of narrow and envious Spirits, to think their own Happinefs the greater, becaufe they have it alone to themfelves ; but the nobleft and moft heavenly Difpofitions delire that others fhould (hare with them in it. OfalI Be- ings God is the fartheft removed from envy and ill will, and the nearer any Crea- ture approacheth to him, the farther it is from this hellifh difpofition. For it is the temper ofthe Devil to grudge Happinefs to others; he envied that Man fhould be in Paradife, and was refuels till hehad got him out. Some Perfe&ions are of a more folitary Nature and Difpofition, and thine brigt - teft when theyare attained to but by few, as Knowledge and Power i But the na- ture of goodnefs is to diffufe and communicate it felf, and the more it is commu- nicated, the more glorious it is. And therefore Knowledge and Power may be in a Nature molt contrary to God's; the Devil hath thefe perfeftions in a high degree. To receive good from others is no certain Argument ofVirtueor Merit, for the unworthy and unthankful often receive benefits : But to be good and do good, is the excellency ofVirtue, becaufe it is to refeinble God in that which is the muff D d d 2 amiable 387
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