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SERM.
XXXIIL.] THE UNIVERSAL
RULE
OE
EQUITY.
4)
to
be
comforted and
refreshed
?"
Such
sort
of
self-en-
quiries
as
these,
will
lead
us
to,
the
practice'
of
our pre-
sent
duty,
and
solve
many
a difficult case
of
conscience
better
than
turning
over
the
largest
volumes.
VIII.
This sacred rule
is
a
most comprehensive one,
with
regard
to
all
the
actions
and duties
that
concern
our
.neighbours.
It
is
not
confined merely to the
practice
of
justice,
but
it
extends much wider and
farther
:
It
is
of
mighty
influence in the
direction
and
practice of
meek
-
ness,
of
patience,
of
charity,
of
truth
and faithfulness,
and
every
kind
of
social
virtue, and a most
happy guard
against
every social
vice.,
It
would
be
endless
to
enter
into
all the
special cases
of
vice
and virtue, which
relate
to
the social
life,
and to
shew
how much they are affected
by
this
rule,
and what
divine
advantages
we
may
attain
for
the
practice'
of
Morality,.
by
keeping
this one
sentence ever
upon
our
thoughts. Yet
I
cannot
pass
over
so
important
a
theme,
without giving á
short
specimen
of
some
of
these
advan-
tages:
This
golden:
precept
would
teach us4iow
to
regulate
our
temper,
and general
behaviour
in
the world.
Am
I
not
willing to be
treated
in an affable
and
civil
manner
by those
who
converse with
me
?
Let
me
treat
others then
with all becoming
civility,
and
make_
it
'appear
that
christiauity
is
a religion
of
true honour,
and
thát
a
Christian
indeed
is
a
Well
-bred
man.
Do
I
think
it
un
reasonable
that
my
neighbour, though
he be my
superior,
should assume
haughty airs
and
disdain
me
?
Let
me
watch
therefore against
all
such
scornful speeches
and
disdainful
airs, when
I
converse
with one, who
is
inferior
to
inc.
Do
I
'think
it
a
grievous thing,
that
a
man
should'
break
out
into
sudden passion
against
me,
if
I
happen,
to
speak
a
word
contrary
to
his
sentient,
or
to
set himself
in
a
rage-
for a
trifle
:
Let
me
set a
strict
guard
then
over
all
any
passionate
powers,
and learn
to
bear opposition without impatience.
Let
nie
quench
the
first
risiuls of
sudden anger, lest they kindle
into an
un-
governed
flame,
and
hurry
me on to
the
practice of
what
I
condemn
in
others.
This
excellent
rule
:would
teach
us
tenderness
NO
be-
neficence to those
that are
unhappy.
..'5'e
should
never
Make
a
jest
of
the lame
or the
blind,
the
crooked or
the
VOL.
1.41.