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THE
UFIVERSAI.
ILULE OF
E4UITY.
[SEAM.
XXXIII:.
If
we
were
not thus wrapped
up entirely
in
self,
'in our
own
party, or
in
our
own
kindred,
but
could look upon
our neighbours
as
ourselves,
and
seek
their advantage
to-
gether with our
own,
every man would become a
diffusive
blessing amongst
his
neighbours,
and.
the mutual
benefits
of
mankind would scatter' happiness
through
all
the
world.
In
such
a
beneficent state
as
this, every
man would
be, as
it
were,
-a
good
angel
to
all
that
came within the
reach of
his
commerce
;
this
earth
would
be
a
little,
image
of
heaven
;
and
our present
social
life
amongst men
would
be a
foretaste
of
our future 'happiness among saints and
angels.
In
those glorious regions, every one
rejoices
in
the
welfare
of
the
whole
community, and they
have a
double
relish of
their
own.
personal
blessedness, by
the
pleasure
they
take
in
contributing
.to
the
blessedness
of
all
their
fellows.
Thus
have
I
given a
short and
very
imperfect
account
of
the excellencies of this sacred
rule
of
equity and
love,
and named
some
of
the
advantages
it
has above most
other
precepts
of
morality.
It
remains
only
that I
make
two
or three
reflections on
so
agreeable a subject.
REFLEC'1ION
I.
In
what
a
compendious method
has
our
Saviour provided
for
the practice
of
all
the moral
dit-
ties
enjoined
by
Moses
and the prophets
!
For
he
has
summed them
up
-in
a
very
few
words,
and reduced them
to
one
short rule
;
but the extent and
comprehension
of
ßìt
is
universal, and almost
infinite.
Though
we
should
forget
twenty
particular precepts of
love
and righteous-
ness,
yet
if-this
be
fresh in
our
thoughts, and
always
ready
at hand,
we
shall
practise
all
those
particular pre-
cepts
effectually,
by
the mere influence
of
this
one general
_4.
rule.
It
is
true,
it
is
a
real advantage
toward'our
practice of
virtue
and
justice,
to have the mind stored with special
precepts,
suited particularly
to every case
;
but
where
the
memory
is
defective,
.or
other rules are not learned,
.
this golden
one
will
do very
much towards supplying
the
place
of
many.
Our
Saviour himself grants this truth,
when
he
says,
"
This
is
the
law
and the prophets."
REFLF,e-rià=N'
II.
What
divine
wisdom
is
manifested
rn
making.
his
golden rule
of equity
a
fundameI1ta1
law,
irrtbe
two
most
täirious
religions-that ever
God appointed
to
the children
of
men
;
that
is,
the jewish and
the