gERMON XXIV. 338 wouldhave been none of these tender and engaging relations of father, son, and brother. But the wise Creator bath ordained otherwise ; he hath appointed such methods for the building of families, and continuing mankind in the world, as bind every soul of us by the ties of nature tb one another ; Acts xvii. 28. Of one blood hatla God made all the nations of the earth. And those that are nearer a-kin to one another, especially in the same family, as brethren and sisters, ought to look upon themselves under more peculiar and mutual obligations to do kindnesses for eachother in the first place, according to their capacity. The ob- ligation lies oneachparty, because it lies upon the other. Mybro- ther is bound to love and help me, therefore it is my duty to help and love my brother : For a brother is born foradversity; Prov. xvii. 17. It is the sovereign will of Heaven, that thereshould be suchnear relations, who should be boundby the law of creationand duty to protect, to support, and assist one another in a time of adversity : This is the design of God the Creator, in thecourse of his providence, in his subdivision and propagation of all the fami- lies of the earth. And as it is a piece ofjustice to confer this mutual help which is due to nearrelations, so there is something of justice too in our distinguishing acts of kindness and assistance according to' differ- ence of necessity, and accordingto difference ofmerit. . I cannot believe I am bound to love or serve everybrother, or every sister, with equal degree of affection and kindness, whatsoever their character be, whether virtuous or vicious : Nor to bestow equal benefits upon them, where there is not equal necessity : this can never be of a divine appointment. And though there is some duty, some kindness, some assistance always due to those that are our near relatives, yet this very rule of justice obliges us to give more respect or love to thosethat are in themselves more honour- able and worthy, and those who merit more at our hands, may reasonably expect it. This will farther appear from the next particular. III. Another instance of justice is, love to those that love us, and gratitude to those that have done us good. Those that have been serviceableto us in the concerns of our souls, or our, bodies, demand kindness from us, and returns of service, according to their benefits, and our capacity. Let us first takenoticeof the gratitude that is due for spiri- tualbenefits. The christian Galatians, who were converted from idolatry and heathenism,and reconciled to God by, the preaching of St. Paul, had such a powerful and penetrating sense of their obligations to him, that if it were possible, saith the apostle, ,j bear you record, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and VOL. I. L..
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