302 CHRISTIAN MoeALIT Should L speak of love in the heart, which ever thinks the- best concerning others, and wishes and seeks their Welfare and happiness: Should I speak of it as it works on the tongue; and 'appears in all friendly language, whether theobject be present or afar off: ShouldI describe it as it discovers itself in the hand of assistance and bounty, to relieve thepoor and helpless: Each of these would yield sufficient matter for a whole discourse ; and. this grace would appear lovely in all its forms. It is a pain to my thoughts to omit it here : Methinks I can hardly tell how to let it go without large encomiums: Nor could I prevail withmyself to pass it over now with so brief a mention, if I did not design to . employ an hour or two on this subject hereafter. [The Second Part of this Sermon.] I proceed to shew howthe very light of nature recommends every agreeable and obliging character ; every lovely quality that is found among mankind; and reason exhorts us to the 'acquire ment and practice of it. I. Our own interest directs us to it. It is a natural good quality; and a most useful thing to desire the love of others, to seek the favour of our fellow-creatures. It is a very lawful am- bition to covet the good-will of those with whom we converse; and to pursue such practices as may procure us a place in their good opinion and friendship. Wewho are' born for society, must naturally desire to stand well with mankind; and that our neigh- bours should wish our welfare, should treat us withdecency, and civility, and love; should assist our interest, and do us good when we stand in needof them : And if so, then the rule ofjus- tice obliges us topractise the same towards them, whichwedesire they should practise towards us. The more we exercise of hu- mility, meekness, patience, charity, and good-will towards our neighbours, the more reason have we to expect the same returns of a lovely carriage from them. And it is no small advantage in life, for a person to be much beloved. When he falls under sud- den distresses, every man is ready to relieve him, when he meets with perplexing difficulties he has the ready assistance of multi- tudes at his command, becausehe hath many lovers. II. it is a most generous character, and the sign of a great and good soul, to delight to please those with whom we converse. It is a lovely sightto beholda person solicitous to make all around about him easy and happy. Such amiable souls as these it is a frequent practice, and a pleasure to them; to contradict, their own natural inclinations, in order to serve the desires, or the interest of their friends. Happy temper ! that finds so much satisfac- tion in this self-denial, that the very virtue loses its name, and it becomes but another sort of self-pleasing. Such persons are in pain, when they find their friends hard,to be pleased, apd they
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