SERMON XXXIII. The Universal Rule ofEquity. EAT. vii. 12. All things whatsoeverye would that men should do untoyou, do ye even so unto them ; for this is the law and the prophets. WHEN our blessed Lord took upon him the public office of* prophet or teacher amongst men, he found it was not only neces- sary to instruct them inthe sacred mysteries of religion, and in- form them of their duty to God his Father, and to himself; but he employed much of his ministry also, to teach them the prac- tice of social virtue, and how they should behave toward their fellow- creatures. In the heathen world the rules of morality were lóst in a great measure, as well as the, rules of piety and worship ; and the Jews, the peculiar people of God, had grossly corrupted both the one and the other. As our Saviour refined the practice of religion towards God, and raised it by his gospel, to `a high and heavenly degree, beyond what mortals had known before, so he explained and established the rules of moral virtue, in a more glorioús and convincing manner than the world had been acquainted with. Read his life, andobserve how often he takes occasion in the several seasons of his preaching, to give particular directions for our conduct toward our neighbours. But after all, he knew that the nature of man was corrupt, his passions strong, his memory frail, and that he would be ready to neglect, or for- get his various sacred precepts, when there was most need to practise them ; and therefore he thought it proper to give one short and comprehensive rule of equity to regulate all our conduct, that should bewritten is it were in our very souls : Am i this is contained in the words of my text, whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them; for this is the law and the prophets. To dilate a little upon this subject, and refresh a living sense of it upon your memories and your consciences, I shall follow this method, and enquire, I. What is the true meaningof this divine rule., II. What is the special argument that our Lord uses in order to enforce it. III. Wherein the particular excellencies of it appear. IV. I. shaft concludewith some reftïctioui on this subject.
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