We pass on from this Head of Commutative 2 To Distributive Justice This is peculiar to the Supreme and Subordinate Magistrates in every Nation who are God's Vicegerents and Representatives on Earth and invested with Power and Authority from above to protect and reward the Innocent and to inflict Punishments on Offendors in proportion to the Crimes committed against the Laws of God and the King But tho' the great Majesty of Heaven and Earth has devolv'd his Authority upon them yet they are to exempted from Rule being oblig'd by the Laws of God and their Country in their respective Capacities to be impartial in the Administration of Justice Therefore they should be always ready to hear the Complaints of those that are opprest and injur'd and be severe and terrible in inflicting due and deserved Punishments upon all wilful and open Transgressors And 't is requir'd of 'em that they be impartial and unbiast in their Determinations of Matters of Law or Fact which may concern either the Poor or Rich. Justice knows no Friends no Relatives no Bribes and is equally at Leisure to hear the Complaints of all Persons of all Ranks and Qualities whatsoever It must needs then be heinous Impiety in any man who is intrusted with the Managemenr of the Affairs of Government either in Church or State to take Bribes or out of any by-ends or private respect to wrest and corrupt the public Justice of the Nation or to proceed in Judgement contrary to the Merits of the Cause For tho' ill Magistrates may and many times do escape Punishment in this World yet there 's a God above who is higher and greater than they and with whom there 's no respect of Persons that will take a strict and severe account of their Administrations 1 Pet. 1.17 and reward or punish 'em accordingly Rom. 2.6 This exact and impartial Administration of Justice would be a great means to reduce Christianity to its ancient Dignity and Perfection and doubtless those should be most careful and conscientious in doing Justice themselves who are intrusted with Commissions from God and the King to distribute it to others But 't is not my Province to prescribe Rules to my Superiors I have done with that Branch of Justice which concerns the Possessions of our fellow Christians My Method leads me 2dly Justice respecting the Credit and Reputation of others To consider that which relates to their Credit and Reputation And 't is unquestionable that all Men have a natutural Right and Title to a good Reputation in this World unless they shall forfeit it by some gross Miscarriages Whosoever therefore shall go about to attaint an innocent Man's Credit by false Witness public Slanders private Whisperings or any other clandestine and disingenuous Means and Methods is not only guilty of the Sin but shall incur the Penalties of downright Knavery and Injustice Therefore in common Charity and Justice we are oblig'd to be as tender of every Man's Reputation as our own And doubtless upon this Account our blessed Saviour has forbidden all sorts of Lying Backbiting Slandering Railing Detraction Censoriousness virulent and uncharitable Invectives and all other false and politic Devices whereby the Repute and Credit of our Neighbour may be impair'd and injur'd Besides these uncharitable Practices are the spawn and issue of the Devil who is the Father of them and therefore whosoever doth maliciously lye and dissemble for his own Advantage or to the prejudice of others he is of the Devil his Father Joh. 8.44 whom God has threatned to destory Again these Methods of evil Speaking have a double Tendency to do Mischief Either public as Slander or private as Detraction Pievish and passionate Men do make use of the open way to hurt but those who are more politic and reserv'd and yet envious are more close and subtile in managing their Designs of Mischief and Wickedness an tho' the Credit and Reputation of good Men be usually wounded both ways yet private Whisperers are the most dangerous Enemies because the injur'd Person does seldom or never meet with an Opportunity to vindicate himself Now for the Prevention and Cure of this uncharitable and unchristian Humour which God knows is every where too common especially amongst those of the precise Party who esteem themselves considerable Proficients in Christianity give me leave to make these few Remarques And 1 The holy Scripture has denounced a severe Woe against the Haters and Revilers of their Brethren 1 Cor. 6.10 1 Joh. 2.9 esteeming 'em no better than Children of Wrath Prov. 6.16 18 19. Ps 101.5 and Vessels fitted for Destruction In which they nearly resemble our great Adversary the Devil who is a cruel Enemy to and merciless Accuser of God's dearest Saints and Servants 2 Uncharitable Invectives are certain Evidences and Indications of a corrupt and unsanctified Heart and are said by the Ancients to be caninos dentes Diaboli the devouring Teeth of the old Serpent Upon which Saint Bernard expresly Detrahere aut detrahentem audire Bern. Lib. 2. de Conâ—ide ad Eugen. utrum horum damnabilius fit non facile dixerim so vile and mischievous are these uncharitable Practices that those who can hear their Neighbours reproacht with pleasure and satisfaction are as much to blame and must expect to share with the Detractors themselves in their due and deserved Punishments 3 The Slanderer and Detractor add sin to sin and iniquity to iniquity For he always despiseth and hates those whom he so unwarrantably rails against We shall conclude this Point with that remarkable Distich of St. Aug. which he writ over his Table and I wish it were written in legible Characters in the Practices of all Christians Quisquis amat dictis absentem rodere Famam Hanc Mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi For 't is very unmanly and disingenuous as well as unchristian in any one to abuse his Neighbour especially in his Absence And I am confident it would conduce much to the Interest of Religion and the Peace of our Civil Government if such Canibals were interdicted all humane Societie and indeed they are more fit to be herded up with Beasts then have the Priviledge to converse with Men. Thus much of those Duties which relate to the Persons and Possessions of our Christian Neighbourhood We pass forward 3dly Concerning the practice of Peace and Unity amongst Christians To the last Branch of our Duty to Others which imports the public Peace and Quiet of the whole Community of Christians 'T is most observable that before and at our blessed Saviour's coming into the World the Jews and Gentiles were so much at odds that they denied the common Offices of Civility to one another they would have no Intercourse nor Dealings together but did prosecute each other by such barbarous Methods of Cruelty and Injustice that their Inhumanities were scarce ever equal'd but could not be outdone by the most savage Heathens But when our everlasting
us How should these Considerations then affect our Souls with a deep Compunction and a hearty Contrition for our by-past Offences And how should we hate and aband on even the very Appearances of all Sin and Wickedness for the future More especially if we consider that If God did so signalize the severe Rensentments of his Wrath in the Punishment of his own most dearly beloved Son what then shall be the Doom of the impenitent and contumacious Offender What dreadful Impressions should this great Exemplar of God's Justice and Vengeance make upon our Lives How should we study and endeavour to mortifie our Flesh â— Pet. 4.1 2. and crucifie our Lusts which have been the immediate Causes of all those barbarous Cruelties and merciless Persecutions which he suffer'd How should we renounce all the superficial and extravagant Fooleries of this World according to the Example of Christ and his Followers Col. 3.3 5. Rom. 6.5 6. And indeed unless we thus crucifie the old Man and become conformable to Christ in trampling upon all the sinful Delights of this vain and transitory Life we have no real Title to the Blessings and Priviledges of this great Propitiation For if we Sin wilfully under the Gospel we crucifie the Son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 and react that dreadful Tragedy which we lately heard of This would be to despise and reject all his charitable and merciful Endeavours for our Peace and Welfare and if we continue in any one wilful Act of Sin and Disobedience unrepented of 't will render all his bitter Sufferings for our sakes not only vain and fruitless but destructive and pernicious Let us therefore flie from all Sin as the most deadly Contagion and when by a thro' Mortification of our Lusts and Appetites we have made our Peace with God we should dread the Danger Shame and Scandal of returning with the Dog to the Vomit or with the Sow that is washed 2 Pet. 2.22 to her wallowing in the Mire 4 We are strictly oblig'd by the Laws of Gratitude Interest and Duty to conform our Lives so far as we are able to the Doctrine and Pattern of Christ And our Respect and Reverence to the eternal Son of God our faithful High-priest should be attested with a sincere Obedience to all his holy Institutions He submitted to his Fathers Will in bearing the heavy Yoke Phil. 2.8 and drinking the bitter Cup for our Sakes How should we then study to imitate his holy and innocent Life alwayes looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith c. Heb. 12.2 For our pious Conformity hereto will not only recommend us to the Regard and Admiration of future Ages but will effectually dispose and qualifie us for all the blessed Priviledges and Advantages of his Grace and Glory In a word the Life and Death of Christ are an Inforcement and Recommendation of Patience Mat. 11. Math. 5.10 and Perseverance in well doing and suffering for his sake to the Glory of God and the Interest of Religion We should devote our selves therefore intirely to his Service and become most active Instruments in the promoting of his Glory and then 't will be impossible that we should fail of the Comfort and Benefit of our holy and vertuous Endeavours 5 And lastly Christ's infinite Love to us in all those Instances which I have mention'd should be a powerful Motive and Argument to perswade us to be kind and charitable to Others 1 Joh. 4.11 Did the eternal Son of God set such an infinite value on our Souls as to lay down his Life for them How then should we love those lively Images of his for whom he has paid so dear a Ransom and do always bear the Signature and visible Characters of his Grace and Favour Has he done and suffer'd so many things for us and cannot we prevail with our selves Rom. 15.1 Eph. 5.2 1 Joh. 3.16 to dispense with a petty Neglect bear some small Injuries from and Infirmities in our Brethren for his sake who has pardon'd us a Debt of more than ten thousand Talents Let all these things be duely consider'd and applyed that we may behold our Lord by the Eye of Faith standing upon the Cross not only as a resolute Sufferer but a glorious Conqueror to the infinite and unspeakable Joy and Comfort of our Souls in this and their infinite eternal Happiness in another World I have done with the first Part of our Saviour's Priestly Office namely the Satisfaction which he made and the Ransom which he has paid for the Purchase of our Redemption here on Earth which brings me to the 2d Branch of it viz. his meritorious Intercession for us in Heaven Christ our High-priest intercedes for us in Heaven Jesus Christ our most merciful Lord and Saviour is now entred into the Heavens where he is executing and administring his Melchisedekian Office for the Interest and Benefit of his Church and People here on Earth most especially in these two remarkable Instances 1 By interceding for us 2 In Blessing of us And 1st Christ our faithful High-priest For the supply of all our Wants Intercedes powerfully with the Father for the supply of all our temporal and spiritual Wants that we may live comfortaby here and be glorified with him eternally hereafter And to this End he is now presenting the Merits of his Bloud and Obedience to his Father's Acceptance representing all the Wounds Marks of his Sufferings and pleading 'em in full Satisfaction For the pardon of our Sins Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 for all the Sins and Offences which his Votaries have committed The Bloud of Christ supplicates in Heaven for Mercy and Compassion for us And the sprinkling of it now is as necessary for the Sanctification of Believers as the shedding it upon the Cross was for the Salvation of them For altho' one Drop of it might be sufficient to save ten thousand Worlds yet it becomes efficacious only to those on whom 't is sprinkled This is that precious Bloud which speaks better things to us then that of Abel and it has such a rinsing and cleansing Property in it For sanctisying Grace as to purifie the Souls and Bodies of those who truly believe and apply it from all the Contagion Filthiness both of the Flesh and of the Spirit This only can render our Persons and Performances Sacrifices and Services acceptable to God So that when he beholds the Wounds and Sufferings of Christ he will think nothing too dear for us More particularly That our Hearts may be truly affected with a real Sense of the Comforts and Benefits of his meritorious and powerful Intercession 't will be of necessary and important Use to consider these following Instances of it For 1 He offers up his own Prayers to God the Father for us He offers up his own Prayers to the Father for us and stands like Aaron being truly sensible of our Wants
or External to perswade us to be or do otherwise And indeed 't is the greatest Honor we can do him Phil. 2.5 6 7 8 9. to endeavour to have the same mind in us which was in Christ Jesus and by all means possible to transcribe his Pattern who was the great Exemplar of Meekness and lowliness of heart Thus if we walk as we are oblig'd in his Steps 1 Pet. 2.21 and patiently bear as he did with Meekness and Humility those Injuries and Affronts which are usually the Portion and Pattimony of the best Christians in this School of Affliction If we account and esteem Honors Riches Pleasures Wit Beauty Strength and all the other enticing Allurements of this World as they are indeed in themselves Loss and Dung Phil. ◠8 Emptiness and Vanity compar'd with the Exellencies of Christ Jesus our Lord 〈◊〉 and do humbly acknowledge that God i◠Christ is the Proprietor and Dispenser 〈◊〉 'em If we be careful to manage the◠Subsidia prudently and discreetly to God Glory and the mutual Comfort and Benefit of our selves and others if we chearfully submit to God's unerring Will and Wisdom in disposing of us and our Concernments and patiently bear every cross Accident which may happen to us and Ours upon these Conditions I say we shall in some proportion resemble our blessed Saviour's innocent Life in Grace and Goodness here a temper of mind and Spiritmost acceptable to him and we need not doubt but upon these hearty Compliances he will accept of us and reward us when he comes again in his glorious Majesty hereafter 3 We must yield our unfeigned Assent to and sted factly Believe this great Mystery of our Saviour's Manhood that he was conceiv'd without Sin in the Womb and born of a pure and immaculate Virgin by the Operation and Influence of the Holy Spirit that he voluntarily assum'd our Nature and has by the Merits of his Active and Passive Obedience fully satisfied God's Infinite Justice for all our sins which as I hinted before could not be aton'd for by any other Means then by Suffering the severest Resentments of God's just Wrath and Vengeance in that Nature which had sinned against him But because the Guilt and Punishment of our Sins were a Burden too insupportable for Flesh and Blood therefore we must also believe that our frail Humanity was supported by his Omnipotent Divinity of which more fully in the next Chapter Let us therefore seriously apply this Point by the exercise of a true and lively Faith That as Christ was conceiv'd by the Operation of the Holy Spirit in the Womb of a Virgin and became Man for Us So we may conceive him Spiritually by a true and saving Faith and bring forth the Fruits of Evangelical Obedience in a holy vertuous and innocent Conversation 4. We should be always mindful to offer up upon the Altars of our Souls that reasonable Sacrifice and Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the Incarnation of our Lord. Could ever Tidings be more welcome or any Report so grateful to mortal Ears as this was All the Inhabitants of Heaven were ravisht with joy breaking forth into Hymns of Praise and Congratulation for the Redemption of Mankind and how should we Christians most especially who inherit all the blessed Priviledges of the Gospel bear a part in that Heavenly Chorus praising the Lord incessantly for his Goodness and declaring the Wonders which he hath done for the Children of Men. Psal 107.8 15 c. To shut up this Point I 've been the more express in the handling of it not only because 't is the great Foundation on which our Christian Religion is built but because our restless Adversary the Devil and his wicked Agents and Emissaries have in all Ages us'd their utmost endeavours to corrupt and undermine it And tho' this Doctrine be an impregnable Fortress and Bulwark under which we may securely defend our selves and against which all the Powers of Hell shall never be able to prevail yet we are not ignorant of Satan's devices nor of his malicious Stratagems and mischievous Designs against us and our Religion And how active and successful he has been hitherto in his Temptations and Allurements is most notoriously evident For this great implacable Adversary has endeavour'd by all means possible to extinguish the Knowledge of Christ the Messiah of the World both before and since his coming in the Flesh And 1 Before his coming into the World How restless the Devil has been hitherto in his Endeavors to undermine destroy this Doctrine he us'd all imaginable Means to extirpate the whole Jewish Nation whence 't was prophesied the Messiah should descend He studied to ridicule and enervate all the Prophesies and Promises of Holy Scripture concerning him He made it his business to possess the World with gross Conceits and Apprehensions of Christ's Kingdom at his Coming And his Suggestions were so prevasent and successful that 't was generally expected that the Messiah should appear in great State and Grandeur that he would bestow Crowns and Scepters and the greatest Immunities and Priviledges upon his Subjects Which conceit doubtless our Saviour appearing in so mean and despicable a Condition was not the least cause of the Jewish Infidelity and did in a great measure obstruct their embracing of the Gospel It seems the very Apostles of Christ were tainted with this Prejudice by their being so inquisitive about the Restitution of the Kingdom again to Israel They expected doubtless to be Grandees in it as may be gather'd from that request of the Mother of the two Sons of Zeledee for whom she was so importunate with our Saviour Marth 20.21 that one of them might sit on his right hand and the other on his left in his temporal Kingdom for so the Words must be understood Thus far had Satan's Stratagems prevail'd to prejudice Mankind against the Messiah of the World Before his coming 2 When he was come from the Cradle to the Cross his whole Life was an entire Series of Sorrows and Persecutions How did the Devil inflame the Scribes and Pharisees with a fiery and impetuous zeal and eagerness not only to defend and maintain all the Laws and Constitutions Rites and Ceremonies which they receiv'd from Moses with their own erroneous Comments and heterodox Opinions concerning 'em But to oppose and stifle with all imaginable Vigour and Policy our excellent Religion as it were in the very Embryo ere it had got any considerable footing in the World And tho' this was beyond the reach of their Power and Malice God having decree'd to establish it by his own Omnipotent Arm yet he persecuted its excellent and innocent Author to Death by the severest Methods of Cruelty and Injustice And tho' the Devil receiv'd then a deadly blow yet he has not been wanting to his power ever since to persecute and ensnare his Members and he is restless still in his endeavours to prevail with
both Sexes and among all sorts of Persons high and low rich and poor noble and ignoble and at last died between two Thieves There can be no Place then no Person no Estate no Condition of Life which does not continually present us with one Object or other to renew and resume our Meditations and may minister some Occasion or other to think on Christ And this would prove the most absolute Catholicon to support us under and to encourage us to conflict with the Sorrows and Miseries of a troublesome World Let us therefore at all Times in all Places amongst all Persons and in every condition of Life lift up our Eyes unto Christ Let the strong defend him in the Weak and the Weak honour him in the strong let the Rich give him Alms in the Poor and the Poor love and admire him in the Rich let all Persons of all Ranks and Conditions so love and honour him that when the Vail of our Mortality is taken away we may not only know him and see him as he is but be known of him received by him and eternally enjoy him 2 The Consideration of this no less gracious than wonderful Vnion of the God-head and Man-hood in the Person of Christ our Redeemer should raise our Minds to a true sense of the Dignity of our Nature That the Disposition of our Hearts the Frame and Temper of our Spirits may rise in some considerable Proportion to that State and Condition which he has been pleas'd to enoble us with We are now of the Bloud Royal of Heaven Psal 8.5 Heb. 2.7 8. and 1 5 and 2.16 and he has made little lower than the Angels to Crown us with Glory and Honour Our Minds and Affections then should be sutably great and noble and chiefly conversant about those excellent things which are the Joy Delight and Wonder of the Holy Angels and Saints glorified It would be strangely incongruous and infinitely below the Dignity of our Heaven-born Souls to be imploy'd and busied about the base Cares unmanly Desires and ignoble Designs of this vain and transitory World Luk. 6.35 Heb. 2.11 Rom. 8.17 We are now the Children of God and Brethren of Christ Heirs and co-heirs with him of the same eternal Inheritance To be bruitish and sensual then would not only be a great Indignity and Afront to our Illustrious and Omnipotent Relations and a Disparagement to our selves but it would be a cutting off the Entail and an absolute Forfeiture of our Title to all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Gospel Besides As the Prophane and Dissolute the Unbelieving and Disobedient Christians would be incapable of relishing or delighting in the Joys of Heaven So they may assure themselves that if they live and die in those Sins unrepented of Gal. 5.21 they shall never enter into that Kingdom 3 The spiritual and pious Reflections of sincere Believers on this gracious Vnion of our Nature to the God-head may sill their Hearts with heavenly Joy and Comfort and their Mouths with Praise and Thanksgiving And doubtless there could never be greater Cause of rejoicing to Mankind nor should any Tidings be more grateful to Mortal Ears then this Evangelium that the eternal Son of God for us Men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven Were the glorious Angels in Heaven transported with such an Exstacy of Joy as caus'd them to break forth into triumphant Halelujahs And did they warble forth Hymns of Praise and Congratulation when they beheld that wonderful Spectacle of Majesty Luke 2.13 14. Mercy and Humility in the Incarnation of our Lord What reason then have we Christians to exult and leap for Joy and bear a part in that heavenly Chorus since we above all the Creatures are so signally happy as to reap the Benefits and Priviledges of that unparallel'd and boundless Charity Let us therefore never cease to chant forth his Praises in the Words of the holy and devout Virgin in her Magnificat saying Luke 1.46 47 c. My soul shall magnifie the Lord c. 4 The Consideration of the Vnion of these two Natures in the Person of Christ should not only beget in us a correspondent esteem of him oblige us to be faithful and obedient to Him Has he done and suffer'd so many things for us that we should live comfortably here in the participation of those excellent Priviledges which I 've mention'd die happily and reign with him eternally Phil. 2.9 10. And is it not then most fit and reasonable that he should rule and govern us and exact the highest Veneration and Reverence from us Now the only Evidence and Testimony which can be given of the Truth and Sincerity of our Obedience to Christ is the keeping his Commandments Joh. 14.15 And to enforce this Obligation it will be necessary to consider Heb. 1.14 That the Good Angels in Heaven are his ministring Spirits to do him Service and chearfully obey him Mark 5.10 Luk. 8.28 and the Devils in Hell are subject to his Authority All the sensitive and inanimate Creatures which are guided by no other Genius than that of meer natural Instinct do submit to the Laws of his Providence and are not backward in paying that just Tribute of Fear and Obedience to the eternal Son of God made man for our sakes How much more should we who are not only Men but Christians and actuated by an higher Intelligence than that of Nature be conformable in all things to the Wisdom and Will of God in Christ Has the Eternal Son of God divested himself of that infinite Honour Wealth Joy and Happiness which he might have triumpht in for ever at the right hand of God Did he willingly submit to an ignoble and inglorious Obscurity under the Vail of our flesh meerly for our sakes And shall we be unwilling to do or suffer any thing for him That would be such an Instance of Injustice and Disingenuity as well as Disobedience as might deservedly render us obnoxious to the severest Resentments of his Divine Wrath and Vengeance Mat. 25.30 He will cause such unprofitable Servants to be bound hand and foot and give 'em their just Portion in the Horrours and Sorrows of a sad and miserable Eternity 5 The Personal Vnion of these two Natures in Christ may incourage us to have a stedfast Confidence in and a chearful Dependance upon him Quia quod ex me mihi deest usurpo ex visceribus Domini for the supply of all our Temporal and Spiritual Wants and for Support and Comfort in all our Straits and Difficulties whatsoever For we have all things in Christ and Christ's all things in us If we be sick with Sin Christ is our Physitian to save us if we be Hungry or thirsty he is the Bread of Life Joh. 6.35 Joh. 7.38 and the Fountain of ever-living Waters and whosoever eateth him that is Spiritually by faith shall never hunger and whosoever drinketh of him shall
far more grievous and insupportable Whereas by a patient Submission to the Will and Wisdom of God under the manifold Pressures of this Life they will become far more tolerable and easie to be endured Especially to those who have a well grounded Assurance that their Sufferings in this World shall be infinitely rewarded with the Favour and Plenty of a heavenly Country Thus if we bear with Patience and Meekness those sundry Pressures and almost infinite Sufferings of this Life we shall not only reap the Comfort and Benefit our Selves both in this and a future State but by this Means Christianity would be restor'd to its ancient Purity and Splendour we should bring out excellent Religion into Repute and Credit as the first Christians did and perswade others to embrace it tho' to the utmost hazard of their Lives and Fortunes Hitherto of those excellent and admirable Virtues which are most peculiar to the Souls of Men with their Opposites We pass on 2dly Virtues relating to the Body To the other Branch of Duty which concerns our Bodies Now we are oblig'd by the Laws of Nature and Christianity to make use of all sutable and convenient Means to preserve our Bodies as well as our Souls in a state of health and safety till Providence be pleas'd to dismiss them into the other World And the best Expedient which God's holy and infallible Spirit directs us to for this End is the comprehensive Virtue and Duty of Sobriety Sobriety as it relates to the Body The Species of iâ— are Temperance Which in a more limited sense as it relates to the Body does consist in the moderate use of Meats Drink Sleep Apparel and Recreations both as to the Quantity and Quality of them and this is Temperance Or in the Moderation of the Lusts and Desires of the Flesh which is Chastity Chastity Or in the sober and moderate use of Riches and Honours and that is Contentedness Contentedness In practicing all these Virtues and avoiding the contrary Vices we act like men endued with Reason and Religion and are hereby distinguisht from bruit Beasts who know no other Measures than their sensual Appetites Of all these as they are of special and necessary use to conduct the Body in the ways of Religion that it may be a fit Mansion for the Soul distinctly and in Order And I begin 1st Temperance With Temperance in the moderate use of the Creatures in Eating Drinking c. And we are oblig'd to be temperate 1 In Eating In Eating 'T is beyond Dispute that our gracious God doth allow us the moderate Use of the Creature and we are confin'd to no other Measures either as to the Quantity or Quality of Meats than what may consist with the Health and Preservation of our Bodies But tho' we have no positive Law to restrain our Appetites to a certain Rule nor is it possible that it should be so because Men's Appetites are of different Proportions some require more and some are satisfied with less Yet our blessed Saviour has expresly forbidden all manner of Excess in Eating in these words Luk 21 3â— Take heed that your Hearts be not overcharg'd with surfeiting And he insinuates the Danger in that Instance of the rich Glutton Luke 16. so that every Man has sufficient cause to make Laws to himself to restrain and put Bounds to his Appetite Besides 't is highly observable that intemperate Eating and Sin were coetaneous and had the same Original And in the very infancy of the World Esau would quit the Interest of his Birth-right and make Shipwrack of his Honour too rather than offer Violence to his greedy Desire of Eating And the Sins which brought sudden Destruction upon the once flourishng Cities of Sodom and Gomorah were Idleness and fulness of Bread Intemperate Lust is always the miserable Companion of intemperate Eating and other Sins are indulg'd and thrive by this kind of Excess 'T is the Duty and Interest then of all Mankind to use moderate and wholsome Diet to live always temperately and soberly according to the Rules of sound Reason and Religion For they that do so sleep sweetly and quietly and are seldom troubled as the intemperate are with ill Humours or depriv'd of the Comforts and Benefits of Health by violent and raging Distempers Their Understandings are clear their Constitutions firm and unshaken their Bodies are active and fit for Business and this is the most certain Expedient through God's blessing to preserve Mentem sanam in Corpore sano a vivacious and brisk Soul in a sound Body Now if the great Advantages of this Branch of Temperance on the one hand and the infinite Mischiefs of the opposite Vice on the other were seriously weighed and consider'd they would not fail in perswading Men to be more sober and moderate in their Diet and avoid that excessive Gluttony and the Vanity of pampering their Appetites which is every where too obvious in the World 2dly In Drinking We should use the like Measures of Temperance and Moderation in Drinking for the Health and Preservation for the Sustenance and Refection of our Souls and Bodies both as to the Quantity and Quality of Liquors The very Heathens who had no other Light nor Laws to direct 'em then those of Nature were highly strict in the Practice of this Virtue of Temperance in Drinking and avoiding the Sin of Drunkenness Even the Cretians who were much addicted to Gluttony made a Law against Drunkenness and inforc'd it by inflicting the severest Penalties upon Offendors Tit. 1.12 Plato de Leg. Lib. 7. Sen Ep. 84. Senecae was of an Opinion that Intemperance in Drinking is a voluntary Madness and he that doth accustom himself to guzle from day to day till he be drunk is possest with an absolute Frenzy Fabricus and many of the most moderate Heathens were great Proficients in this Virtue and declaim'd against those who know no other Measure to bound their Excess by than their Appetites as Beasts and Monsters rather then Men endued with Reason and Judgement What a shame then must it be to Christians and a Scandal to our excellent Religion that any Man amongst us should drink more than he is able to bear But 't is the highest Aggravation of Wickedness and Villany to become the Devils Factors for Damnation as too many do in striving not only to debauch themselves but to overcome others We that are of the Day and directed by the Light of Evangelical Grace and Truth 1 Thes 4.8 1 Cor. 9.25 Rom. 13.12 13. are more especially oblig'd to be sober and temperate in all Things to walk honestly as in the Day not in Rioting and Drunkenness c. The Creatures are only to be used as necessary Supplies and convenient Accessions to our present abode for we should neither make Food our Business nor pleasures our Aim but rather study and indeavour to wean our Appetites and Affections from all Excess that
All the Delights of this World are as the Summers Rain or Morning Dew which are presently dried up But the Favour and Mercy of God in Christ are as the Sun Beams which shine out more and more to the perfect day to which there succeeds no Darkness Tho' our Accommodations be mean and course in these Tents of Kedar yet the enjoyment of the Favour and Mercy of God that infinite and Supreme Good will supply all these Defects when we come to be satisfied with the fulness of his house Psa 16.11 and drink abundantly of the riches of his pleasures Since then our infinitely wise and gracious God has assign'd us our Portion in this Life 't is but just and reasonable we should be content with it And tho' it be the bitter Cup of Affliction which he has put into our hands yet in Conformity to Christ and his followers we must cheerfully drink of it Which if we do 't will turn to good Account at the last If we moderate our Desires and be content with such things as we have our Souls will not only live at ease and be free from all distracting Cares and Despondency but God will bestow a greater Measure of his Blessings upon us if he see it convenient And if it should fall out otherwise we have still cause to submit to his wise and gracious Determinations Abraham being content with and desirous that Ishmael only the Son of his Concubine should live and God blessed him with an Isaac who was many Degrees better and more worthy Solomon desir'd Wisdom only and being satisfied with it God was pleas'd to add Riches and Honours as the farther reward his Contentment and Moderation Having therefore Food and Raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.8 Many thousands better than we are forc't to truckle under a narrow Fortune The Heir of eternal Majesty and Lord of all things was content with barley Bread and a few small Fishes nor had he a Bed of his own whereon he could lay his head Shewing us hereby that Nature is satisfied with a little 2 Cor. 8.9 and therefore he became Poor for our sakes that we through his Poverty might be made Rich whose Grace and Mercy are a full Compensation for all our other wants We have no cause therefore to distract our Thoughts with an anxious Care and Despondency but should rather be content with that Dividend which God's Providence has assign'd us For he that spared not his own Son Rom. 8.32 but delivered him up for us all how should he not with him also freely give us all things Hitherto of those divine and admirable Duties of Piety towards God and of those of Christian Morality which do most immediatly concern our selves and have the greatest Influence on Mens Practices in the great Business of Religion We proceed now 3dly and Lastly to treat of those several Duties which concern our Dealings and Entercourse with other Men. And these must be consider'd either 1 in general as they belong to the whole Community of Christians Or 2 and more particularly as they relate to our Persons and Offices in all the Civil and Religious Transactions of Humane Life And 1st Those which concern all the Members of the Christian Brotherhood in general are universal Love and Benificence to all and every one of them without respect of Persons of what Country Calling Sect or Party soever they be And herein we should endeavour to imitate the divine Benignity who causeth the Sun to shine and the Rain to descend Mat. 5.54 upon the Persons and Possessions both of the just and unjust And this is most consonant to the admirable Doctrine and Example of our blessed Saviour who made it a necessary Duty and Principle of Life for Christians to Love one another Joh. 15 1â— 1 Cor. 14.1 Col. 3.14 To be earnest in the pursuit of Charity and above all things to put on Charity which is the Bond of perfectness which Duty is recommended to us by this noble Enforcement For he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 3.16 and God in him This is the new Commandment and that Vniversal Law Joh. 13.34 which all believing Christians are willing to be govern'd by even that which our Saviour has ratified and confirm'd by the admirable Sanction of his own Authority and Example So that there can be no dispute now under the Gospel Oeconomy concerning the just Bounds and Measures of our Love and Charity to others For the whole Tenor of the Christian Law doth oblige us to love as Brethren 1 Pet. 4.8 to have fervent Charity among our Selves and to be kindly affection'd one towards another Rom. 12.10 And our eternal Lawgiver has made this one Duty the Criterion and Cognizance of the Sincerity of our Faith and Obedience for by this saith he shall all men know that ye are my Disciples Joh. 15.35 if ye have love one to another But to illustrate this Point more fully wherever the Christian Religion is sincerely believ'd and complied with it begets in its Proselytes such a gracious Temper of Mind and Spirit as will make its Votaries humble courteous affable candid ingenuous tender and compassionate and as sensible of and zealous for other Mens Good as their own This will dispose them for all Offices of Humanity and good Neighbour-hood and so cultivate and sweeten their Tempers that they 'l find themselves hereby oblig'd to perform all the mutual Offices of Charity and Duty to others which their present State and Condition of Life require and call for Again the Gospel Dispensation obligeth us to be obedient and submissive to our Superiors courteous and civil to our Equals and to treat our Inferiors and all we converse with with a pleasant Look civil Language and an obliging Deportment We are oblig'd also to be kind and grateful to our Benefactors to pity and pray for our Persecutors and tho' we should suffer as Christians yet even herein we must exercise Forbearance and long suffering Patience abstracting from all Malice and Revenge being most kind and gentle and easie to be entreated forgiving Injuries enduring Affronts and being forward and easie to be reconcil'd And we should be so charitable in all doubtful Cases as to take hold on the right Handle interpreting all the Words and Actions even of our most inveterate and malicious Enemies favourably and candidly rather excusing or extenuating than proclaiming their Errours and Miscarriages unless it be in some important Cases wherein the Interest of Religion or the Reputation of our selves or others may be eminently concern'd This is that heaping of Coals upon their heads Rom. 12 2â— which the Apostle speaks of and if this sovereign Medicine will not melt their rugged Tempers and Dispositions into a friendly and amicable Compliance with us they have just cause to be afraid that God's infinite Justice reserves 'em to be Fuel for those inextinguishable Flames
Prince of Peace came into these lower Regions to make up the Breach between God and Man he brake down the Partition Wall proclaim'd an universal Peace by his Doctrine and confirm'd it by the Example of his own Life and the peaceable and quiet Deportment and Demeanour of his Followers Hereby fulfilling that Prophesie of breaking Swords into Plough-shares c. And the whole Contexture and Design of our Christian Religion as is most evident from all the Particulars of it can be no other then to reconcile God and Man Jew and Gentile and to reduce the whole World into one Community Now to enforce the Practice of these Duties not only of public but private Peace 't will be of singular use and importance to consider the Force and Energy of these following Arguments For 1 We are Members of that mystical Body whereof Christ Jesus is the Head Eph. 3.15 Heb. 12.14 1 Thes 5.13 Eph. 4.3 Who commands us to be at peace with all men to practice Peace among our selves and to use out utmost endeavours to preserve the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace which if we be careful to do 2 Cor. 13.11 the God of Love and Peace will be with us 2 We are all Descendents from the same common Parents Adam and Eve â— and therefore it would be most unnatural to hate Eph. 4.6 rail against and quarrel iwth our own Flesh We have all the same God to our Father and since we are Brethren how should we love and be at Peace one with another Especially since nothing can be more pleasant in this World Ps 133.1 then for Brethren to live together in Vnity 3 We have all one blessed Lord our Redeemer who purchas'd us all at one and the same Price that we might be at Peace with God and amongst our Selves He has given us all one Gospel and one Faith which is perfected in us by one and the same Spirit Since then we are united in our Minds in believing the same Doctrine it would be highly incongruous to be divided in our Affections this would be to pull down with one hand what we are endeavouring to set up with the other 4 We are all Temples of the same holy Spirit the Sanctifier by whose powerful Operation and Influence if we stifle not his Gifts and Graces by our Sins he will unite us to Christ our Head and in the mutual Bonds of Love Peace and Vnity to one another 5 We have all one Calling to Piety and Holiness of Life and we have the same Hope of our Calling in Christ Jesus we all aspire to and hope for the same Happiness and upon the same Conditions why should we therefore differ on Earth since we do all expect to be united in the same Society in Heaven where there shall be an absolute End of all Feuds and Contentions 6 We are all of us united in one Body by Baptism and herein admitted to all the Priviledges thereof as Members of the same Christian Brotherhood If we separate therefore from the Body we unchurch our selves make void the Terms and cancel the Bonds of our Peace and Reconciliation 7 and Lastly we do all partake of the same Elements in the Sacrament of Christ's Holy Supper We mystically eat the same Body and drink the same Bloud of Christ And certainly this Pledge and Assurance of his eternal Love to us should be the most powerful Motive to perswade us to love one another By these and many other Arguments Examples Precepts and Counsels we are not only oblig'd to preserve and maintain Peace in our Christian Community but to avoid as we would do the most Pestilential Disease all Factious Schismatical and turbulent Behaviour in all Societies both Sacred and Civil whereof we are Members The Mischiefs of Factions and Seditions are innumerable nor can we preserve Peace and Unity but by mutual Forbearance and Condescention and indeed 't is impossible that there should be any such thing as Unanimity amongst fiery fierce and contentious Spirits Now for the better Establishment of this Peace which I 've recommended to you by such cogent and convincing Arguments which our greatest Adversaries by all their Malice and Sophistry shall never be able to elude It concerns all Persons in every Capacity both public and private to use their utmost endeavours to promote and maintain it And therefore 1 Those that move in the highest Sphere of Government Superiors have cause to consider how much they are oblig'd to study the Peace and Quiet of the whole Community And this cannot be accomplisht by any other Means then by the Punishment of those Offences which are inconsistent with the public Weal and Tranquility of the Government and by the Encouragement of those Persons who are tractable and submissive That both Superiors and Inferiors may lead peaceable Lives 1 Tim. 2.2 in all Godliness and Honesty 2 Those that move in a lower Orb Inferiors and live as we of this Nation do under the happy Influences of a peaceable Government both in Church and State should use their utmost Endeavours to propagate and preserve it And to this End all the Subjects of this Kingdom are oblig'd to behave themselves towards their lawful Governors with all Modesty Respect Deference and Submission both to their Persons and Offices paying them that Tribute which is due to them and submitting their Persons and Fortunes to be dispos'd of by their just and reasonable Commands The Contraries to these are usually attended either with Confusion or Tyranny and which of them soever prevails the Consequences must be mischievous Thus The whole Community of Christs aâ—s are concern'd in it all Persons of all Ranks and Conditions who are Christians indeed will study to be unanimous and compliant one with another for Peace and Righteousness sake they 'l be careful to do their own Business study the mutual Satisfaction and Delight of all they converse with and endeavour to practice all those Virtues which are most conducive to the Peace and Interest of Mankind for we must acknowledge that we are all concern'd in the Blessings and Comforts of public Peace and in the Miseries of War and Discord And therefore if we crumble and divide our selves into Sects and Parties we shall be less able to repel the force of our Adversaries defend our own Interests or assist one another Nor can it be expected if our Humours and Interests clash that we should enjoy Peace and the comfortable Fruits of it under the same Government But then since we must of Necessity converse with and live amongst those that are Enemies unto Peace our blessed Saviour exhorts us to endeavour to quel and overcome the unruly spirits of Men by bearing Reproaches suffering Injuries practicing Meekness Patience and Condescension curbing and restraining our extravagant and unruly Passions which being indulg'd will undoubtedly prove the Springs and Incentives of Confusion and Disorder And indeed if Christians did but
all the Earth discovering such Truths and instituting such Laws and Precepts as were never known before For 1 Christ our Prophet has presented us in the Doctrine of the Gospel with a clearer and more distinct Notion and Character of God himself The Nature Attributes c. of God more clearly revealed then ever was known before as to his Nature Persons Vnity Attributes Properties c. and also concerning all his Works of Creation Providence Redemption Sanctification c. All which seriously consider'd describe him to be a God of infinite and immense Power Wisdom Truth Justice Mercy Goodness c. of which more fully hereafter and in a Word a Being which consists of all possible Holiness and Perfection 2 He has made a full discovery of those fundamental Truths which concern his Divine The fundamental Truths of the Gospel fully discover'd and Humane Natures as united in the Person of our blessed Redeemer Intimating hereby what he has done and suffer'd for us and the consequent Benefits which result from his meritorious Death and Intercession to all such as apply 'em as the Sanctification of their Persons the Pardon of their Sins and the hopeful Assurance of a blessed Resurrection to eternal Life for Christ's sake 3 Christ as Prophet has enacted such Laws for the Government of the Actions Rules for the religious conduct of our Lives adapted to our Capacities Words Thoughts Affections Inclinations Appetites and Passions both of the outward and inward Man as are highly rational and ingenuous plain and easie to be understood and practic'd and so universally Good and Beneficial in all Respects that as the like was never known before so 't is beyond the Capacity of Men and Angels to conceive any thing better or so perfective of the Nature Reason and Interest of Mankind For 't is plain in in all the Particulars that our blessed Lord has prescrib'd no other Conditions for the Attainment of eternal Happiness then what are most consentaneous both to our Rational Nature and present Interest in this World And would certainly have been best for us to 've done if they had not been commanded whereby He has evidently declar'd that he is so far pleas'd with our Services and Duties to him as they are advantagious and beneficial to our selves that we may take one Blessing in the Way to another Grace Peace and Contentment here in the Way to Glory hereafter 4 All the Duties of Christianity are of the same Stamp and Character with its Principles and Precepts The Duties tafie to be perform'd and every way so correspondent to the Rules of universal Rectitude that there 's no Person that 's truly regenerate can assign any Difficulty in Praying unto God or in Praising of him in Hearing Reading and Meditating on his Word in receiving the holy Sacraments in holy Conferences pious Ejaculations c. Yea even those more austere Duties of Religion as Repentance Mortification Self-denial Self-resignation taking up the Cross Patience in Afflictions c. which tho' they be most afflictive to Flesh and Bloud yet are so far from being troublesom and uneasie to the rational Powers of the Soul that doubtless if there be any Elixir or substantial Pleasure in this World it must result and flow from a serious devout and conscientious Performance of the Duties of Religion And therefore the Church of England upon well grounded Experience declares That the Service of God is the most absolute and perfect Freedom And this will more evidently appear if We consider 5 Those Motives and Arguments which the Christian Religion propounds And enforc't by powerful Motives Incouragements to incourage us in the doing of our Duties Which are neither few nor inconsiderable For if we be faithful herein we have an Assurance of the Pardon of all our sins past the Promise of the most plentiful Supplies of God's preventing restraining exciting assisting and sanctifying Grace to enable us to avoid all Sin resist all Temptations and to inspire us with such a holy Frame and Temper of Mind and Spirit as may dispose us to serve God sincerely and affectionately in all the Instances of Duty thro' the whole Course of our Lives To which considerable Advantages and Priviledges he has added ex abundanti the Promises of the Blessings of this Life Mat. 6.33 as Health Wealth a good Reputation Peace Prosperity c. But lest all these should not prove Motive sufficient to enforce the Practice of those most pleasant and profitable Duties of our Religion he has further assured us that upon the faithful discharge of those necessary and important Duties we shall livâ— for ever with him in whose Presence is fulness of joy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Now if all these powerful Incentives to Duty do not charm and allure us to be holy and vertuous devout and serious in our Religious Addresses it will be requisite to consider on the other hand Rom. 1.18 that the Wrath of God is reveal'd from Heaven against all Vngodliness c. And as the impious and prophane who contemn or neglect the Service of God and the Duties of Religion seldom escape punishment even in this Life so there 's a dismal Time approaching Psal 9.17 when the Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the People shall forget God If then such Arguments as these do not perswade us to be holy and religious I know not what will If these Menaces do not force us to flie from the Wrath to come and sue for our Reconciliation I know not what can And 't is most just and reasonable that those who despise or neglect the Riches of God's Grace and Mercy propounded and promis'd in the One should feel eternally the Tragical Effects of his Justice and Vengeance denounc'd and threatn'd in the Other Thus the whole Tenor of that Religion which Christ our great Prophet has so clearly reveal'd to us and propagated in so considerable a part of the World is a lively Transcript and Pattern of God's eternal Wisdom and Goodness Wherein the Divine Pleasure in what concerns our happiress and dependance upon him in this and a future State is so plain and obvious to be known possible and easie to be perform'd and recommended to us by such powerful Motives and Encouragements that if we be not wanting to our selves in the faithful Performance of those incomparably pleasant Duties which the Gospel prescribes 't is impossible we should fail of the Blessings and Rewards of it And to convince us that neither the Terms of our Reconciliation are difficult The Duties of Religion are inforet and recommended nor the Duties of our Religion impossible to be perform'd Our blessed Saviour this great Prophet has left us his own and we 've the Examples of many thousands of his Saints and Servants on Record as Patterns to walk by who have confirm'd the Truth of this Excellent Doctrine and seal'd it
with their Bloud So that we 've no cause to be discourag'd in the stictest Compliance with all the Conditions and Duties of the Gospel because they have been done effectually by Others Nor can we doubt of the success Recompence herein because the Saints in Heaven who were formerly in the same Circumstances with us do now and shall eternally inherit the comfortable and saving fruits of them And 1st Christ our great Prophet was strictly conformable to his own Laws and Constitutions By his own Example in all the Instances both of his Active and Passive Obedience having impos'd nothing upon his Proselites and Followers but what he first practiced himself in our own Nature leaving us hereby an Example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 And indeed 't is plain and obvious that the Gospel is rather a Narrative of his holy and exemplary Life than a Systeme of his Precepts For the Doctrine of the One is mostly comprehended in the Graces and and Virtues of the Other For 1 Christ was a Partern to us in all the Instances of an Active Obedience And by his Active Obedience as will fully appear in these following Particulars And First To the Ceremonial Law Luke 2.21 Mat. 3.15 he was most exact and uniform in his Obedience to the Ceremonial Law For he was Circumcis'd the eighth day and submitted to Baptism a Rite substituted in its stead that he might be a Pattern to others for he had otherwise no occasion to be Baptiz'd to the end of the World He kept the Jewish Passover and all their other solemn Feasts and Sabbaths he frequented their Temple and Synagogues at the Hours of Prayer and taught publickly in both he was subject to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake and became in all things conformable to the lawful Customs of his Country and the regular Constitutions of that Church under whose Politie he was born and educated Secondly The Moral Law Math. 5.17 He was uniform in his Obedience to all the Precepts of the Moral Law in the strictest sense and meaning of it And altho' there be some Actions of our blessed Saviour's Liâ—e upon Record particularly those Maracles which he wrought wherein he asserted and vindicated his Divine Power and Authority which were never design'd for our Imitation yet in all such Instances as 't is well observ'd by most modern Divines wherein the Evangelical Doctrine is to be our Map and Rule his holy Practice and Obedience are to be our Guide and President to walk by Thirdly In all the Duties of Piety to God His Piety towards God inconformity to his own Doctrine was even and constant not affected with high Transports and Raptures in Devotion but such as was meet and easie for Mortals to imitate For all his Addresses to God were secret and serious free from all appearances of Hypocrisie and Ostentation most calm and candid in themselves and always conducted with Reason and Sobriety He forsook his earthly Parents lest they should be Hindrances unto him in doing the Will and the Work of his heavenly Father Fourthly And in his whole Conversation towards Men. His whole Conversation amongst Men was innocent and candid free and ingenuous he resisted not Evil with Evil but treated his most fierce and implacable Enemies with Courtesie and Kindness He paid Tribute where it could not be exacted to testifie his Loyalty and Subjection to earthly Powers He was just and charitable to all Men without partiality nor was there any Guile found in him Joh. 8.46 All the Sermons which he preacht and the many Miracles which he wrought were so many melting and compassionate Expressions of his immense Goodness and Mercy to the Souls and Bodies of Men For whose sake he was most active and industrious in all the Instances of Charity and Beneficence and made it his whole Business to do good Act. 10.38 His whole life is an Example of Vertue and Goodness Fifthly and Lastly What a divine Light and Lustre did his admirable Vertues send abroad into the World Even those which were more peculiar and private to himself became eminent and conspicuous to others How many Instances of his Humility Meekness Patience Candor Constancy and Perseverance in well-doing are yet upon Record for our Example and Imitation And in a Word there was not one Passage in the whole Course of his Life but Odours of Grace and Vertue did thereby break forth from him to the wonder and astonishment of Jew and Gentile But God having appointed the Gospel Dispensation to be a State of Sufferings and Sorrows and Afflictions to be the Portion and Patrimony of Believers so that we cannot expect ordinarily to be happy hereafter unless we be afflicted here Therefore our blessed Saviour to encourage us in our Warfare was made perfect through Sufferings 〈◊〉 10. And as he because a Pattern for us to exemplifie as before in all those Instances of an Active He became also a Pattern to us in his Passive Obedience Mar. 4 1â— so likewise 2dly of a Passive Obedience To instance in some Particulars And 1 Tho' our potent and politic Adversary the Devil did frequently assault him with various Temptations and so attemper'd and gilded his Baits that no less than an untainted Innocence and invicible Power could have been able to resist them Yet our blessed Lord did effectually countermine and defeat all his Projects by Grace and Vertue by Prayers and Tears rather than force and Violence 2 How many thousands of the Jews were every where in Combination against him to take away his Life Yet with what Patience Meekness and Humility did he submit to all those Indignities and Affronts which those his restless and malicious Adversaries put upon him For tho he was Scourg'd Buffered Spit upon and Revil'd Arraign'd Condemn'd Crucified that in a most infamous manner too between Thieves of which more fully hereafter yet for all that he went as a Lamb to the slaughter Isai 53.7 and as a Sheep before the Shearers is Dumb so he open'd not his mouth unless it was to pity and pray for his Persecutors 3 That he might be sensible of and more deeply affected with our Infirmities and Afflictions he did not only voluntarily submit himself to all the lawful Appetites Affections Passions Desires Necessities and natural Inclinations of the Flesh but he most cheerfully underwent all other acute and perplexing Agonies of Mind and Body with a patient and entire Submission of himself to his Father's Will designing hereby to teach us Patience Meekness and Condescention by those things which he suffer'd Hence therefore we may learn for the prevention of all Discouragements and Despondency that tho' the way to Heaven be difficult and troublesome We are taught that the way to heaven is passible yet 't is passable and we 've no cause to murmur against God nor be dejected tho' we meet with cross Accidents and