~ else, in ordinary Cafes, by the natural SER M. means of Labour and Induftry, whereby I. God has appointed that the Earth fhall bring forth her increafe. In the Ufe of which means, it is our Duty to rely upon Providence for his Blefling on the Effect, If any would not work, fays St Paul, neither should be eat: And yet the fame Apostle exhorts, Phil. iv. 6, Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and fupplication let your requests be made known unto God. This is taking Thought for the things of the World, not as the Gentiles who know not God, but as those who confider that our heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of all these things. (23) SERMON II. Of Forgiveness of Injuries. EPHES. iv. 32. latter part. Forgiving one another, even as God, for Chrift's fake, bath forgiven you. T is the conftant Method of S ER M. St Paul in all his Epiftles, after he has finished the particular Subject upon occafion of which the Epiftle was written, to add in the clofe of his Dif courfe fuch general exhortations to the practice of Virtue, as might be of Use, not only in That Age, and to That particular Church to which the Epistle was written, but to all Christians at all times II. SERM.and in all places; and might most effectu II. ally secure them against all fuch corruptions either in Faith or Practice, as he forefaw would be of the worst confequence in hindring the great Ends of the Gospel of Chrift. The Great and Principal Design of the Gofpel, is to reconcile men to God, and to each Other : to establish in the World, upon the Foundation of a juft regard to God, univerfal Peace and Love. and Good-Will amongst ❤Men. The most dangerous Evil, and most destructive of this great Design of Christianity, is men's fuffering their Pafi-ons and worldly Views to intermix with their Religion. By which means, the very things which Religion was chiefly intended to prevent, are, among ignorant and deluded men, following their Paffions inftead of their reafon, promoted principally by what they take to be a strong Concern for Religion itself. Hence the Salt, (as our Saviour in a most lively comparison expreffes this matter;) the Salt wherewith things should be feafoned, does itself lofe its Savour. Hence the Light, (as he in another place moft fignificantly expreffes expreffes the fame thing;) the very Light S ER M. which is in men, becomes Darkness: And II. Satan, on the contrary, is hereby tranf formed into an Angel of Light. From With all lowli |