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SER M. cern, who they are that err thro' ignorance, VII. and who thro a vitious difpofition. (Ě

fpeak not here concerning matters of Im→ morality; for Faults of This kind, are e vident to all men.) But if we would, yet Gal.v. 23. Meekness is at all times neceffarily a Fruit of the Spirit; And we are commanded to be patient towards All men, 1 Th. v. 14towards them that oppofe, as well as to wards them that are only ignorant of, the Truth. Who is a wife man, faith St

Jam.ii. 13. James, and indued with Knowledge among you? let him flow out of a good converfation his works with Meekness of Wifdom. For the Wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated. But Anger, resteth in the bosom of Fools, Ecclef. vii. 9. And the Wrath of Man, worketh not the Righteoufnefs of God, Jam. i. 20. being always a certain Evidence, that Men are more concerned for fome temporal Intereft, than for the real Honour of God and Goodnefs. Men of a true Chriftian Spi rit, fincerely defirous to promote the Knowledge of Truth and the Practice of Virtue in the World, rather than the ob

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taining of Temporal Power and Domini-S ER M. on for themselves are always willing to confider, that they themselves are fallible; and therefore conftantly endeavour to convince Others, by the Methods of Reafon, and not of Paffion and Violence. Shewing all Meekness unto all Men, for that we ourfelves alfo were fometimes foolish, Tit. iii. 2, 3. Which Temper, is much more reafonable in point of Truth and Errour; when, even with regard to Faults of the Will, St Paul admonishes, if a man be overtaken in a Fault, reftore fuch a one in the Spirit of Meekness, confidering thyfelf, left Thou also be tempted, Gal. vi. 1. (He fpeaks not of the Crimes of Malefactors, fuch as muft neceffarily be punished by the hand of Justice; But he means fuch Faults, as are to be cured by Reproof.) Our Saviour himself, tho' infallible, and could not err; yet was meek and lowly in Matt. xi. Heart: And rebuked his Difciples with 29. great Severity, when once upon high provocation they discovered an inclination to violent Methods; Ye know not (said he) what manner of Spirit ye are of, Luke ix. 55. Plainly intimating to all fucceeding M 2

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SER M. Generations, wherein would lie the prin cipal Difference between the Spirit of Chrift and the Spirit of Anti-Christ.

4thly and Laftly; HERE is in the Text annexed a particular Reafon, with regard to the Perfons to be inftructed; why our Inftruction to them, ought Always to be accompanied with Meeknefs: If God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledgment of the Truth. In the Original, it is; Leaft God peradventure fhould give them Repentance to the acknow ledgment of the Truth. The Meaning is: We are to Inftruct them with Meekness; least peradventure, by our Heat and Paffion, we raise in them a juft Prejudice against us when, by meek instruction, they might poffibly have been brought to Repentance, and to the acknowledgment of the Truth: And fo we, by our ill be haviour, become answerable for their mifcarriage. For, nothing can be a greater hindrance to men's being convinced, than the applying Violence and Passion instead of Reafon And nothing can give more Advantage to the Evidence of Truth, than the meek Behaviour of those who pro

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fels it. For This reafon, we fo frequent- SER M. ly find repeated in Scripture the follow- VII. ing Admonitions, which may ferve for.a proper Application of this whole Dif courfe. Be ready always to give an Anfwer to every man that asketḥ you a reason of the Hope that is in you, with Meekness and Fear, 1 Pet. iii. 15. Give none Offenfe, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, 1 Cor. x. 32. Walk in Wisdom towards them that are without, Col. iv. 5. Have a good report of them which are, Th. iv. without, left ye fall into reproach, 1 Tim. 12. iii. 7. Let your Moderation, your meek and exemplary good Spirit, be known unto all men, Phil. iv. 5. Blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation, among whom ye fhine as Lights in the World, Phil. ii. 15. Having your converfation honeft, that is, of good reputation, even among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as Evil-Deers, they may by your good works which they fall behold, glorify God in the day of viftation, 1 Pet. ii. 12. And in the words of our Saviour himself, Matt. v. 16. Let

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SER M. your Light so shine before men; the Light VII. of your Meckness, Goodness and Charity; the Light of your excellent temper, and univerfal Virtue; that the whole World may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

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