VI. SERM. tue, is to be carefully distinguished from the mean spirit of cowards, and the fawning affent of fycophants. It renounces no just right from fear. It gives up no important truth from flattery. It is indeed not only confiftent with a firm mind, but it neceffarily requires a manly fpirit, and a fixed principle, in order to give it any real value. Upon this folid ground only, the polish of gentlenefs can with advantage be fuperinduced. It ftands oppofed, not to the most determined regard for virtue and truth, but to harshness and severity, to pride and arrogance, to violence and oppreffion. It is properly, that part of the great virtue of charity, which makes us unwilling to give pain to any of our brethren. Compaffion prompts us to relieve their wants. Forbearance prevents us from retaliating their injuries. Meekness reftrains our angry paffions; candour, our fevere judgments. Gentlenefs corrects whatever is offenfive in our manners; and by a conftant train of humane at tentions, VI. tentions, studies to alleviate the burden of SERM. common mifery. Its office, therefore, is extensive. It is not, like fome other virtues, called forth only on peculiar emergencies; but it is continually in action, when we are engaged in intercourse with men. It ought to form our address, to regulate our speech, and to diffuse itself over our whole behaviour. I must warn warn you however not to confound this gentle wisdom which is from above, with that artificial courtesy, that studied smoothnefs of manners, which is learned in the school of the world. Such accomplishments, the most frivolous and empty may poffefs. Too often they are employed by the artful, as a fnare; too often affected by the hard and unfeeling, as a cover to the baseness of their minds. We cannot, at the fame time, avoid obferving the homage, which, even in fuch inftances, the world is constrained to pay to virtue. In order to render fociety agreeable, it is found neceffary to affume fomewhat, that may at leaft SERM. leaft carry its appearance. VI. appearance. Virtue is the univerfal charm. Even its fhadow is courted when the fubftance is wanting. The imitation of its form has been reduced into an art; and in the commerce of life, the firft ftudy of all who would either gain the esteem, or win the hearts of others, is to learn the speech, and to adopt the manners, of candour, gentlenefs and humanity. But that gentleness which is the characteristic of a good man, has, like every other virtue, its feat in the heart. And let me add, nothing except what flows from the heart, can render even external manners truly pleafing. For no affumed behaviour can at all times hide the real character. that unaffected civility which fprings from a gentle mind, there is a charm infinitely more powerful, than in all the ftudied manners of the moft finifhed courtier. In True gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to him who made us, and to the common nature of which we all all share. It arifes from reflection on our It is own failings and wants; and from juft not SERM. VI. SERM. not dry up the falling tear, to footh at VI. least the grieving heart. Where it has not the power of being useful, it is never burdenfome. It feeks to pleafe, rather than to fhine and dazzle; and conceals with care, that fuperiority, either of talents or of rank, which is oppreffive to those who are beneath it. In a word, it is that fpirit, and that tenor of manners, which the gospel of Chrift enjoins, when it commands us to bear one another's burdens; to rejoice with thofe who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep; to please every one his neighbour for his good; to be kind and tender-hearted; to be pitiful and courteous ; to Support the weak, and to be patient towards all men. Having now fufficiently explained the nature of this amiable virtue, I proceed to recommend it to your practice. Let me, for this end, defire you to confider the duty which you owe to God; to confider the relation which you bear to one another; to confider your own interest. I. CONSIDER |