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Jefus Christ our most bleffed Saviour and Re

deemer.

Thefe, I fay, are the main branches, and fundamental parts of our duty to God: and as we muft be ever careful and diligent to perform all these things towards him, fo we must not, upon any account, render this, or any part of this fame duty to any thing or perfon but to God alone. We must neither love, nor fear, nor hope, nor trust in, nor honour, nor worship, nor praife, nor pray to any faint, or angel, or image, or any thing whatsoever, whether in heaven or upon earth, in the fame or the like manner as we perform these things towards almighty God for God is a jealous God, and will not endure any rival or competitor in that love, honour, and duty which we owe unto him.

I come now, in the fecond place, to those laws of God which concern the duty of every man towards himself: the chief branches of which are these that follow; that is to fay,

To be humble in our own thoughts, confidering what frail and infirm, what ignorant and forgetful

creatures we are:

Not to defire any praise from men, but to refer the glory of every thing that may feem good in us, wholly and entirely to God, who is the author of it.

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To be meek and calm in our temper and behaviour, 'never fuffering anger, or any other paffion, to grow fo ftrong within us, as to make us either say or do any thing that is unbecoming a christian.

Often to confider and think upon our state and condition, with refpect both to this world, and that which is to come, that fo we may be always upon our guard against temptations to fin.

To be patient and contented in all eftates and conditions of life, as well in fickness as in health, in adverfity, as in profperity; neither murmuring nor repining at any evil that befalls us, nor envying those who feem to be in a better condition than ourselves: not coveting, or in the leaft defiring either riches or preferment, but as God fees fit, and may conduce most to his glory; but always fubmitting to the fecret hand and directions of God's providence, which is in every thing that comes to pass in the world.

We are alfo to be diligent and induftrious in improving ourselves more and more in the knowledge of religion, and the practice of every fort of virtue; making the beft ufe we can of that portion of grace which we already have, that fo more may be given to us.

To be very chaste and modeft both in our actions, and alfo in our very words and thoughts, avoiding not only all filthy luft and uncleanness, but even all

manner

manner of immodeft difcourfe; and mortifying and fubduing all impure defires.

To be moderate in eating, fober and temperate in drinking; not wafting over much time in sleep or idleness, or any fort of recreations, much less in fuch as are unlawful.

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Not beftowing much coft in apparel or furniture, or any other thing which ferves only to please our fancy, or gratify our curiofity; but always making fuch an use of thofe creatures which God has given us, and those liberties which he has allowed us, as may tend moft to his glory, the good of others, and the health and welfare both of our fouls and bodies. -And this fhall fuffice for a brief account of that duty which every man, by God's law, is obliged to perform towards himself.

And now, in the third place, for that duty which we owe to all other men.

By the laws of God, we are obliged to love all men, whatsoever (whether they are poor or rich, low or high, friends, ftrangers, or enemies) although not altogether as well, yet as truly and fincerely, without any fraud or diffimulation, as we love ourselves; and this our love muft never fail to be fhewn, by our hearty prayers for the welfare of every man, and our fincere endeavours to prevent his hurt, and promote his good, as far as we have ability and opportunity

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for it; always remembring and taking care, that in our doing good unto one man, we do not offer any injury, or neglect any part of that duty which we owe unto another; but doing unto every man, as we fhould judge it to be reasonable and confcionable for us to expect and defire that they fhould do by us, if we were in their cafe and condition.

We muft neither take away nor detain from any. other man, any thing which is his lawful right; but whatever is fairly due to him, either by the laws of God, or those of the land, or by any lawful promife or agreement made to, or with him, muft freely and readily be rendered to him, without putting him to the trouble of fuing or contending for it.

The life of no man must be taken away (except by the lawful authority of the magiftrate, or in one's own just and necessary defence) nor must his body be maimed or hurt, or his good name injured or lessened, either by raifing or helping to spread any false or illgrounded reports concerning him, or by publishing his faults or failings, except in justice and charity to others we become bound to do it: but on the contrary, we must be ready, as we have opportunity, to contribute what in us lies, to preferve the life, and health, and good name, as well as the goods and eftate of our neighbor, if they appear to be in danger, either by any accident or by the malicious

design of another against them: we must not tempt or allure, or by our evil example encourage other men to commit fin; but as we may conveniently, we must admonish, advise, reprove, and exhort them for their fouls good.

Nor may we deceive any man by falfe or equivocating speeches, or by breaking such promises as we have made to him; but must be true, faithful, and fincere in all our converfation and dealing with all men.

Those who are poor, or in any diftrefs or affliction, we are bound, to the beft of our power, to relieve, help, and comfort; and although malefactors may and must be punished for the public good, for a terror to others, and for the faving and protecting the lives, eftates, and good names of honeft men, yet nothing of this nature must be done either out of private hatred or refentment, or with greater cruelty

feverity than what the law requires, and is neceffary for the true end for which fuch punishments are, or ought to be always defigned.

They who are under errors as to matters of religion, are to be argued with, and perfuaded for their fouls good, in the mildest and most gentle manner; nor fhould any heat or anger, railing or reviling, be· made ufe of against the greatest heretics or fchifmaticks neither ought any man to be perfecuted or punished by the civil power, barely for his mistakes

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