the foul of several vices, which affect the confcience with the greatest guilt, and therefore must of confequence bring the greatest plague; vices which crucify the very soul, and make every one his worft tormentor; as pride, envy, malice, and fuch like.

These are peculiarly called the fins of the devil; and therefore it is fit, they should carry a hell with them. It is impoffible for fuch evil qualities, to reign in a breast, where a charitable heart lies. Kind spirits are not wont to be haughty, imperious, and tyrannical; efpecially towards those they love: much less are they wont to be grieved, and afflicted at their prosperity; or to feek their hurt. Such vices are altogether inconsistent with charity; and they always grow out of ill nature, as weeds out of an uncultivated foil; and one would think men should fhun them rather, because they always fting the very mind that produceth them.

Hearts that are the proper and kindly foil of virtue, are never sensible of this uneafinefs; because they are free from the causes of it. And were the infides of men to be thoroughly discovered, it would most as¬ furedly

furedly be found, that none are so easy and quiet within, fo fatisfied in their minds, as those that have generous affections for all mankind. If in fuch breasts there be any diffatisfactions, it is because their kind endeavours are not fuccefsful; or elfe because they are not able to do all the good they would.

Uncharitable wretches know not the pleafure of doing good; nor what peace and complacency returns into ones bofom, by every charitable action, nay sometimes, by a bare charitable purpose and defign, when fome cross accident hinders the execution of it.

In fhort, neither riches, nor honour, nor power, nor any thing elfe, can bring a man fuch ferenity and divine pleasure, as a pure foul; a foul from whence good actions flow, like a gentle and limpid stream from a clear fountain. Tho' misfortunes from abroad may affect fuch a man, yet comparatively they are not sharp; and right reason can help to take away that little uneafiness there is in them. It is an evil confcience that is truly grievous and galling: It is this that creates griefs from within; griefs that

are

are more heavy and afflictive, than any accidents from without.

And therefore the true way to have folid peace within, is to have minds full of integrity; and instead of entertaining any difhoneft purposes, to be always virtuously disposed, and above all, to be kindly, and benevolently inclined, and to do all the good that lieth in our power.

And thus it appeareth, what great good a charitable temper doth to a man's own mind.

I proceed,

II. To fhew, How effectually it helps us, to answer the ends of the gofpel difpenfa

tion.

The grace of God, faith St. Paul, that bringeth falvation, hath appeared unto all men; teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world. Which shews, that the defign of the gospel covenant is, to reclaim mankind to the love and practice of all manner of virtue. Because God is a moft perfect being himself, of infinite goodness and perfectness in his nature;

his bleffed purpofe is, to imprint upon our fouls his own image, according to the capacity of our finite faculties. And in order hereunto he hath given us by his own son, the brightness of his glory, not only the most excellent promifes, all confirmed and fealed with his blood upon the cross; but moreover the most perfect example, and the most perfective duties.

Now, of thefe duties, this of univerfal charity and love is the chief. For love being fuch a divine affection, the fruits of it must needs be divine too, if it be fincere and zealous. As for inftance; If our love to God, be pure and hearty, it cannot but move us to a folicitous care, of doing nothing that is repugnant to God's will and holiness; because this affection is naturally attended with an earnest desire to please and imitate its object, or the party whom we intirely love.

So alfo, if a man's love to himself be rational and regular, it must needs put him upon doing himself all the good, especially all the Spiritual good, he can; because his spiritual part, the foul, is to live for ever,

and

and therefore requires his tenderest care, that it may be everlastingly happy.

The fame inclination doth true charity work in us towards all other men; to be beneficial to them likewife: for it always operates, according to the nature of the thing, and according to the condition of the object.

It cannot poffibly be of any advantage to our Maker; because he is out of the reach of our charity, and too high for it. Can a man (fays Job) be profitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the almighty, that thou art righteous; or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy ways perfect? And again; If thou be righteous, what giveft thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand? Alas, none of our goodness extendeth unto him. He neither needs it, nor is he capable of being benefited by it; because he is infinitely perfect, and happy in himself.

But our love to God hath this effect; it makes us admire and adore him, serve and worship, and endeavour to please him, and to be like unto him; and fo, it is an inftru

ment