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Practice of Charity) to the full Affurance of Hope unto the End. If they would have their Hopes of a future Life affured to them, the Way to do it, was to perfevere in their diligent Attendance to Works of Mercy and Kindness, and Charity.

16,&c.

The Second Paffage is that of St. John: Hereby (faith he) perceive we the Love of God 1 John 3, towards us, because he laid down his Life for us; and we ought to lay down our Lives for the Brethren. But whojo hath this World's Good, and feeth his Brother hath need, and fbutteth up his Bowels of Compaffion from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him; My little Children, let us not love in Word, neither in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth, and hereby we know that we are of the Truth, and fhall affure our Hearts before him. I pray mind that; by our charitable Difpofition, and doing Good to our Brethren; by this we know we are true Difciples of Jefus Chrift, and this is that that will affure our Hearts, will give us Confidence to appear before God at the last Day, when he comes to judge the World. And this is a Point that the Apostle thinks fo confiderable, that he goes over with it again in the next Verfe, Beloved, if our Hearts condemn us not (i. e. condemn us not as to this Point of Love and Charity) then have we Confidence towards God, and whatsoever we ask, we shall receive of him, because we do thofe Things that are pleafing in his Sight.

The laft Text to this Purpofe that I defire may be taken notice of, is, that of St. Peter, Above all Things, my Brethren, have fervent Cha-1 Pet-4.8.

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rity among yourselves; for Charity shall cover the Multitude of Sins. O how comfortable are thefe Words! There is none of us, even the beft, but hath a Multitude of Sins to answer for By what Means now must we obtain, Pfal. 33.1. that thefe Sins fhall be covered? that is, fhall be forgiven; for covering of Sins is the Forgiveness of them in the Scripture-Language: Why, the Apoftle hath directed us to the Method, Above all Things put on Charity; for it is Charity that fall cover a Multitude of Sins. Charity is of that Power with God, that it alone is able to overcome the Malignity of many of our Sins and Frailties, that would otherwife do us Mischief: If any thing can make Atonement for the Carelefness and the many Failings of our Lives, and prevent the Punifhment that is due to them, it is to be very Charitable, and to do much Good: Charity covers a Multitude of Sins in this Life. A great many Temporal Judgments, that would other wife have fallen upon us for our Sins, are hereby prevented, and that not only private ones, but publick too; And I think it no Popery to affirm, that Charity will cover a Multitude of Sins in the other Life also. That is, whoever is of a true charitable Difpofition, and doth a great deal of Good in his Generation, tho' he may have a great many Infir mities and Miscarriages to anfwer for; yet, if he be fincerely Vertuous in the main, and fo capable of the Rewards of the other World; his other Failings will be over-looked, they will be buried in his good Deeds, and the

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Man fhall be rewarded notwithstanding. Or if he be a vicious Perfon, and fo muft of neceffity fall fhort of the Glory that shall be revealed; yet ftill in proportion, the Good he hath done in his Life, will cover the Multitude of Sins. Though it will not be available for the making him Happy, because he is not capable of being fo; yet it will be for the leffening his Punishment. He fhall be in a much more fupportable Condition among the Miferable, than thofe that have been unmerciful, or cruel, or uncharitable in their Lives. O therefore what remains, but that confidering all thefe Things, we fhould be stedfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in these Works of1 Cor.15. the Lord; forafmuch as we know that our La- 58. bour fball not be in vain in the Lord; Giving all Diligence to add to Faith, Vertue; and to Vertue, 2 Pet. 1 Knowledge; and to Knowledge, Temperance; and s,&c. to Temperance, Patience; and to Patience, Godli

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neß; and to Godlineß, Brotherly Kindneß; and to Brotherly Kindneß, Charity. By our good Works, Ver. 10, making our Calling and Election fure, (fo fome Copies have the roth Verfe of 1 Pet. 1.) that doing thefe Things, we may never fall; but an Entrance may be miniftred to us abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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rity among yourselves; for Charity shall cover the Multitude of Sins. O how comfortable are thefe Words! There is none of us, even the beft, but hath a Multitude of Sins to answer for By what Means now muft we obtain, Pfal. 33.1. that thefe Sins fhall be covered? that is, fhall be forgiven; for covering of Sins is the Forgiveness of them in the Scripture-Language: Why, the Apostle hath directed us to the Method, Above all Things put on Charity; for it is Charity that fall cover a Multitude of Sins. Charity is of that Power with God, that it alone is able to overcome the Malignity of many of our Sins and Frailties, that would otherwife do us Mischief: If any thing can make Atonement for the Carelefnefs and the many Failings of our Lives, and prevent the Punifhment that is due to them, it is to be very Charitable, and to do much Good: Charity covers a Multitude of Sins in this Life. A great many Temporal Judgments, that would otherwife have fallen upon us for our Sins, are hereby prevented, and that not only private ones, but publick too; And I think it no Popery to affirm, that Charity will cover a Multitude of Sins in the other Life alfo. That is, whoever is of a true charitable Difpofition, and doth a great deal of Good in his Generation, tho' he may have a great many Infir mities and Miscarriages to anfwer for; yet, if he be fincerely Vertuous in the main, and fo capable of the Rewards of the other World; his other Failings will be over-looked, they will be buried in his good Deeds, and the

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Man fhall be rewarded notwithstanding. Or if he be a vicious Perfon, and so must of neceffity fall fhort of the Glory that shall be revealed; yet ftill in proportion, the Good he hath done in his Life, will cover the Multitude of Sins. Though it will not be available for the making him Happy, because he is not capable of being fo; yet it will be for the leffening his Punishment. He fhall be in a much more fupportable Condition among the Miferable, than thofe that have been unmerciful, or cruel, or uncharitable in their Lives. O therefore what remains, but that confidering all thefe Things, we fhould be stedfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in these Works of Cor.15. the Lord; forafmuch as we know that our La- 58. bour fball not be in vain in the Lord; Giving all Diligence to add to Faith, Vertue; and to Vertue, 2 Pet. 1° Knowledge; and to Knowledge, Temperance; and s,&. to Temperance, Patience; and to Patience, Godlineß; and to Godlineß, Brotherly Kindneß; and to Brotherly Kindneß, Charity. By our good Works, Ves. 10. making our Calling and Election fure, (fo fome Copies have the 10th Verse of 1 Pet. 1.) that doing thefe Things, we may never fall; but an Entrance may be miniftred to us abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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