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as it is Affectionately urg'd by the Apostle, would be follow'd with most Admirable and Bleffed Effects; it would hinder our Murmuring at our Betters, our Envying Su periors, our Infulting over Inferiors, our Cenfuring our Neighbours; all the publick Mischiefs, that fpring from the pragmatical Spirit of Faction, and the private Evils, that in Families, and between Friends, are fomented by bufy Tale-bearers and Whispe rers; it would compofe all our Differences, and heal our Breaches, it would make us Easy to Ourselves, and truly Ufeful and Beneficial to our Neighbours. For we are not by this Command fo confin'd, to the Doing only of our Own Bufinefs, as to neglect any real Charity, or true Concern for Others, upon juft Occafions. The Idlenefs, the Impertinence, the Sawćiness, the Malice of Meddling, is indeed most deservedly condemn'd, and pofitively forbid: But all the Works of natural Kindness, of generous Friendship, of Chriftian Charity; all the Duties that engage Men, as they are either Magiftrates, or Parents, or Mafters, to look after the Concerns of Others, that are committed to their Charge, or have a Dependance upon them: in a word, all good Offices and Affiftance to those that really need it, are so far from being here Difcouraged, that they are indeed Commanded. Nothing F

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more nearly concerning our Selves, or being more our own Bufinefs, as we are Men, than to exercise all Acts of Humanity, Humani nihil à Nobis alienum putare; or, as we are Chriftians, than To bear one Another's Burthens, and fofulfill the Law of Chrift, Gal. 6. 2. How much therefore may every One of us contribute to the publick Happiness of his Country, his Church, the Society. wherein he lives, of his Friends, bis private Family, and his own Perfon, by ftudiously endeavouring to poflefs himself of this admirable Temper of Mind, by taking as much Care, and as earnettly contending for Quiet, as Others do for Honour, or Preferments? (for fo much the Original Word, 120mmsidan, which we tranflate studying to be Quiet, imports,) How much is every Body indebted, not only to pray for, but to ftudy, and thus Promote the Peace of Jerufalem, which, by this quiet and humble Means only, can be fo fixt and establish'd, as to be a City at Unity within itself. But, if thro' the restless Temper, or Peevishness of Others, thefe Publick Benefits are not reap'd, which, if all were of an equally calm and gentle Spirit, could not choose but Spring up and Flourish; yet the Man, who has thus prepar'd his Mind to the Study of Quiet, in Obedience to this Precept of the Apostle, has the Satisfaction at present to enjoy, within himself, that

Peace

Peace which he fees others fo foolishly part with, as not knowing the value of it: befides a most comfortable Prospect of that further Bleffedness, of which this here is but a Taft, even the Everlafting Sabbath, and Reft of the Saints of God, To which God of his Mercy bring us all, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghoft, be with us all evermore. Amen.

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SERMON IV.

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SERMON IV.

HEBREWS III. 12.

Take heed, Brethren, left there be in any of You an Evil Heart of Unbelief.

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HEN the Doctrine of Chrift was Firft Publifh'd to the World, as it carry'd with it the Cleareft Evidence of Truth, whereby it was able to approve itself a Faithfull Saying, 1 Tim. 1. 15. fo it had likewife ftamp'd upon it the most amiable Characters of Goodnefs, fufficient to render it worthy of All Acceptation, ibid.

A continu'dSeries of Prophecies, deliver'd down fucceffively from Age to Age, for above three thousand Years before our Sa

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