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powerful motives to enforce it, as Charity; and if we expect the continuance of the bleffings of Providence, the best way to enfure them is to be merciful as our Father is merciful.

I would not be understood to mean (making that a general which was only a particular precept) that it is the duty of every rich man to fell all, and give to the poor, much lefs, according to the maxims of our inspired preachers, that it is the duty of the poor to fell all, and give to the rich; fo far from it, that it is every man's duty to provide for his family, and Chriftianity doth not deftroy, but confirms the law of nature, and the rules of prudence. What is required of us is, not to deceive ourselves, by fancying our neceffities greater and our abilities lefs than they really are, but to follow at once the dictates of Prudence

dence and Charity, not giving away fo much as to expose ourselves to future want, nor yet diftributing fo little, as to be unworthy petitioners to Providence, for the fupply of our own neceffities.

Having thus feen the nature and extent of this petition, with the qualifications requifite to make our repeating of it accept. -able to God, I fhall, according to the manner I have hitherto obferved, conclude this discourse by fumming up the whole in the form of a prayer.

O thou all-gracious, all-fuftaining Providence, by whofe goodness we were created, and by whose goodness we have hitherto been preferved, continue to us thy favour and protection; give us fuch a just knowledge both of thee, and of ourselves, that we may be thoroughly fenfible we are thy

dependants,

dependants, that we are indebted to thee for all we have, and muft apply to thee for all we want. Grant, O Lord, that we may fo live in this world, as men that must leave it at one time or other, that may continue perhaps for a few years, or may be taken off this very moment; make us fenfible how few our real wants are, and let not our defires go beyond them. Let thy mercies crown our induftrious endeavours with fuccefs, and a well timed feasonable Charity, fanctify our works, and give ftrength to our prayers. And finally, O Lord, be pleafed of thine infinite mercy to grant, that whatsoever we fincerely pray for, we may successfully obtain, whatsoever we fuccefsfully obtain, we may, happily enjoy.

Now to God the Father, &c.

SERMON

SERMON

VIII.

MATTHEW vi. 12th.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

N these words are two things obferv

IN

able;-the Petition-forgive us our debts, and the condition on which we ask forgiveness-as we forgive our debtors. Both these are fubjects that greatly deferve our confideration-the one as it affords the highest inftance of God's goodness to the fons of men, the other as containing a motive to the forgiveness of our enemies, which is one of the hardest of all Chriftian duties. I fhall therefore particularly confider them, and fhall fhew that the mercy

and

and goodness of God, is remarkably displayed, by the permiffion here given us to pray to him, for the forgiveness of our fins.

The temporal bleffings which his Providence difpenfes for the fupply of our wants, are arguments indeed of great goodness to us, and deferve our highest gratitude and love. But thefe are concerns of small moment to us, in comparison of those which look beyond the grave, and yield a profpect of better things to come. For what would it avail us to be fupplied by his bounty with the neceffaries of this prefent life, if our fins were to follow us in the next? If the fins and offences of our youth and old age were registered and treasured up against us, if no act of oblivion was to pafs on our actions, no pardon granted, no method of atonement appoint

ed

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