every one that knows us, knows that alfo. Let us fuppofe ourselves ftrip'd and divested of it, whether it be Beauty, or Riches, or Titles, or Honours, or Knowledge, which all muft vanish away; This is what may befal us in this Life, and must in the next. Let us view ourselves under this Suppofition; let us ask ourselves what remains that is worthy or excellent ? You fee plainly, that all who have esteemed themselves for the abovementioned Particulars, must be left fpeechless; and that nothing, but preferving the Government and Supremacy of the Mind, can ftand by us under all Events; which is fo much a Part of us, that it cannot be feparated from us, and must abide for

ever.

Neither let us be afraid of entring upon this Work, left it should withdraw us from the prefent Object of our Affections; if it has any Worth

in it, it will render it more worthy; if it has none, it is high time to give it up: It will give a Force to every Virtue, and make every Grace more graceful.

VOL. I.

DIS

DISCOURSE VIII.

The different Characters of Real and Diffembled Love.

ROM. xii. 9.

Let Love be without Diffimulation.

HIS Precept is so very plain

T

and fimple, that there feems to be no manner of Occafion to make any Comment upon it, or to form a Difcourfe about it. Perhaps the Wife of this World would fay, that it is a Truth which requires no deep Philofophy to difcover, or Strength of Reafon to fupport; and might therefore think

it below an inspired Teacher to inculcate, or even a common Audience to attend to.

But it may not be improper to put fuch profound Thinkers in mind of an Obfervation, which one of the greatest Philofophers, that any Age has produc'd, has fupply'd us with: Cicero, in his Treatife of Friendship, introduces Lælius's Discourse upon that Subject, in this manner: "Your "profefs'd Philofophers will difpute "off-hand, upon any Subject you propose to them, with very great Subtilty, but very little to the "common Advantage of Mankind."” "That must not be expected from

him, who did not pretend to open " and diffect it with fo much Art. He "should treat the Argument with the " utmost Plainnefs, and enter only into "fuch Points as are useful in the Con"duct of Human Life." And then foon after observes, almost in the fame

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fame Words with St. Paul, That Friendship must be without all Diffimulation and Hypocrify. In amicitia nihil fictum, nihil fimulatum.

It can therefore be no Objection to the Scriptures, that there is fuch a Plainness in them, as the greatest Masters of Reafon have approved; fuch Precepts, as the best and politest Judges of Human Life have thought proper to enforce. Whoever attends to the Scripture Precepts, will find them far better adapted to the Exigencies of Men, than any which the Schools of Athens and of Rome, or any other Schools fince, have been able to produce. They were not defigned to entertain the Imagination, but to improve the Heart: And if you would have Rules to conduct your Manners by; if you would know how to behave towards others, and how you would have others behave towards you in real Life, you will

find