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His Burdens much leffened by the Relations arifing. from it,

even in the worst constituted Society.

II. This Precept confider'd as fulfilling the Law of Chrift,

Human Prudence can never provide Laws for all Cafes.

nor ever see the best Laws duely executed. The Law of Chrift the only Supplement for these Defects.

makes both Individuals and Communities happy by fuppreffing unfocial Affections.

opens the Profpect of an everlasting Interest in order to promote our Kindness to others. It behoves us therefore to try our Faith by such Works.

DISCOURSE XI.

The Motives and Mischief of Defamation.
1 Pet. iii. 8.

Love as Brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Benevolence and Courteousness ftrongly infifted upon in the New-Teftament.

I. Our frequent Offences in this refpect by evilfpeaking.

The Failings of others the common Topick of Converfation.

The most Dull and Infipid have a Talent for Raillery.

The Caufes of this perverfe Behaviour.

Pride and Envy principal Motives.

A Defire of entertaining Company agreeably ano

ther Motive.

Raillery,

Raillery, how ufually managed when Inferiors are the Subject of it,

-- when Superiors.

--

Idlenefs another Caufe of this Vice.
Scandal, a Compofition of many Vices.
II. The mischievous Confequences of this Vice.
A good Name one of our greatest Bleffings.
defroy'd by Defamation.

The Secrecy of Slander not so great as to fecure the Authors from Contempt.

Offenders of a lower Clafs fhould reflect on the Mischiefs they occafion to others by this Practice.

The harden'd Slanderer, on the Infamy that he brings upon himself.

- on the amiable Character of the Courteous. The inveterate Slanderer the most incorrigible of all Creatures.

--- he defeats his own Purposes in this Life.

-- deftroys all Profpects in the Life to come. Let us avoid the common Artifice of shifting these Inftructions from our felves.

DISCOURSE XII.
Moderation ftated and explained.
Phil. iv. 5.

Let your Moderation be known unto all Men; the
Lord is at hand.

The Word in the Original, what it fignifies.
Moderation, wherein it confifts.

The Difficulty of obferving it.

From Ignorance, in not difcerning the exact
Mean.

from Frailty, in not following it

The

The exact Mean not a mathematical Line, but capable of fome Latitude.

The Nature of our Progress in it.

The late Refinements about the abftract Reasons and Relations of things, not proper for the Bulk of Mankind.

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they require clearer and more obvious Directions.

fuch as the Rule before us.

What that implies.

Virtue anciently recommended from its own Beauty and Excellence.

The Apostle feems to urge the fame Motives with regard to this Duty.

Plutarch's Obfervation, That every Vice defeats its own Views, which are obtain'd only by the contrary Virtues, generally true.

The Motive in the Text much the best adapted to our Natures.

The certain Profpect of Eternity.

The Effect it fhould have upon us.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE I

The Difpofition neceflary for receiving Truth.

Τ

EPHES. iv. 15.

But fpeaking the Truth in Love.

HE Apostle, in thefe few Words, recommends to us every thing that can render our Natures truly valuable, and blessed; every thing that can perfect our Beings, and improve our Happiness.

VOL. II.

B

Our

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