SECTION II, Of the focial duties. T would be tedious, and is by no means neceffary, to go over all the articles of facial duty, as they are explained and enforced in the fcriptures. Whatever I have obferved in the first part of thefe Inftitutes, as the dictate of nature, is ftrongly inculcated in the books of the Old and New Teftament, and recommended by motives and confiderations peculiar to revelation. I must not omit, however, to obferve, that the prophets in the Old Teftament, and our Saviour and the apoftles in the New, do not content themselves with giving inftructions concerning men's conduct in particular cafes and inftances, but are more especially careful to inculcate the neceffity of cultivating fuch an inward temper of mind as will form a complete character, which will lead to the observance of every particular duty, and make make the conftant practice of it eafy and delightful. They more efpecially recommend the univerfal principle of brotherly love, and a conftant attention to the interefts of others. The fecond great commandment of the law, our Saviour fays, is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf;" and in this, as the apostle Paul obferves, the whole of the moral law, as far as it relates to focicty, is comprehended. Rom. xiii. 8. &c. "Owe "no man any thing, but to love one ano"ther: for he that loveth another hath ful"filled the law. For this, Thou shalt not "commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, "Thou shalt not fteal, Thou shalt not bear "falfe witnefs, Thou shalt not covet; and "if there be any other commandment, it "is briefly comprehended in this faying, "namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour "as thyfelf. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling "of the law." Our Our Lord and the apoftles, befides this general good-will to all men, ftrongly recommend a more affectionate concern for our fellow-chriftians, thofe who have the fame faith, and the fame hope with ourfelves, John xV. 12. "This is my com"mandment, That ye love one another, as "I have loved you." And xiii. 35. “By "this fhall all men know that ye are my 66 difciples, if ye have love one to another." Accordingly the apoftle Peter exhorts, 1 Peter i. 22. "See that ye love one another with "a pure heart fervently." The apoftle John, more than any other, recommends this divine principle of brotherly love, and fhews that it is impoffible to love God without it. 1 John iv. 20. "This command"ment have we from him, that he who "loveth God, love his brother alfo." v. II. 66 Beloved, if God fo loved us, we ought "alfo to love one another. No man hath "feen God at any time. If we love one "another, God dwelleth in us, and his love "is perfected in us. v. 16. "He that "dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and "God "God in him." v. 20. "If a man fay, I "love God, and hateth his brother, he is a "liar: for he that loveth not his brother, "whom be hath feen, how can he love God, "whom he hath not feen ?" Our Lord is particularly careful to warn his difciples, that they do not confine their attention to outward actions, but to confider the inward temper of their mind, with respect to every branch of focial duty; and he cenfures the narrownefs of the Pharifaical morality for its deficiency in this refpect, upon feveral occafions, and efpecially in his fermon upon the mount. Matt. v. 21. “Ye "have heard that it was faid by them of "old time, Thou shalt not kill; and who"foever fhall kill, fhall be in danger of the 'judgment: But I fay unto you, That "whofoever is angry with his brother without a caufe, fhall be in danger of the "judgment:" ver. 27. "Ye have heard "that it was faid by them of old time, "Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I fay unto you, That whofoever looketh on a woman to luft after her, hath com "mitted "mitted adultery with her already in his "heart." Very proper attention was alfo given to the temper of mind, and inclination of the heart, in the Old Teftament; an inftance of which we have in the tenth commandment. Ex. xx. 17. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's houfe, thou shalt not "covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man fervant, nor his maid- fervant, nor his ox, "nor his afs, nor any thing that is thy "neighbour's." Far from confining our good-will and kind offices to our particular friends and fellow-chriftians, our Lord ftrongly recommends good-will and kindness to all perfons, and even to enemies: Matt. v. 43. &c. "Ye have heard that it hath been faid, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate "thine enemy; But I fay unto you, Love your enemies, blefs them that curfe you, "do good to them that hate 66 you, and and pray "for them who defpitefully ufe you and perfecute you; That ye may be the chil "dren |