fections and the perfect pattern of our conduct, we may then hope that he will receive us to his mercy, and interpofe his fervices for our frailties, and our fins.

SERMON IX.

Affection, Compassion, and Civility recommended.

I PET. iii. 8.

Love as brethren; be pitiful, be courteous.

HAT charitable difpofition which
Christianity recommends as it's

first principle, comprehends all the peculiar graces and virtues that diftinguish the difciples of Jesus.

Hence,

Hence, the Apostle gives it the preference to all other faculties and powers. The mind might be enlightened with the visions of prophecy The tongue might be informed with every human language The laws of nature might be inverted at the command of a created Being, and health and life conferred by man that is born to die: But thefe powers, as they were fuperior to his capacity, could add nothing to his moral excellence; and, therefore, one portion of charity was greater than these.

It does not appear that the apoftles looked upon this as any particular fpecies of virtue, that could be described by fome peculiar, or uniform mode of operation: They must have confidered it as a general temper, or difpofition of L 4

the

the soul, that gave its colour and principle to every moral action.

This temper was formed by the genius and spirit of Chriftianity, improved by that divine grace, which was the privilege of the new religion—— But why am I attempting a defcription of charity, which is fo admirably defcribed by it's effects in the epistle to the Corinthians?To that I fhall refer you, and confine myself to the confideration of thofe virtues that flow from it, mentioned in the textLove as brethren: Be pitiful: Be cour

teous.

I. It must always be allowed by the advocates of natural religion, that the precepts of Christianity make the best

fyftem

fyftem of morality in the world. Numberlefs graces were fuggested by the di vine Spirit, which would never have been thought of in a mere natural ftate: None of these is more frequently inculcated than brotherly love; nay, fo indifpenfible was, this duty, that it was made the test of every convert's pretenfions, and the last argument of the love of God. By this we know that ye are of God, if ye bave love one to another.

And, indeed, what better proof could there be of a principle of grace in the heart than this love of the brethren? What better indication that they were actuated by the fpirit of him who is love itfelf? What could more effectually preferve the infant church from the rending fury of fects and fchifms, than