improve. There you will obferve, that if any virtue is taught with more expreffive energy than others, it is HUMILITY. Humility, that sheds a mild luftre over every perfection of character, and most effectually secures honor by feeming to avoid it. Humility, that teaches man he is but man; that cherishes the grand duties of charity and forbearance, and that would connect the whole human race together in the bands of brotherhood and focial love; in fhort, that confers peace and comfort on us here, and prepares us for immortal glory here

after.

VOL. II.

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SER

SERMON XI.

ON BENEFICENCE.

GAL. vi. 10.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith.

TH

HE moft diftinguishing feature of christianity, in a moral point of view, is univerfal benevolence. "Peace

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on earth, and good-will towards men," was the glorious annunciation of the heavenly host, on our bleffed Lord's nativity; and agreeably to these glad tidings, when he entered on his divine miniftry, we read

in the fimple, but expreffive language of fcripture, "he went about doing good.".

MEN of the most discordant principles and hoftile difpofitions fhared his benevolence and received his bleffing. His readinefs to comfort the wretched and inftruct the ignorant; his labor of love in reclaiming finners, and healing the diseases of every denomination of men, whether Pharifees, Sadducees, Publicans, or Samaritans, gave the world an illustrious proof that his charity was not contracted within the narrow bounds of human virtue, but was in every respect worthy of the all-gracious Father, whose love is perfect, and whose will he came to teach.

IN imitation of his glorious example we also are taught to do good on the most difinterested and extenfive principle. On proper occafions our benevolence must break through the partial ties of kindred, country and friendship, and embrace all within its ample bounds;-even our enemies; nor

are

are we "to grow weary in well-doing," but with every opportunity of beneficence unite the practice of it.

YET the God of mercies enjoins not any thing as a duty, which will not ultimately promote our happiness; and even in the prefent ftate of things, human nature is not fo depraved, the divine image of the Creator is not fo entirely defaced, but that the foul of man can feel the pleasure and delight of GOODNESS. We may regard this, indeed, as a feeble emanation from the fource of all perfection, and as the fureft token of our relation to beings of fuperior wisdom and fuperior virtue. Cherish it, therefore, as a guide to the pureft felicity, and as a jewel that will shine with distinguished luftre in the crown of immortality. Even in this life, if we affemble in our imagination all the pleasures that are derived from fenfe, from vanity and pride, from the fuccessful purfuits of ambition, or the envied poffeffion of power; we shall find none so permanent and pure as those which

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