X I.

SER M. Offence was the Effect of Paffion, the Acknowledgment the Result of Reason. To appease our Paffion he has made a Sacrifice of his own-and fhall we not accept the Offering, but facrifice our Reafon, and even our Humanity, to our Paffion? Such an humble Demeanour, one would think, fhould bring down even the high Looks of the Proud because he finds his Adversary has done, what He himself thinks the most difficult of all Things to be done; he has divefted himself of Pride. A Meek Man, however, on fuch Occafions will call to Mind the Command of our Saviour ; If thy Brother trespass against Thee feven Times in a Day, and Jeven Times in a Day return unto Thee, faying, I repent ; Forgive Him. A Command that carries with it two Suppofitions, either of them fufficient to fubdue the moft ftubborn and unrelenting Heart: If thy Brother trefpafs against Thee Seven Times in a DayA fad Intimation of the hourly Infirmities which Human Nature is liable to! an Object of our Pity, though we were not in the fame Condemnation but as we are, and as he is our Brother; the Senfe of Pity ought to strike the deeper. And moreover, if he turn unto Thee-if confcious of his Fault he comes to us as if we were in God's Stead, profeffes his Repentance, and befeeches our Pardon ; we should be almoft afhamed of accepting

X I.

accepting fuch Condefcenfion and Sub- SER M. miffion; and be forry that we did not pre-, vent this humble Application, by a voluntary Tender of Forgiveness: Forgiveness? -Alas! what can we forgive? His Sin? Human Pride has not yet pretended to affume that Power; and human Piety will pray God to forgive it and it may be, God has forgiven it on our Brother's Repentance. But his Punishment? — Man, finful Man, is ready and willing to think himself a proper Object of God's Mercy: and yet can hardly bear to think a Man, less finful than himself, the Object of his own.

In few Words; a Meek Man will fhew fuch an Inclination and Readiness to forgive the Offences of Others, as if He had perpetual Need of the fame Indulgence: but will fo carefully avoid giving the least Offence, as if, it might be thought, He would forgive No-body.

If the View we have taken of this peaceable, gentle and amiable Virtue has not made Impreffion fufficient to mortify us against the Exceffive Degrees of Anger;

let us,

Lastly, Call in to our farther Affiftance fome more direct and particular Confiderations. And,

ift, It is very weakly objected by fome, that it is not in their Power to withstand and quell the outrageous Affaults of Passion.

XI.

SER M. Offence was the Effect of Paffion, the Acknowledgment the Refult of Reafon. To appease our Paffion he has made a Sacrifice of his own-and fhall we not accept the Offering, but facrifice our Reafon, and even our Humanity, to our Paffion? Such an humble Demeanour, one would think, fhould bring down even the high Looks of the Proud because he finds his Adversary has done, what He himself thinks the most difficult of all Things to be done; he has divested himself of Pride. A Meek Man, however, on fuch Occafions will call to Mind the Command of our Saviour ; Iƒ thy Brother trefpafs against Thee feven Times in a Day, and Jeven Times in a Day return unto Thee, Saying, I repent; Forgive Him. A Command that carries with it two Suppofitions, either of them fufficient to fubdue the moft ftubborn and unrelenting Heart: If thy Brother trefpafs against Thee Seven Times in a DayA fad Intimation of the hourly Infirmities which Human Nature is liable to! an Object of our Pity, though we were not in the fame Condemnation but as we are, and as he is our Brother; the Senfe of Pity ought to strike the deeper. And moreover, if he turn unto Thee-if confcious of his Fault he comes to us as if we were in God's Stead, profeffes his Repentance, and befeeches our Pardon ; we should be almoft afhamed of accepting

X I.

accepting fuch Condefcenfion and Sub-SER M. miffion; and be forry that we did not prevent this humble Application, by a voluntary Tender of Forgiveness: Forgiveness? -Alas! what can we forgive? His Sin? Human Pride has not yet pretended to affume that Power; and human Piety will pray God to forgive it and it may be, God has forgiven it on our Brother's Repentance. But his Punishment?

Man,

finful Man, is ready and willing to think himself a proper Object of God's Mercy: and yet can hardly bear to think a Man, less finful than himself, the Object of his own.

In few Words; a Meek Man will fhew fuch an Inclination and Readiness to forgive the Offences of Others, as if He had perpetual Need of the fame Indulgence: but will fo carefully avoid giving the least Offence, as if, it might be thought, He would forgive No-body.

If the View we have taken of this peaceable, gentle and amiable Virtue has not made Impreffion fufficient to mortify us against the Exceffive Degrees of Anger;

let us,

Lastly, Call in to our farther Afsistance fome more direct and particular Considerations. And,

ift, It is very weakly objected by fome, that it is not in their Power to withstand and quell the outrageous Affaults of Paffion.

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XI.

SIR M. Offence was the Effect of Paffion, the Acknowledgment the Result of Reafon. To appease our Paffion he has made a Sacrifice of his own-and fhall we not accept the Offering, but facrifice our Reafon, and even our Humanity, to our Paffion? Such an humble Demeanour, one would think, fhould bring down even the high Looks of the Proud because he finds his Adversary has done, what He himself thinks the most difficult of all Things to be done; he has divefted himself of Pride. A Meek Man, however, on fuch Occafions will call to Mind the Command of our Saviour; If thy Brother trespass against Thee feven Times in a Day, and feven Times in a Day return unto Thee, faying, I repent; Forgive Him. A Command that carries with it two Suppofitions, either of them fufficient to fubdue the moft ftubborn and unrelenting Heart: If thy Brother trefpafs against Thee Seven Times in a DayA fad Intimation of the hourly Infirmities which Human Nature is liable to! an Object of our Pity, though we were not in the fame Condemnation: but as we are, and as he is our Brother; the Senfe of Pity ought to ftrike the deeper. And moreover, if he turn unto Thee-if confcious of his Fault he comes to us as if we were in God's Stead, profeffes his Repentance, and befeeches our we should be almoft afhamed of accepting

Pardon ;