Accordingly, the truly polite man would, by all proper testimonies of respect, promote the credit and estimation of his neighbour, because he sees, that, by this generous consideration. of each other, the peace of the world is in a good degree preserved; because he knows that these mutual attentions prevent animosities, soften the fierceness of men's manners, and dispose them to all the offices of benevolence and charity; because, in a word, the interests of society are best served by this conduct; and, because he understands it to be his duty, to love his neighbour.

The falsely polite, on the contrary, are anxious, by all means whatever, to procure the favour and consideration of those they converse with, because they regard ultimately nothing more than their private interest; because they perceive, that their own selfish designs are best carried on by such practices: in a word, because they love themselves.

Thus we see, the genuine virtue consults the honour of others by worthy means, and for the noblest purpose; the counterfeit, sollicits their favour by dishonest compliances, and for the basest end.

By such evident marks are these two characters distinguished from each other! and so impossible it is, without a wilful perversion of our faculties, to mistake in the application of the Apostle's precept!

It follows, you see, from what has been said, "that integrity of heart, as Solomon long "since observed, is the best guide in morals f.” We may impose upon others by a shew of civility; but the deception goes no farther. We cannot help knowing, in our own case, if we be ingenuous, when this virtue retains its nature, and when it degenerates into the vice that usurps its name. To conclude, an honest man runs no risk in being polite. Let us only respect ourselves; and we shall rarely do amiss, when, as the Apostle advises, in honour we prefer one another.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them. Prov. xi. 3.

SERMON X.

PREACHED MAY 6, 1770.

JOHN xiii. 8.

-Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

To comprehend the full meaning of these

words (which, as we shall see, are of no small importance) we must carefully attend to the circumstances of the history, which gave oc

casion to them.

The chapter begins thus-Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out

of this world to the Father, having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them to the end.

We are prepared by these words to expect something, on the part of our Lord, very expressive of his love for his Disciples.

The season, too, is critical, and must excite our attention: it was before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world to the Father; in other words, just before his crucifixion.

There is, indeed, some difficulty in fixing the precise time, when the transaction, now to be related, happened. I take no part in the disquisition, because it is not material to my purpose, and would divert me too much from it. It is enough to say, that it was, at most, but the evening before the Paschal supper was celebrated, and therefore but two days before Jesus suffered.

The history proceeds

-"And supper being ended (or rather, as the text should have been translated, the time of supper being

come t) the Devil having now put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God and went to God; he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself. After that, he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the Disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Thus far all is clear. Jesus condescended to wash the feet of his Disciples; a ministry, very common in the East, and usually performed by servants, in discharge of their duty towards their masters, or, by inferiors, at least, in testimony of respect towards their superiors; as is abundantly plain from many instances.

This then was ONE end of this washing. Our Saviour meant it as a lesson of humility and condescension to his Disciples. But was it the ONLY, or the chief end? That is the point we are now to consider.