XXVIII.

that we all stand in need of forgiveness SERM. from our neighbour, and are therefore ftrictly bound to give that which we ourselves expect to receive. And lastly, nothing can be more plain and felfevident than that all our hopes of forgiveness from a justly offended God, must spring from our readiness to forgive our fellow-creatures,

If any of us then have received, or imagine that we have received any injuries, however great and galling they may be, and have not yet entirely, heartily, and fincerely forgiven them, let us, I beseech you, immediately fet about this neceflary and important duty. If men have treated us with cruelty and injustice, let us confider that they are men, fubject to human frailties and pasfions; frailties to which we may ourselves be fubject, and paffions whofe power and influence we are no ftrangers to. R

VOL. II.

Let

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XXVIII.

SERM. Let us then proftrate ourselves with all humility before the throne of grace, and implore the divine Being to fend down upon us a portion of his own infinite mercy that he will open our eyes to fee, and our hearts to commiferate the weakness and infirmities of human nature, that fo we may be inclined to pardon and forgive them; that in the laft and great day, we may not tremble to appear before his dread tribunal, but reft with confidence on the goodness and mercy of that God, who, on the interceffion of our fellow-creatures, whofe offences we had forgiven, fhall graciously receive us to his mercy, pardon our offences, and for our kind and tender behaviour to our neighbour in this life, reward us with everlasting joy and happiness in that which

is to come.

245

SERMON XXIX.

LUKE IX. 56.

The Son of man is not come to deftroy men's lives, but to fave them.

XXIX.

S our bleffed Saviour was paffing SERM. through the country of the Samaritans, in his way to Jerufalem, he sent some meffengers before him into one of their villages, to provide an entertainment for himself and his attendants: but the inhabitants knowing him to be a Jew, and that he was going to worship at Jerufalem, from the rooted enmity and hatred which they had to that whole nation, on account of fome religious differences,

R 3