relation between all his followers, that the word brother, in the whole New Testament, means only a fellow Chriftian. The forgiveness of enemies is peculiar to the Christian Covenant, because no other inftitution could be qualify'd either to fet forth so much of God's love to man, or to require fo much love from men to each other. The Gospel, which by informing us of our finful state, shew'd the neceffity of a pardon, and by the blessed fruits of that pardon in reversion gave so much reason to defire it, proves most effectually the neceffity of this charity; fince this condition of present ease and future happiness cannot be obtain❜d of God who can only give it, without reconciliation to each other.

It is no wonder that we meet with no precepts of this duty in the old philofophers, because the sense of our own finful ftate, and the afsurance of being deliver'd from it by forgiving others their Trefpaffes, (neither of which is discoverable by natural light) could only make the practice of it reasonable. Cicero therefore, in the best part of his works, declares very pofitively for the retaliation of injuries; and Seneca, who purfu'd the subject fartheft, doth it too much with the air of a

d Sed juftitiæ primum munus ut ne cui quis noceat, nifi laceffitus injuria. 1. Lib. de Offic.

Stoick to be useful; his whole reasoning upon it seems rather to prove (what no man upon earth can be brought to believe) that there can be no injuries, than to prefs the neceffity of forgiving them.

It is farther obfervable, that there was great indulgence given to revenge by the old law;

as appears not only from the express permiffions of retaliation, but from the vehement imprecations against enemies, which are us'd by the best men.

There hath been much needlefs pains spent to justify the conduct of David and others in this point; but the only excufe which needs to be made for them is, that they were not yet acquainted with this perfect rule, and that a suffering Redeemer was only qualify'd to teach men the forgiveness of their enemies: the examples of these great and good men fhew how much the Gofpel did fulfil both the law and the prophets: fince they, as perfect as they then appear'd to be, fell fhort of the common character of our Saviour's Difciples, and the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than they.

To conclude; the forgiveness of each other is not fo much a diftinct precept of the Gofpel, as one univerfal condition which runs thro' the whole frame of it; it is indeed peculiar

to this inftitution, because that only could give a just reason for its practice; nor could it have us❜d an argument more obvious to all capacities, and more affecting to all difpofitions, than to let them know that they must only expect mercy by fhewing it, and must forgive, if they will be forgiven.

As then forgiveness of Trefpaffes is the most important with which mortals can offer up, or a merciful God grant; fo fhould it be fent up with that forgiving difpofition, which it both calls for and deferves. The condition with which we here pray (and without that condition we are not to pray) fhould remind us of that neceffary debt of reconciliation, which is always owing, but at that time more efpecially to be perform'd to all mankind. We here profess thofe terms upon which we are content to be judg'd at the last day; and therefore, as oft as we come before God with hatred and revenge, we so often condemn our felves out of our own mouth.

How justly may God answer him, who with a revengeful heart prays to him for the pardon of his fins?" Canft thou prefumptu

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oufly ask of me that mercy which thou thy felf didft never practise, for my fake, to thy "offending neighbour? Doft thou expect to "be forgiven, by me, many talents, when

my interest with thee could never procure "the remiffion of a few pence? Shall he, "whom I have recommended to thy chari

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ty, be by thy unforgiving temper in bonds

and affliction, and fhalt thou in the mean "time come in peace and confidence into my prefence? Can thy petitions have a "favourable acceptance at my tribunal, "when they are deafen'd by the loud and just complaints of thy opprefs'd neigh

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bour? My fentence therefore shall be govern'd by thy own behaviour; and expect it from me, in mercy, or vengeance, as thou haft practis'd either of these to"wards him e.

These certainly will, and most justly may, be the answers of God to a revengeful unforgiving petitioner. All acts of uncharitable violence are so many appeals against mercy; they add to the number of his fins, and ftop the acceptance of those Prayers which fhould beg for their pardon. The relation which our enemy bears to our Saviour and our felves, fhould over-bear all temptations to passion and bitternefs; and as we would hope that his interceffion at God's right hand

e Vide Greg. Nyffen. de Orat. Dom.

fhould

fhould be effectual for us, fo fhould we be willing, that this fame interceffor should have influence over us for our brethren.

To conclude: Let us think, that as there can be no one want more preffing than that of reconciliation with our heavenly Father, fo there cannot be a more reasonable condition of its fupply than our own reconciliation with each other; let us remember, that as this is the tenor of the Chriftian Covenant, fo is it withal what we daily profefs, in defiring God to forgive us our Trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trespass against us.

SERMON