fioned by Malice, and that Tumultuary Frame of Spirit, which Uneafy Angry Thoughts create. And therefore the Apostle St Paul, i Tim. ii. 8. wills, that Men pray every where, lifting up holy Hands, without Wrath and Doubting. The Greek Word, any, there rendred Sianóyou, Doubting, fignifies moft commonly, Confufed Turbulent Thoughts, fuch as proceed from Anger, and Inward Disturbance. I am afraid the true Caufe why our Minds are feldom in a good Frame and Temper for Devotion is, that we fuffer them to be fo difturbed and distracted with Anger, occafioned by the Provocations of Servants, Children, and others, with whom our Bufiness lies, that they want that Sedatenefs and Calmness which is neceffary for Devotion. And being thus very indifpofed for it, we go about it without any Life or Pleafure, and fo grow utterly Averfe to the Duty. If we would then go about our Devotions, fo as to make them either Pleasant to our felves, or acceptable to God, let us take Care to preferve an inward Calmness and Serenity of Mind, free from all ruffling Paffions, and vindictive Refent

ments.

3. To Conclude, Let all be exhorted without delay to reconcile all Differences, if they have any with any Perfon, and to prevent all future Occafions of Quarrels, if we can forefee from whence they will arife; that fo preferving our Hearts and Minds in perfect Charity with all Men, we may continually be in a good Difpofition, from right Principles, to discharge all Duty both to God and Man; which

N 3

will

will bring great Peace to our Confciences, and Quiet to our Lives in this World, and at last fit us for the Bleffed and Peaceable Society of the Children of God in the World to come: Which God of his infinite Mercy grant, through the Merits and Mediation of our bleffed Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. To whom, &c.

SER

SERMON XIV.

MATT. V. 25.

Agree with thine Adverfary quickly, whilst thou art in the Way with him: left at any time the Adverfary deliver thee to the Judge, and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer, and thou be caft into Prifon.

V. 26. Verily 1 fay unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast payed the uttermoft Farthing.

The First Sermon on this Text.

T is no fmall Commendation of the Chriftian Religion, that, befides its Care of Eternity, it provides fo well for the Prefent Peace and Happinefs of Mankind; and particularly, that it directs fo many of its Precepts both for Preventing, and for Agreeing of Quarrels and Controverfies. In the two preceding Verfes, we heard how little God values all those religious Services, which are more immediately performed to himself, if the Heart is not at the fame time clear from Malice against our Neighbour. And in the Portion of Scripture which I have now read, our Saviour preffes the fame Duty of Reconciliation with our Neighbour, from another fort of Arguments; namely, from the manifold Inconveniencies to ourselves, of letting Quarrels run on to N 4

the

1

the utmost, without Endeavours of Reconciliation. Agree with thine Adverfary quickly, whilst thou art in the Way with him, &c. By the Word Adverfary, is to be understood every one with whom we have any Difference; the Word quickly, implies the Danger of Delays, till this Adverfary's Mind is rankled, and being paft all Thoughts of Reconciliation, he thinks of Righting himself as well as he can without it. The following Words, left at any time the Adverfary deliver thee to the Judge, &c. are an Enumeration of the Chief of the evil Confequences which follow upon standing out to the last. Thefe Confequences are enumerated in one common Inftance of a Law-fuit, in cafe we come to be legally Impleaded; but may be confidered, by a Parity of Reason, in all the other evil Confequences of Quarrels neglected to be taken up ; but profecuted to the Extremity.

The Words thus explained, will direct us to thefe Two Heads of Difcourse.

1. To confider the Duty here enjoined, of Agreeing with our Adverfary quickly, whilst we are in the Way with him,

2. The evil Confequences attending the Neglect or Delay of this Duty. Left at any Time the Adverfary deliver thee to the Judge, &c.

I. First, We are to confider here the Duty of Agreeing with our Adverfary quickly, whilst we are in the Way with him. But having fo lately discourfed of the Duty of Reconciliation, from the Words of the foregoing Verfe, I shall need to say the less now to the Substance of the Duty; only as it fuppofes us obnoxious to our Adversary, and is cloathed with the Circumftance of Time,

and

and guards us against Delays of Reconciliation, it feems neceffary to afford it fome particular Confideration. And in this Refpect, the Words comprehend thefe Two Things; that we abandon not our Adverfary's Company; and that we make use of that Opportunity to make up our Differences with him. 1. We are supposed exprefsly to be in our Adverfary's Company; and this points to us one much neglected Part of Duty in Cafe of Difference with an Adverfary; namely, the not abfenting ourselves from his Company and Society. While we do not break off Communication by Difcourfe and Letters, there is ftill fome Hopes, and there are many fair Opportunities of making up what Differences may have happened. There are certain Times when our Adverfary is in a good Temper, and will patiently hear us upon the Subject of the Difference. That Subject frequently proceeds from nothing but. Miftakes and Mifinformations, which if they can be friendly and difcreetly cleared by the Perfons themselves, then the Duty of my Text is answered; and the innumerable Mifchiefs which are confequent upon Divifions are prevented. And tho' it should happen that the Point in Difference, like an angry Sore in the Body, will not bear to be touched, or to be made the Subject of Difcourfe, there are many other Things incident in Converfation, by which an Opportunity prefents of ingratiating with an Adversary, and by other good Deeds of compenfating and making up for the Injury or Point of Difference between them. And tho' no fuch should prefent,. by Company and Familiarity, and the common Duties of Courteoufnefs and Civility, the Me

mory