Sixty Sermons Preach'd on Several Occasions Publish'd from the Originals

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1724 edition. Excerpt: ...for this end, they commence bad actions;-and such as good men, if they are aware that they proceed from this bad principle, ought not to be pleas'd with. But since God hath annex'd praise and esteem to virtuous actions, which, asthey are pleasing to him, so they procure us also the goodwill of men; such actions as these are not less, Philip-4 8-but more our duty, for being amiable and pleasing. Whatsoever things are jsiu/Z, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are loveh', what soever things are of good report, 'if there be any virtue, and there be an praffe, our Apostle commands us 'to think on such things. We are not to think.of these, only because they procure us love, reputation, and praise; but because being just, pure, and virtuous, they are such as ought to be belov'd, esteenfd, and praisd. This love, esteem, and praise, were they separated from justice, purity, and virtue, ought not to be aim'd at by us: but since the pleasing of men naturally arises-from Serm. XXVII. we ought to do, to please men. from our performance of such laudable actions, we must, by the doing these, contribute to the pleasure of godly men. This rule will not only warrant us, but oblige us, to please good men, by keeping all the laws of God: and because all men, whether they are or not, yet oughtss to be, pleas'd with what tends to the honour of Religion, to the good of men's souls, and to the publick peace; it will be our duty to endea vour the pleafing of men, in order to promote these great ends. AND First we must please men, that we may thereby promote the-honour of our Religion. SOME men mistake ill-nature for a certain fign of grace, and think they are not such as they ought to be, unless in every thing they are singular: to hate the world, and...