to us, as" a right hand or a right eye;" when it comes in competition with our duty. The law allowed a man to turn away his wife at pleasure, upon giving her a writing of divorcement; but this was inconsistent with the law of christianity as well as of nature, which requires that persons united in that tender relation, should bear with each other's infirmities, and not separate upon every trivial occasion; and therefore our Lord condemns and forbids this unnatural practice, unless only in case of an irreparable injury on the part of the wife. The law says, "Thou "shalt not forswear thyself, but perform to the "Lord thine oath;" but Christ says, "Swear "not at all, by any manner of oath; but let your "communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for "whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil." The law says, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth "for a tooth;" but Christ says, "Resist ye not ❝evil, but whosoever shall smite you on the right "cheek, shail do you the greatest injury, rather "than resent it suffer it over again." The law says, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate "thine enemy;" but Christ says, "Love your “enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to "them that hate you, and pray for them which "despitefully use you and persecute you." This he recommends by the example of the merciful

and bounteous Father of all, who "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send▾ "eth rain on the just and the unjust." After he had thus signified his meaning of these precepts, he proceeds to inculcate the practice of humility and self denial, in performing acts of charity, in the duty of prayer to God, and of solemn fasting and humiliation, by exposing the practice of hypocrites in these particulars, who court the applause of men, rather than that of God, and of their own consciences. He then encourages a forgiving temper of mind toward our brethren of mankind, by reminding us how much we are indebted to the pardoning mercy of God; and a spirit of dependance upon God for the good things of this life, by shewing the inefficacy of our anxious carefulness about them, and the providential regard of God toward all his creatures, even the meanest, and the most insensible. He next recommends a charitable frame of spirit by presenting us with a view of our own weakness, of our own failings and infirmities, which ought to make us sparing of our censures, and neither too ready, nor too harsh in passing judgment upon the actions of others. In fine, he recommends the universal observance of that rule in our dealings with mankind, "All things whatsoever ye

would that men should do to you, do ye even

te

so unto them."-A rule worthy so great an author. After this, it would be folly, it would be presumption to attempt a further illustration. We proceed then, in the

Third place, to consider briefly the necessary connection there is between "Love to Christ" and "keeping his commandments," or following his example, which we take to be one and the same thing; and this will evidently appear, by just going over the particulars of the first head. Is Christ a creator, a king, a prince, a lord, a master, a father? and are we his creatures, subjects, servants, followers, disciples, children? Do we pay him the veneration that is due to him in all these relations?-How do we, how can we, make it appear any other way than by the observance of whatever he has commanded us, and given us an example of in his own person?Would not that man be reckoned impudent to the last degree who should say he had a very strong affection for a gracious earthly prince, if at the same time he were in a state of open rebellion against him?-Would an indulgent, worthy master be satisfied with his servant's professing great love to him, if, notwithstanding, he should act in direct contradiction to his commands? Would a kind earthly teacher think his

scholar really loved him, let his professions be what they might, should he despise his dictates? Or would a tender earthly father be pleased with a favourite son, would he or any one else believe that son had the affectionate reverence for him. which he pretended, if he contemned his advice and trampled upon his authority?-How can Christ then, or how can the world be satisfied of the love of that man to his Saviour, who wilfully transgresses what he has in the strongest manner enjoined him, both by precept and example?Again, is Christ a brother, a friend, yea," a friend "that sticketh closer than a brother," and do we profess to be his friends? The only way we can evidence it, as he himself in another place tells us, is, by doing "whatsoever he has commanded us," and then "we are his friends indeed."

Would not that man be reckoned very hollow hearted, whatever his protestations might be, should he, in disregard of all the social ties, be tray the interest of, or do what he is certain would be, in the highest degree, grievous, disgusting, and offensive to an affectionate friend, who studied his good in every thing, and was in himself worthy of the highest esteem?—and, last of all, has Christ given the noblest proof of his friendship, that could possibly be given? Has he died for his enemies to make them his friends?

and do we pretend to have the most grateful sense of what he has done for us? Let us shew it by being to one another, as much as in us lies, what Christ has been, and is to us. Can any man say, he is deeply sensible of what Christ has done for him, and at the same time indulge an ungenerous unforgiving temper toward his brother? or, to sum up all that can be said, in one word, can he live in the habitual wilful omission of any duty, or the habitual wilful practice of any sin, which are the very thorns which crowned the head, the very nails which pierced the hands and feet, the very spear which stabbed the side, and the very pangs which wounded the soul of the almighty compassionate Saviour? If we really love our Redeemer, we will keep his commandments, and they " are not grievous" but joyous, "in keeping them there is great reward: "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his "commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not "in him. A new commandment I give unto you, "that ye love one another, as I have loved you "that ye also love one another. By this shall all "men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have "love one to another: he that hath my com"mandments, and keepeth them, he it is that "loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be

loved of my Father, and I will love him, and