V. Their enmity and ill ufage will never excufe me from doing them any good turns that are due to them as men and chriftians. But can this hinder me from defending myfelf from any injury or violence? from recovering what is my own? or from bringing upon them whatever mischief the law will inflict upon fuch tranfgreffors? VI. Shall christianity hinder me from breaking off friendship with one who has fhewed himself unworthy of it? nay, I am well fatisfied that the doctrine of Chrift is of greater purity, than to require me to continue him in that confidence and truft, he has heretofore been in, but now forfeited by falfehood and ill ufage. I know there can be no communion between the difciples of God and Belial,* fo that if we must not hate, yet we may dislike any one that injures our reputation, fortune, or perfon. VII. This I understand to mean, that we ceafe our friendship as to opinion, but not our readiness to do all good offices; as for example, if I have injured any one, I must be reconciled and make amends; and if any one has injured me, I must pray to God to forgive him, and fo forgive him myself, as to return not evil for evil,† nor take any advantage against any to their prejudice. VIII. Therefore, my foul! it concludes in this if our adverfary be unreasonable, and : G 3 * Cor, vi. 14. Matth. v. 44. Luke vi. 13. will will not be reconciled to us, it is enough that we have defired it, and fhew ourselves difpofed to it only I fhall always learn of thee to have immediate recourse in all difficulties, which may happen in like cafes, to fome prudent and good fpiritual guide, who will tell me what is to be done in the matter; and efpecially I fhall remember, that to be on the forgiving fide, is wisdom, and pleafure, and fuperiority; yea, it is to do bravely, and to be a good chriftian. The Hymn for Friday Evening... AD I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, If love be abfent, I am found * 1 Cor. xiii. 7. The The Second Hymn for Friday Evening. CH On Chriftian Love and Charity. HARITY, decent, modeft, eafy, kind, Each other gift which God on man bestows, Then conftant Faith and holy Hope shall die, Shalt ftand before the host of heaven confeft, Anoth How Another. WOW bleft the man whofe bowels move And melt with pity to the poor, Whofe foul with fympathizing love Feels what his fellows do endure! His heart contrives for their relief Shall find the Lord has pity too. His foul fhall live fecure on earth, God will pronounce his fins forgiv❜n, LMIGHTY and everlasting God, the Creator and governor of all things, who knoweft our neceffities before we afk, and our ignorance in afking; grant that all reafonable creatures who fear and obey thee, and are capable of understanding the greatness and glory of thy attributes, may unfeignedly admire and adore thee, and exprefs their veneration and praifes of thee, in ways moft fuitable to the ondition of their nature, and the difcoveries of of thy divine will, revealed to us by Jefus Christ our Lord. O Lord, who has taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; fend thy Holy Ghost, and pour into my heart that moft excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whofoever liveth is counted dead before thee; more especially, as I have prefumed to commemorate the unfpeakable love of my bleffed Saviour in dying for me, let not my heart be deftitute of love towards my brethren; extend thy mercy and forgiveness to all my enemies, perfecutors and flanderers, and turn their hearts; which I as fincerely beg for them, as I hope for mercy and forgiveness at thy hands. Poffefs me with kindness and good. will for all mankind, that my faith may work by love, and difpofe my heart, according to my ability, to adminifter towards the wants and neceffities of thofe, who are any ways afflicted or diftreffed in mind, body or eftate, and do unto all men as I would they should do unto me in like circumstances; that by doing good for evil, all men may know I am thy difciple. Oh! vouchfafe that all mankind may come to the knowledge and belief of thy 'true Religion, that fo the kingdom of Chrift may be extended, and the eternal laws of Godliness, Righteoufnefs, Charity, and Sobriety may be established throughout the whole |