Surely in such a state of things it must be the natural, the instinctive, conduct of piety to acquiesce in dispensations of this nature. Under the afflictions which it demands, and which of course it cannot but involve, we may and must at times smart, as a child under the rod, when administered by the most affectionate parental hand; but, like children influenced by filial piety, we shall receive the chastening with resignation and love.

3. Resignation is also a most profitable duty.

The profit of this spirit is the increase which it always brings, of virtue and happiness. Our pride and passion, by which we are naturally and of choice governed, conduct us only to guilt and suffering. So long as their dominion over us continues, we daily become more sinful and more miserable, as children become, during the continuance of their rebellion against their parents. The first step towards peace, comfort, or hope in this case, is to attain a quiet, submissive spirit. That God will order the things of the world as we wish, ignorant and sinful as we are, cannot be for a moment believed. The only resort which remains for us, therefore, is to be satisfied with what he actually does; and to believe that what he does is wise and good, and if we will permit it, wise and good for us. To be able to say, 'Thy will be done,' says Dr. Young, "will lay the loudest storm;" whether of passion within, or affliction without.

Children, when they have been punished, are often, and if dutiful children, always more affectionate, and dutiful, and amiable than before. Just such is the character of the children of God, when they exercise evangelical resignation under his chastening hand. Every one of them, like David, finds it good for himself that he has been afflicted;' an increase of his comfort; an increase of his virtue and loveliness.

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As this disposition regards events not yet come to pass, its effects are of the same desirable nature. For the wisdom and goodness, the fitness and beneficial tendency, of all that is future, the pious mind will rely with a steady confidence on the perfect character of God. With this reliance it will regularly believe that there is good interwoven with all the real as well as apparent evil which, from time to time, may take

view exhibited its nature, so far as is necessary to this system. Nothing further will be needed under this head, except an explanation of the degree in which we are required to love our neighbour, expressed in the words as thyself.'

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This phraseology has been very differently understood by different persons. Some have supposed it to contain a direction, that we should love our neighbour with the same kind of love, which is exercised towards ourselves. This plainly cannot be its meaning. The love which we usually and naturally exercise towards ourselves is selfish and sinful. Such a love as this may be, and often is, exercised towards our children, and other darling connections; and wherever it exists, is of course sinful, and cannot therefore have been commanded by God. At the same time, it is physically impossible that we should exercise it towards our fellow creatures at large, the real objects of the affection required in the text, as I shall have occasion to show under the second head. Others have insisted, that we are required to love them in the same manner as ourselves. This cannot be the meaning. For we love ourselves inordinately, unreasonably, without candour, or equity; even when the kind of love is really evangelical. Others, still, have supposed, that the command obliges us to love our neighbour in exactly the same degree in which we ought to love ourselves. This interpretation, though nearer the truth than the others, is not I apprehend altogether agreeable to the genuine meaning of the text. It has, if I mistake not, been heretofore shown satisfactorily, that we are in our very nature capable of understanding, realizing, and feeling whatever pertains to ourselves, more entirely than the same things when pertaining to others; that our own concerns are committed to us by God in a peculiar manner; that God has made it in a peculiar manner our duty to provide for our own, especially for those of our own households;' and that thus a regard to ourselves, and those who are ours, is our duty in a peculiar degree. To these things it may be justly added, that we are not bound to love all those included under the word neighbour, in the same degree. Some of these persons are plainly of much greater importance to mankind than others; are possessed of greater talents, of higher excellence, and of more usefulness. Whether we make their happiness or their excellence the object of our love; in other words, whether we

regard them with benevolence, or complacency, we ought plainly to make a difference, and often a wide one, between them; because they obviously and exceedingly differ in their characters and circumstances. A great, excellent, and useful man, such as St. Paul was, certainly claims a higher degree of love from us, than a person totally inferior to him in these characteristics.

Besides, if this rule of entire equality had been intended in the command, we ought certainly to have been enabled in the natural sense to perform this duty. But it is perfectly evident that no man, however well disposed, can exactly measure on all occasions the degree of love exercised by him towards his neighbour, or towards himself; or determine in many cases whether he has or has not loved himself and his neighbour in the same degree. It is plain therefore that, according to this scheme, we cannot, however well inclined, determine whether we do or do not perform our duty. But it is incredible that God should make this conduct our duty; and yet leave us, in the natural sense, wholly unable to perform it.

For these, and various other reasons, I am of opinion, that the precept in the text requires us to love our neighbour generally and indefinitely as ourselves. The love which we exercise towards him is ever to be the same in kind, which we ought to exercise towards ourselves; regarding both ourselves and him as members of the intelligent kingdom; as interested substantially in the same manner in the divine favour; as in the same manner capable of happiness, moral excellence, and usefulness; of being instruments of glory to God, and of good to our fellow-creatures; as being originally interested alike in the death of Christ; and, with the same general probability, heirs of eternal life. This explanation seems to be exactly accordant with the language of the text. As does not always denote exact equality. Frequently it indicates equality in a general, indefinite sense; and, not unfrequently, a strong resemblance, approximating towards an equality. There is no proof, that it intends an exact equality in the text.

In many cases, for example, in most cases of commutative justice, and in many of distributive justice, it is in our power to render to others exactly that which we render to ourselves. Here, I apprehend, exactness becomes the measure of our duty. The love which I have here described is evidently dis

interested; and would in our own case supply motives to our conduct so numerous and so powerful as to render selfish affections useless to us. Selfishness therefore is a principle of action totally unnecessary to intelligent beings as such, even for their own benefit.

II. The love here required extends to the whole intelligent Creation.

This position I shall illustrate by the following observations:

1. That it extends to our families, friends, and countrymen, will not be questioned.

2. That it extends to our enemies, and by consequence to all mankind, is decisively taught by our Saviour in a variety of scriptural passages. Ye have heard, that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father, who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil, and on the good; and sendeth rain on the just, and the unjust. Matt. v. 43, &c. And again: For if ye love them who love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. But I say unto you, love ye your enemies; and do good, and lend hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great; and ye shall be called the children of the Highest.' Luke vi. 32, 35. The term neighbour in this precept is explained by Christ, at the request of a scribe, in the parable of the Good Samaritan; Luke x. 25: and, with unrivalled force and irresistible conviction, it shows to include the worst and bitterest enemies, Concerning this subject the Scriptures have left no room for debate.

At the same time, it cannot but be satisfactory and useful, to examine this subject as it appears in its nature, and is connected with other kindred moral subjects.

It is well known that the pharisees held the doctrine, that, while we were bound to love our neighbour, that is, our friends, it was lawful to hate our enemies. It is equally well known, that multitudes in every succeeding age have imbibed the same doctrine; and that, in our own age and land, en

lightened as we are by the sunshine of the Gospel, there are not wanting multitudes who adopt the same doctrine, and insist, not only that they may lawfully hate their enemies, but also revenge themselves on such as have injured them, with violent and extreme retribution.

On this subject I observe,

(1.) That the command, to love our enemies, is enforced by the example of God.

This is the very argument used to enforce this precept by our Saviour. Love ye your enemies; and do good to them that hate you; and ye shall be called the children of the Highest; for he is kind to the evil and unthankful.—Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father who is in heaven is merciful.' The example of God is possessed of infinite authority. We see in it the conduct which infinite wisdom dictates, and in which it delights; and learn the rules of action by which it is pleased to govern itself. All that is thus dictated and done is supremely right and good. If we wish our own conduct to be right and good; we shall become 'followers of God, as dear children,' in all his imitable conduct, and particularly in that which is so strongly commended to our imitation. Christ also, who has presented to our view in his own life the conduct of God, in such a manner as to be more thoroughly understood, and more easily copied by us, has, in his prayer for his murderers, while suspended on the cross, enforced the precept in the text with unrivalled energy. Nothing could with greater power or more commanding loveliness require us to go and do likewise.'

To hate our enemies is directly opposed to the authority and the glory of these examples. The examples are divinely excellent and lovely; the conduct opposed to them is, of course, altogether vile and hateful. Accordingly, this conduct is exhibited to us for the purpose of commending the same precept also to our obedience, as the conduct of the worst of men. These love their friends, and hate their enemies; even publicans and sinners do this; and all who do this, and nothing more, bear a moral resemblance to publicans and sinners.

(2.) If we are bound to love those only who are friends to us, we are under no obligation to love God any longer than while he is our friend.

If we are not bound to love our enemies, whenever God