ledge as swine have of pearls, and as much relish as they have for them, so much relish have they for the deep things of God, so much knowledge of the mysteries of the gospel, who are immersed in the mire of this world, in worldly pleasures, desires, and cares. O! cast not those pearls before these, lest they trample them under their feet, lest they utterly despise what they cannot understand, and speak evil of the things which they know not. Nay, it is probable, this would not be the only inconvenience which would follow. It would not be strange, if they were, according to their nature, to turn again, and rend you if they were to return you evil for good, cursing for blessing, and hatred for your good-will. Such is the enmity of the carnal mind, against God and all the things of God. Such is the treatment you are to expect from these, if you offer them the unpardonable affront, of endeavouring to save their souls from death, to pluck them as brands out of the burning!

18. And yet you need not utterly despair even of these, who, for the present, turn again and rend you. For, if all your arguments and persuasives fail, there is yet another remedy left, and one that is frequently found effectual, when no other method avails; this is-Prayer. Therefore, whatever you desire or want, either for others or for your own soul, “Ask, and it shall be given you: Seek, and ye shall find: Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." The neglect of this is a third grand bindrance of holiness. Still we "have not, because we ask not." O! how meek and gentle, how lowly in heart, how full of love both to God and man, might ye have been at this day, if you had only asked! If you had continued instant in prayer! Therefore now, at least, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you." Ask, that ye may thoroughly experience and perfectly practise the whole of that Religion, which our Lord has here so beautifully described. It shall then be given you, to be holy as he is holy, both in heart and in all manner of conversation. Seck, in the way he hath ordained, in searching the Scriptures, in hearing his word, in meditating thereon, in fasting, in partaking of the Supper of the Lord, and surely ye shall find.

Ye shall find the pearl of great price, that faith which overcometh the world, that peace which the world cannot give, that love which is the earnest of your inheritance. Knock: continue in prayer, and in every other way of the Lord. Be not weary or faint in your mind. Press on to the mark. Take no denial. Let him not go until he bless you. And the door of mercy, of holiness, of heaven, shall be opened unto you.

1

19. It is in compassion to the hardness of our heart, so unready to believe the goodness of God, that our Lord is pleased to enlarge upon this head, and to repeat and confirm what he hath spoken. "For every one," saith he, "that asketh, receiveth :" so that none need come short of the blessing: "and he that seeketh," even every one that seeketh "findeth," the love and the image of God: "and to him that knocketh," to every one that knocketh, the gate of righteousness shall be opened. So that here is no room for any to be discouraged, as tho' they might ask, or seek, or knock in vain. Only remember, always to pray, to seek, to knock, and not to be faint. And then the promise standeth sure. It is firm as the pillars of heaven. Yea, more firm; for heaven and earth shall pass away; but his Word shall not pass away.

20. To cut off every pretence for unbelief, our blessed Lord, in the following verses, illustrates, yet farther, what he had said, by an appeal to what passes in our own breasts. "What man," saith he, "is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?". Will even natural affection permit you to refuse the reasonable request of one you love? "Or, if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" Will he give him hurtful, instead of profitable things? So that even from what you feel and do yourselves, you may receive the fullest assurance, as, on the one hand, that no ill effect can possibly attend your asking, so, on the other, that it will be attended with that good effect, a full supply of all your wants. For, "if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven," who is

pure, unmixed, essential goodness, "give good things to them that ask him ?" Or, (as he expresses it on another occasion)"give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him?" In him are included all good things; all wisdom, peace, joy, love the whole treasures of holiness and happiness: all that God hath prepared for them that love him.

21. But that your prayer may have its full weight with God, see that ye be in charity with all men. For otherwise, it is more likely to bring a curse than a blessing on your own head: nor can you expect to receive any blessing from God, while you have not charity towards your neighbour. Therefore, let this hindrance be removed without delay. Confirm your love towards one another, and towards all And love them, not in word only, but in deed and "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would, that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them; for this is the Law and the Prophets."

men.

in truth.

22. This is that royal law, that golden rule of Mercy, as well as Justice, which, even the Heathen Emperor caused to be written over the gate of his palace: a rule, which many believe to be naturally engraven on the minds of every one that comes into the world. And thus much is certain, that it commends itself, as soon as heard, to every man's conscience and understanding: insomuch that no man can knowingly offend against it, without carrying his condemnation in his own breast.

23. "This is the Law and the Prophets." Whatsoever is written in that law which God of old revealed to mankind; and whatsoever precepts God has given, by his holy Prophets, which have been since the world began, they are all summed up in those few words, they are all contained in this short direction. And this, rightly understood, comprises the whole of that Religion which our Lord came to establish upon earth.

24. It may be understood, either in a positive or negative sense. If understood in a negative sense, the meaning is, 'Whatever ye would not that men should do to you, do not ye unto them.' Here is a plain rule, always ready at

hand, always easy to be applied. In all cases relating to your neighbour, make his case your own. Suppose the circumstances to be changed, and yourself to be just as he is now. And then beware that you indulge no temper or thought, that no word pass out of your lips, that you take no step which you should have condemned in him, upon such a change of circumstances. If understood in a direct and positive sense, the plain meaning of it is, 'Whatsoever you could reasonably desire of him, supposing yourself to be in his circumstances, that do, to the uttermost of your power, to every child of man.'

25. To apply this in one or two obvious instances. It is clear to every man's own conscience, we would not that others should judge us, should causelessly or lightly think evil of us. Much less would we that any should speak evil of us, should publish our real faults or infirmities. Apply this to yourself. Do not unto another what you would not he should do unto you; and you will never more judge your neighbour, never causelessly or lightly think evil of Much less will you speak evil; you will never mention even the real fault of an absent person, unless so far as you are convinced, it is absolutely needful, for the good of other souls.

any one.

26. Again: we would that all men should love and esteem us, and behave toward us, according to justice, mercy, and truth. And we may reasonably desire, that they should do us all the good they can do, without injuring themselves: yea, that in outward things, (according to the known rule,) their superfluities should give way to our conveniencies, their conveniencies to our necessities, and their necessities to our extremities. Now, then, let us walk by the same rule: let us do unto all, as we would they should do to us. Let us love and honour all men. Let Justice, Mercy, and Truth, govern all our minds and actions. Let our superfluities give way to our neighbour's conveniencies: (and who then will have any superfluities left ?) Our conveniencies to our neighbour's necessities, our necessities to his extremities.

27. This is pure and genuine morality. This do and

thou shalt live. "As many as walk by this rule, Peace be to them and Mercy:" for they are "the Israel of God." But then be it observed, none can walk by this rule, (nor ever did from the beginning of the world) none can love his neighbour as himself, unless he first love God. And none can love God, unless he believe in Christ, unless he have redemption through his blood, and the Spirit of God bearing witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God. Faith, therefore, is still the root of all, of present, as well as future salvation. Still we must say to every sinner, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." shalt be saved now, that thou mayest be saved for ever; saved on earth, that thou mayest be saved in heaven. Believe in him, and thy faith will work by love. Thou wilt love the Lord thy God, because he hath loved thee: thou wilt love thy neighbour as thyself. And then it will be thy glory and joy, to exert and increase this love, not barely by abstaining from what is contrary thereto, from every unkind thought, word, and action, but by shewing all that kindness to every man, which thou wouldst he should shew unto thee.

Thou