Imatges de pàgina
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waste the works of art and nature together, covering the cultivated land with defolation, and cutting off from the crouded city man and beast, are all the meffengers and minifters of God: and we Rom. viii. know that they all, for we know that all things, work together for good to them that

28.

love God.

SER.

SERMON V.

THIRD COMMANDMENT. PART I.

JAMES v. 12.

ABOVE ALL THINGS, MY BRETHREN, SWEAR NOT; NEITHER BY HEAVEN, NEITHER BY THE EARTH, NEITHER BY ANY OTHER OATH.

W

HEN a particular vice is obferved to be predominant, the preacher fets himself to oppose it with all his might. He draws out all his train of reasons and arguments; and if he find himself furnished with any ftores of eloquence alfo, he fcruples not to make use even of that dangerous weapon. He represents the irregularity against which he

is engaged, as the moft heinous of offences: whatever other crime we overlook, he requires us to beware of this capital evil; and prohibits every action that but approaches near it, in the moft comprehenfive expreffions, and under the feverest penalties. For the making of necessary exceptions, and limitations, we are left to our own reflections, to nature, to experience, and the common fenfe of all the world. In the mean time, Cafuistry being no part of his province, he preffes forward to diffuade, rebuke, and threaten. He stays not to look around, and collect all the cafes where his maxims may give way; nor lets the force and flame of his exhortations die, under the weight of unfeasonable and frigid diftinctions.

Above all things, my brethren, fwear not. How! Is the fin here forbidden, the worst of all fins? Grows there no other offence fo rank in that foil, fertile of vice, the heart of man? It is indeed utterly incapable

pable of defence, or excufe; foolish, profane, and hurtful; difhonourable to the Supreme Being, and detrimental to mankind. But fo, alas! are many other vices. All indeed are fo, either directly, or in their confequences. But fome there are furely in themselves fo odious, in their effects fo fatal, that they may be allowed to claim this infamous preeminence; fo that he who swears, and that inconfiderately and falfly, by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath, however liable to blame and punishment, will hardly fall into a greater condemnation.

Above all, taking the fhield of faith, above all things, have fervent charity. We need not set the graces and virtues of our religion in competition with each other; we diftinguish beft, when we are poffeffed of all. It is not neceffary to weigh the vices in fo exact a balance, The very fame Apoftle, who is in this inftance fo urgent, above all things, my brethren,

Eph. vi. 16.

I Pet.iv.8.

IO.

thren, fwear not, has already taught us,

James ii. that whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all.

Matth. v.

34, &c.

Matth. x.

23.

The text of St. James is taken from the words of our Lord in his fermon on the mount. I fay unto you, fwear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footflool; neither by Jerufalem, and fo on. After this follows almost immediately: Ifay unto you, that ye refift not evil: whosoever shall fmite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other alfo. What! not hold his hand at least, if it were ftretched out to murder me? If God ever give him the grace to repent, it will alleviate the anguish of his remorse, that the crime which he had the wickedness to attempt, he had not the unhappy fuccefs to execute. Turn to him the other alfo : How! will you deny me the use of that prudent precaution, which is even commanded by our Lord himself? when they perfecute you in one city, flee unto another.

But

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