Sermons preached

First, What an advantage Religion is to Mankind, even with regard to the present Life. The World hath a prejudice against Religion as if it were an ill natured thing, and made Men forget Equity and humane respects in favourable dealings with others. But certainly there is no reason for this Prejudice, when it doth require not only love of all in their several Capacities, but to do to them all the good possibly we can, and to seek out Objects to whom we may do good, and be of a God-like Affection. Therefore see that it be so in your Profession and Practice, that you may recover the credit of Religion by this Rule. If this were practised,

1. How securely and safely might we live one by another? Whence come all the Oppressions and Injuries wherewith the World aboundeth, but for want of love to their Neighbours, ⟨p. 369⟩as themselves? How easily might we be brought to pardon Wrongs? And how patiently would we bear the modest Dissent of others, when their Judgments are not of our Size and Mould? How far would we be off doing hurt to others, even as far as doing hurt to our selves.

2. Consider how beneficial and mutually helpful Men would be to each other, seeking others good as their own; and rejoicing in an others Welfare as our own. If the World would but consider how much of Christianity doth consist in loving and doing good, as if all the World had but one Soul, one Interest, it would render it very amiable to them. Take this Rule quite away, and there is nothing so false, bad, cruel, that you would not be drawn to think, or say, or do against your Brother.