The works of George Swinnock, M.A

First, Be careful in thy carriage towards others as to the manner of it, that it be righteous, meek and courteous.

First, Be careful in thy carriage towards others as to the maner of it, that it be righteous, meek and courteous.

1. Be righteous in thy dealings with all men. Righteousness strictly taken is a virtue, which guideth and ordereth the whole man for the good of his neighbour, as the understanding to conceive, the Will to chose, the affections to love and desire, and the whole man to act and do what may tend to the welfare of others. This righteousness is of so great concernment to godliness, that it is sometimes put by a Synecdoche for the whole of Religion, 1 Joh. 3. 7. He that doth righteousness, is righteous; so Rom. 6. 17. And the Christian is denominated from this part of Christianity, Gen. 7. 1. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the Ark, for thee have I seen righteous before me; so Psa. 5. ult. For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous. The Moral Philosophers tell us that justice is the sum and Epitome of all virtues; the Divines will inform us that righteousness (largely taken) is the ⟨p. 16⟩string upon which all the graces hang; if that be broken or snapped asunder, they all fall off and are lost. I must tell thee (Christian) that civil righteousness is as really necessary as sacred. He that seemeth righteous towards God, and is unrighteous towards men, is unrighteous both to God and Man. I say, be righteous in thy dealing with all men. Viz. Let thy righteousness be real and universal; Commutative & Distributive. Be righteous in thy action•, expressions, and towards all persons.