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 men. And love them, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. 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.

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 engraved on the mind 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 havebeen since the world began, they are all summed up in these few words, they are all contained in this short direction. And this rightly understood comprizes 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 circumstance, 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 causelesly 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; andyou will never more judge your neighbour, never causelesly or lightly think evil of any one. 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.

26. Again: we would that all men should love and esteem us, and behave towards 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 conveniences, 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 nonecan love God, unless he believe in Christ, unless he have redemption thro’ 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. Thou shalt be saved now, thou mayst be saved for ever; saved on earth, that thou mayst 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.

The End of the Second Volume.

Footnotes.

[1] – Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, before the University, on January 1, 1733.
[2] – N. B. The following part of this paragraph is now added to the sermon formerly preached.
[3] – Gal. iii. 26.
[4] – John i. 12, 13.
[5] – 1 John v. 1.
[6] – Rom. i. 6, &c.
[7] – 1 John iii. 1, &c.
[8] – Ver. 9.
[9] – Ver. 7.
[10] – Ver. 18.
[11] – Rom. v. 1.
[12] – John xiv. 27.
[13] – Ch. xvi. 33.
[14] – 1 Pet. i. 3.
[15] – Rom. viii. 16, 17.
[16] – John xvi. 22.
[17] – Rom. v. 11.
[18] – 1 Pet. i. 5, &c.
[19] – Rev. xxi. 3, 4.
[20] – Rom. v. 5.
[21] – Gal. iv. 8.
[22] – 1 John v. 15.
[23] – Psal. lxiii. 5.
[24] – 1 John v. 1.
[25] – Cant. ii. 16.
[26] – Psal. xlv. 2.
[27] – 1 John iii. 16.
[28] – Ver. 14.
[29] – Ch. iv. 13.
[30] – 1 John iv. 7.
[31] – 1 John v. 3.
[32] – 1 John iii. 15.
[33] – Matt. v. 28.
[34] – James iv. 4.
[35] – Psal. xxiii. 1, &c.
[36] – Psal. xviii. 1.
[37] – Psal. xxxiv. 1.
[38] – Psal. cxviii. 28.
[39] – Acts iv. 36, 37.
[40] – Ch. xi. 29.
[41] – Ch. xiii. 1, 2, 4.
[42] – Ch. xv. 35, 38, 39.
[43] – Acts xi. 28.
[44] – Gal. ii. 11, &c.
[45] – 2 Sam. xi. 2.
[46] – James i. 14.
[47] – Matt. iv. 23.
[48] – Ver. 12.
[49] – Ver. 25.
[50] – Matt. v. 1, &c.
[51] – Deut. xviii. 19.
[52] – Acts iii. 23.
[53] – Rom. i. 18, &c.
[54] – Rom. viii. 35, 38, 39.
[55] – John xvi. 19–22.
[56] – Exod. xxxii. 31, 32.
[57] – Rom. ix. 3.
[58] – Acts xv. 39.
[59] – Ver. 27.
[60] – Ver. 28.
[61] – Ver. 33.
[62] – Ver. 34.
[63] – Ver. 35.
[64] – Ver. 36.
[65] – Ver. 37.
[66] – Matt. xxvi. 63. 64.
[67] – Heb. vi. 17.
[68] – Rom. i. 9.
[69] – 2 Cor. i. 23.
[70] – Phil. i. 8.
[71] – Heb. vi. 16.
[72] – Gal. iv. 29.
[73] – 1 John iii. 13.
[74] – John xv. 18, &c.
[75] – Luke xii. 51.
[76] – Ver. 38, &c.
[77] – Ver. 43, &c.
[78] – Luke xvii. 3.
[79] – Matt. xviii. 21.
[80] – Ver. 47.
[81] – Ver. 48.
[82] – Ibid.
[83] – 1 Cor. v. 9.
[84] – Ver. 11.
[85] – 2 Thess. iii. 15.
[86] – John xv. 2, 5, 6.
[87] – Heb. vi. 4, &c.
[88] – 1 Cor. 14. 1.
[89] – 1 Cor. 12. 31.
[90] – Acts xv. 6.
[91] – Acts xv. 10.
[92] – Ver. 24.
[93] – Acts xxiii. 6.
[94] – Chap. xxvi. 5.
[95] – Acts xxiv. 16.
[96] – Chap. xxiii. 1.
[97] – Luke xi. 2.
[98] – Chap. i. 12, 13.
[99] – 1 Kings xviii. 28.
[100] – Daniel iv. 5, &c.
[101] – Lev. xxiii. 26, &c.
[102] – Zech. viii. 19.
[103] – 2 Chron. xx. 1, 3.
[104] – Jer. xxxvi. 9.
[105] – 1 Sam. xxviii. 15, 20.
[106] – Acts xxvii. 33.
[107] – 2 Sam. i. 12.
[108] – Judg. xx. 26, &c.
[109] – 1 Sam. vii. 6, &c.
[110] – Ezra viii. 21.
[111] – Nehem. i. 4, 11.
[112] – Matt. xvii. 19, &c.
[113] – Joel ii. 12, &c.
[114] – Acts x. 4, &c.
[115] – Isaiah lviii. 6, &c.
[116] – Seneca.