A MORALITIES. Man that loves nothing but according to his natural inclination, loves only like a beaft, or an infidel. The beft fort of love is that which is commanded by God, and is derived from judgment, conducted by reason and perfected by charity. Methinks it fhould be harder for a good christian to hate than love his enemy. Hate makes him our equal, whereas love placeth us quite above him. By hating a man's enemy, he breaks the laws of God; he fights against the incarnation of Chrift, which was acted to unite all things in the bond of love: he gives the lie to the moft blessed Eucharift, whofe nature is to make the hearts of all chriftians the fame: he lives, like another Cain in the world, always difquieted by seeking revenge, and it is very death to him to hear of another man's profperity whereas, to love an enemy doth not bind us to love the injury he hath done us; for we must not confider him as a malefactor, but as a man of our own nature, as he is the image of God, and as he is a chriftian. God doth only command perfect things, not impoffible. That which is very hard to flesh and blood becomes easy by Our by the help of grace and reafon. 2. If revenge seem sweet, the gaining of it is most bitter : But there is nothing in the world more profitable than to pardon an enemy by imitation of our Saviour. For it is then that our confcience can affure us to be the children of God, and inheritors of his glory. We must not fear to be despised for efteeming virtue; for fuch contempt. can only proceed from those who know not the true value of that glory which belongs to the juft. There is no better way to revenge, than to leave it to God, who always doth his own business. When David wept for Saul, who was his enemy, his clemency did infenfibly make degrees, by which he mounted up to the throne of Judah. A good work which comes from the fpirit of vanity is like an empty mine, good for nothing. God, who is invifible, would have our afpects turned always toward him, and blind toward the world. Alms given by the found of a trumpet make 1 great noife on the earth, but reap little fruit in heaven. The fly of vanity is a mifchievous thing, which deftroys all the perfumes perfumes of charity. What need we any fpectators of our good works? every place is full where God is; and where his is not, there only is folitude. ASPIRATIONS. God of all holy affections, when shall I love all that thou loveft, and have in horror all that displeaseth thy divine majefty? If I cannot love in fome person his defects and fins, I will love in him thine image, and in that I will acknowledge thy mercies. If he be a piece of broken glass; in that little piece, there will fhine fome lines of a God-creator, and of a Godredeemer. If thou hast chofen him to exercife my patience, why fhould I make him the object of my revenge, fince he gives me trouble to gain me a crown? He is a hammer to polish and make me bright; I will not hurt him, but reverence the arm that ftrikes me. I refign all vengeance into thy hands, fince it is a right referved for thy almighty power. And certainly the best revenge I can take, is to gratify my enemy. Give unto me (O moft merciful prince) the grace to fuffer, and let the facrifice of my fufferings mount up to thy propitiatory throne. The The Gospel for the firft Saturday in Lent, St. Matthew vi. Of the Apostles danger at fea, and relief of our Saviour. AND ND, when he had difmiffed them he went into the mountain to pray; and when it was late, the boat was in the midst of the fea, and himself alone on the land. And fering them labour in rowing, for the wind was against them, and about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the fea; and he would have paffed by them: But they, feeing him walking upon the fear thought it was a ghoft, and cried out, for all Jaw him, and were troubled. And immedi ately be talked with them, and faid to them, have confidence, it is I, fear ye not. And be went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceafed, and they were far more aftonished with in themfelves, for they underflood not concerning the loaves, for their heart was blinded. And, when they had paffed over, they came into the landl of Genefareth, and fet to the shore. And when they were gone out of the boat, in continent, they knew him, and running through that whole country, they began to carry about in couches thofe that were ill at eafe, where they heard he was. And whither foever he en tered tered into towns, or into villages, or cities, they laid the fick in the streets, and befought him that they might touch the hem of his Garment ; and as many as touched him were made whole. I. MORALITIES. WHAT THAT a painful thing is it to row when Jefus is not in the boat? all our travail is juft nothing, without God's favour: A little blaft of wind is worth more than an hundred ftrokes of oars. What troublesome bufineffes there are? how many intricate families do labour much and yet advance nothing, becaufe God withdraws himself from their iniquities? If he do not build, the workman deftroys what he is building: but all falls out right to those that embark themfelves with Jefus. They may pass to the Indies in a basket, when others fhall miscarry in a good fhip well furnished. 2. But how comes it about that the ship of the poor apoftles is beaten fo furiously by the winds and tempeft? There are many ships with filver beaks, with fine linen fails and filken tackles, upon which the fea feems to smile. Do the waters referve their choler only to vent it upon that ship which carries juft perfons? This is the course of man's life: the brave and happy men of |