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eternal glory by Christ Jefus, after that ye bave fuffered a while, make you perfect, Stablish, Strengthen, fettle you. To him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen *.

* Peter, v. 11,

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SERMON

XII.

CHRISTIAN POLITENESS.

ROMANS, xii. 9, 10.

Let love be without diffimulation. Abhor that which is evil. Cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

THOU 'HOUGH man is formed for fociety, he yet poffeffes many qualities in his natural and unimproved ftate, which are extremely unfocial. In this ftate, In this ftate, pride and selfishness are found to predominate in him to so great a degree, as almoft to confine him to feparation and folitude. Some philofophers have indeed maintained, that a state of nature is a state of war; but whether this representation

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be juft or not, it is evidently certain that the sweets of focial intercourse cannot be enjoyed in perfection, till man is highly polished and completely civilized.

But even in a country far removed from a ftate of nature, there will remain some relics of the native ferocity, unless peculiar care is bestowed in the formation and improvement of manners. Hence rules of decorum and politeness have been established, to teach men a mutual renunciation of their own claims, in For order to promote mutual fatisfaction. the fake of preferving harmony, civilities of various kinds are exchanged, like coin, among those who cannot poffibly have any perfonal regard for each other, and who frequently entertain a latent enmity. The words of their mouth are fmoother than butter, but war is in their hearts; their words are fofter than oil, yet are they drawn fwords.

It is however very certain, that politeness contributes greatly to render human life both fweet and pacific. It is therefore highly

valuable. It is not without reason that the world agrees to esteem it. But we must lament that it is too often united with infincerity, and appears on examination to be but the counterfeit of a virtue. Indeed, it originates

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originates, for the most part, in selfishness, refined and improved by the subtlety of art and experience. It is fair to the view, but internally unfound. It may indeed answer beneficial purposes, even in its imperfect state; but it is certainly desirable that it should be what it appears to be, the genuine result of an humane and benevolent difpofition.

It is then the purpose of the prefent difcourse, to recommend the practice of politeness, on the principles of Chriftianity; to evince indeed, that he who poffeffes the genuine virtues of the Chriftian religion, must be, in the best and trueft fenfe of the word, polite; and that the fincereft Christian may most justly claim the title of the real gentleman. In a word, I fhall endeavour to make it appear, that the inftructions of the humble Jefus are peculiarly adapted to correct our pride and selfishness, thofe qualities which poffefs the most unsocial tendency.

In the first place, let us take a view of those fashionable methods which the world establishes, in order to regulate those unpleafant difpofitions. Let us examine them, as they appear to be laid down by the profeffed teachers of politeness, or the celebrated art of pleasing.

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So narrow and unphilofophical are the inftructors in this fpecies of worldly wisdom, that this life, and the external advantages of riches, rank, and honours, appear to them not only the chief, but the only good. How then does the father begin his paternal addresses to his child? Not like Solomon; "My fon, get wisdom, get understanding," in the ways of God and virtue; but, " Gain a know“ ledge of the world, and learn, at an early. age, to deceive all with whom you con

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"Away with prejudices, (and under prejudices are comprehended all moral and religious "virtues,) away with diffidence and delicacy! "Let your own interest and advancement be invariably your objects. Let these employ your meditations by night, and your activity by day; but remember that your interest and "advancement depend entirely on the favour "of others. To gain that favour you muft please them. Now men are pleased rather by agreeable accomplishments, and by little attentions, than by folid attainments, or by ar“duous virtues. Cultivate then the art of pleafing; an art which cannot well be practised, "as the world is now conftructed, without " conftant

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