will bind up their tongues from publishing his defects; and will excite them to be ready in his commendation; to defend his character, and establish his credit and reputation; of which they themselves feel the advantage.

But the full reward of obeying our Lord's precept in the text, and the full punishment of transgressing it, will be at the bar of Heaven; in the returns of mercy, or severity, which we shall meet with at the hands of God. The goodness and gentleness of those who have abstained from judging, shall then return into their own bosom; as they have not brought the actions of others, so neither shall their own be brought, to so rigorous an account: "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." But it shall not be so with the censorious, the malicious, and uncharitable: who shall be judged out of their own mouths; according to the severity of the rules which they laid down for others, and to the test of which, they brought their lives, in order to condemn them. For divine justice deals with us in a way of retribution; and makes the manner of our acting towards men, the measure of what we are to expect from God. As the merciful shall obtain mercy; and they who forgive men their trespasses, shall be forgiven by their heavenly Father; so, in the case before us, to have been

favourable in judging of others, will

secure to us a favourable trial at the last day. But to have been hasty or malicious in accusing, and severe in condemning them, will then establish a dreadful precedent against ourselves; and will leave the Justice of that day, open to sift and examine our lives, according to the exactness of the law; and to assign us the punishment it orders for every offence, without any qualification or abatement of its rigour: under the smart of which, we shall be forced to acknowledge, that, as we have done, so God hath requited us.

**

Merciful therefore to himself is he, who condemns not others! who turns the severity of his temper, the rigour of his rules, the harshness of his censures, upon himself only. Well is he employed, who is busy only to pry into, and know, the secrets of one heart: here he will find large employment for his censures, when he examines its naughtiness, its follies, and disorders, by the unerring law of God, and the perfect example of Christ; against which, he will find he hath so often offended, in despite of conscience and grace. Happy, lastly, is he, who, with Saint Paul, judging himself to be among the chief of sinners, endeavours to wash away the stain of

* See Judges, i. 6, 7.

past transgressions, with tears of penitence, through faith in the blood of his Redeemer; and to live from thenceforth as becomes the Gospel of Christ: from which conduct, will result a character, that will plead the cause of virtue and religion, with the force of example; and will reprove and discountenance the vicious, better than if we brought against them a railing accusation.

Let us therefore judge not, that we be not judged; and condemn not, that we be not condemned: but, by charity and tenderness towards men, our brethren, commend ourselves to the mercy of God, our heavenly Father, the great Judge of all the earth.

175

DISCOURSE XIV.

SAINT MATTHEW, vi. 10.

THY WILL BE DONE.

THIS, as every Christian knows, is one of the petitions in the Lord's prayer: a prayer, intended not only for our constant use, but also, as a rule to direct our other devotions. So that we may be assured, where there are so few articles, Divine Wisdom hath provided, that every one of them should contain somewhat material and important to us. And indeed, so important is this point of doing the will of God, that there is no real happiness without it; as, on the other hand, could it be fully and perfectly complied with, were the will of God done on earth, as it is in heaven, the world would wear another face than it does at present; and life and nature would be restored to what they lost, when the first man chose to follow his own will and ways, rather than the will and commandment of his Creator.

Blessed be God! that happy time will come, when all things shall recover their original beauty and perfection, through the obedience of one, even Christ. What fallen man is unable, and ever must be unable, to do for himself, the Son of God hath done, and achieved for him. He hath washed out the stain of our sin and rebellion, with his own precious blood; and hath performed a perfect obedience to the will of God, in all things. For his sake, and through his merits, we shall be restored to that felicity, which we have forfeited; and new heavens, and a new earth, shall be created, wherein dwelleth righteousness; that is, where all the people shall be just, doing and submitting to the will of the Almighty, with entire duty and affection; and from thence, reaping the fruits of complete and perpetual happiness. May the kingdom of God come, and his will be done, in this heavenly

The will of God is to be done two ways: one of which is, by a sincere obedience to his laws; the other, by a dutiful submission to his Providence.

It is with a view to the latter, that I purpose to form my present discourse: in which I shall endeavour to show, first, the wisdom, and, secondly, the blessedness, of submitting our