SERM.

To conclude, Let us all, in the Sincerity xv. of our Hearts, make the best Use We can,

for our own Happiness, and the Good of Others, of what has been faid; and fhew a Conduct, worthy of Men and of Chriftians, in that Condition of Life, whatever it may be, in which our Great and Good Governour fhall think fit to place Us.

The

The GOOD SAMARITAN.

SERMON XVI.

LUKE X. 37. Then faid Jefus unto Him, Go, and do Thou likewife.

HETHER the Verfes before this SER M. contain a Parable, invented for In- xvi. ftruction; or a real Matter of Fact; m it imports little. The Words I have read to You, are a Leffon drawn from the foregoing Story: The Occasion of which was this. A certain Lawyer, one who ftudied the Law of Mofes, and exercised himself in all the Questi ons belonging to that Law, having heard that our bleffed Lord profeffed to fhew a sure and infallible Way to Life and Happiness, came to him to try what Answer he would give to that important Question, What shall I do to inherit eternal Life? Our Lord's Answer was short and plain; viz. that the Summ of all that Re

2

ligion

XVI.

SE R M. ligion, which can make us acceptable to God, is to love God above all Things, and our Neighmbour as Ourfelves. The Lawyer feems here not to be at all concerned about the Former ; not doubting, perhaps, but perhaps, but that he had always fufficiently demonftrated his Love to God, by his frict Obfervance of all the Ceremonies of the Mofaical Law. And, hoping to justify himfelf in the Matter of Love to his Neighbour also, defires to know of Jefus, Who that Neighbour is, whom he is thus to love as Himself.

Here We must obferve, that, at this Time, the Jews were in Nothing more corrupted, than in their Notions about the Perfons, on whom they were to beftow any Tokens of Good-swill. They had, in a Manner, forgot that strict Bond of Nature, by which all Men are allied to one another; and all the World took Notice how stiff and narrow in their Regards to Others; and how void of all Charity, They were grown. They were come to that pafs, that they denied the common Civilities, and the common Conveniences. of human Life, to Strangers, and Perfons of other Religions. We are told by fome, that they would not fhew them so much as the Way to any Place. they were going to; or direct them to a Fountain where they might quench their Thit.

Here,

Here therefore, our Bleffed Lord had a good s ER M. Opportunity of oppofing this narrow and inhu- XVI. mane Spirit that was gone out amongst them: And We may be fure, He was glad to lay hold on it; as he came into the World to implant other Sort of Notions in the Minds of Men, and to make their Charity as like to that of Almighty God himself, as it could be. In anfwer, therefore, to this Enquiry, and to teach Him who made it, Whom He was to look upon as his Neighbour; as an Object of that Love, he was speaking of; and in order to do this in the moft moving and affecting Manner, he fets his Duty plainly before his Eyes in a Story, -here related.

A certain Man, He does not fay, whether a Jew, or a Stranger. If a Jew, the good Na•ture of the Samaritan, presently spoken of, was fo much the more remarkable; there being a confummate Hatred betwixt the Two Nations: If a Stranger, the Compaffion of the Samaritan was peculiarly fit to be recommended to the Imitation of the Jew; in order to teach -Him that univerfal Benevolence, from which He was utterly alienated. This Man, in a Fourney from Jerufalem to Jericho, fell amongst Thieves, who robbed him, and ufed him fo ill, -that he was left half dead.

Such an Object, Lying helplefs, and in a moft inconvenient

SER M. Place, one would have thought enough to move XVI. the Compaffion of the greatest Barbarians. And yet we find Compaffion funk fo low amongst the Jews, that our Saviour thought their Behaviour in fuch Cafes fitly represented by what follows. A Prieft, and a Levite, Perfons peculiarly employed in the Service of GOD, and devoted to the external Offices of their Religion, had forgot Humanity fo far, as not to be touched with the Sight. The One faw him, at a Distance, as appears; the Other came, and looked on him: but Both of them paffed by on the other Side. What Pretenfes they had for this Neglect, our Lord does not fay. Perhaps, They were in Hafte, upon Bufinefs; or going to attend upon the Sacrifices, or other Offices of the Temple; not understanding, nor feeling, the Force of that God-like Saying, I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice. Or, perhaps, They found him to be a Stranger, a Heathen; and fo fit rather for their Aversion, than their Pity. Something, or other, They had to lay their Confciences afleep: and were, without Doubt, glad of any Excufe, or Evafion, to that Purpose.

ནི།

Let us fee what follows. But a certain Samaritan, One of that Nation which mixed Idolatry with the Service of God; which worshiped they knew not what; of that Nation which was hated and despised

by