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and to present their Alms to be laid upon the Table, and this, not only for the more eafie Celebration of the Eucharift, but, as a decent fignification too, that whether they prayed, whether they gave Thanks, or whether they offered Alms, they did all to the Glory of Christ, and in the name of Chrift, the Memorial of whose Death was celebrated there; and because these Prayers, thefe Praises, these Alms were called Sacrifices and Oblations, therefore was the Table it felf, at which they were offered, called an Altar.

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TO conclude this point now. I think enough hath been faid concerning this Branch of Charity, at the Holy Communion, which confifteth in fhewing Mercy and Liberality to the Indigent, efpecially to those who have the fame Faith, and the fame Hope with us. You see what fpecial Reasons there are to excite you to it at this great Solemnity, and how Ancient, Conftant, and Uniform, the practice of all Chriftians hath ftill been as to this particular; which I was the more willing to fhew, because Examples commonly are very operative; and I am fure, Ancienter, Nobler, Better grounded Examples, we cannot have of any Chriftian Office that is required at our hands.

CH. A P.

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2.

CHA P. IX.

Of Brotherly Forgiveness:

I

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Proceed now to the confideration of the other Branch of Christian Charity, which confifteth in `Fraternal Forgiveness. In difcourfing upon this, I am to fhew. I. What is meant by Fraternal Forgiveness. 2. How neceflary it is when we come to the Lord's Table. 3. How this matter is to be made practical.

1. First then, Fraternal Forgiveness, as it is required and ftated by the great Law of Christ, confifteth in two things. 1. In laying afide all Defires and Intentions of pure Revenge. This the Scripture calls, rendring of Evil for Evil; when an injur'd Perfon punifheth the Offenders, not for any ends of Charity or Justice, but meerly for Punishment fake, because he delights in his Sufferings, and feeks only to fatisfie a provoked and diftemper'd Paffion. For the clearing up of this, because it is a very material point, we must note, that when an Injury is committed, either against ones Person, or Intereft, or good Name, oneor other of these three things is

apt

apt to follow, between which we must. carefully distinguish; either Difcipline, or Reparation, or Revenge. Difcipline is, when the Offender is made to undergo Rebuke, or Shame, or Smart; and this, for his own Correction and future Amendment. Now the end of this, being nothing but Charity, or the doing of an Offender Good, it is not only very confiftent with, but very agree able unto the Law of Chrift: And to you Read it, St. Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. If thy Brother (hall Trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; "if be fhall hear thee, thou haft gained thy Brother: But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witneffes, every word may be established. And if he shall negleft to hear them, tell it unto the Church :But if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man, and a Publican. Reparation is, when an Offender is punisht in his Fortunes, for the making up of that lofs or dammage, which by the Injury his Brother fuftains. Now, the end of this being nothing but Justice, it is very confiftent alfo with the ftanding Laws of Chriftianity, that every Man muft provide for his own, that we must live Righte oufly in this World, and that he that "doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong that he hath

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hath done, Col. 3. 25. But pure Revenge is,
when a Man is punifht, not out of any
good intentions to himself, nor out of hopes
of Repairing the injur'd Man's Loffes, but
only to retaliate one Act of Hoftility with
another, thereby to fatisfie his Hatred and
Anger. As for inftance; a Man wilfully
ftrikes out thine Eye,and to recompence
the
blow, thou ftrikeft out his too; this is
properly Revenge; here his Eye doth not
make Amends or Reparation for the lofs
of thine. Therefore the end of this being
nothing but to hurt another, and to
fatiate a Brutish Appetite by inflicting
Punishments, that are both Uncharitable
and Impertinent, and that have nothing
to be pretended for them,but an inhumane
Pleasure in doing Mifchief, it is utterly
repugnant to his Religion, whose business
in the World was to go about doing good,
and to teach all his Followers to do the
fame. Te have heard (faith our Saviour)
that it hath been faid, an Eye for an Eye,
and a Tooth for a Tooth: but I say unto
you, that ye refift not evil; but whosoever
Thall fmite thee on thy right Cheek, turn to
him the other alfo, Mat. 5. 38, 39. That
is, rather than return Injury for Injury,
be contented to receive another. Though
God by his right of abfolute Soveraignty
over all, may punish obdurate Wretches

to

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to fhew his wrath and power, efpecially when there are no hopes of amendment; yet we poor Creatures, who ftand upon the fame level, and are all of us a-kin on Adam's fide, ought ever to propose to cur felves fome Charitable ends in our proceeding with one another, not recompenfing any Man Evil for Evil; not avenging our felves, but rather giving place unto wrath; because it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, faith the Lord, Rom. 12. 17, 19. This is one part of Fraternal Forgiveness, to flight all that is paft, without ftrict Retaliation, to void our minds of all malis cious intentions, and not to think, of any Punishments which are not required by the Rules of Charity, or com mon Justice; of which Cafes I thall Speak by and by.

2. FRATERNAL Forgiveness must rife higher yet; and that it may fully anfwer its measures in the Gofpel, it must confift in doing an Enemy Good too. This is the perfection, and the most perfect expreffion of it; instead of Hurting after a revengeful manner, to Help, to Suc cour, and to Intreat kindly every one, whoever he be that hath offended us. And this is that new fort of Patience, M 2 which

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