First, In giving : ' What yon would men should do to you, do you the same to them.' Be as ready to do good as to receive good. _ A man is never in a right frame of spirit until he takes as much delight in doing others good as he would take in having good done to himself; nay, more; for our Lord tells us that ' it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive,' Acts xx. 35. Why a more blessed thing ? Because this comes nearest to the nature of God, who gives all, and takes of none. And therefore, as we would imitate God in other things, we should in this also ; for all God's works should leave an impression upon us ; his election should make us choose him and his ways ; his love, to love him ; his giving should make us to give. As a child hath part for part, limb for limb, answerable to his father, so should a child of God answer God in all his moral perfections, especially in his goodness. ' As you come behind,' saith the aix)stle, ' in no gift, so do not come behind in this also,' 2 Cor. viii. 7. And the rule of Christ here is that which doth enforce this ('As yc would,' &c.), do you afford to others that comfort, that succour, that relief in all their distresses, which you would desire they should afiwd to you if you were in the Bame case, and in the same distress ? Ahis ! you will say, pity should be sliowed to a man by his fiiend ; and will you be merciless, and shut uj) your bowels, and not show this pity to others ? If you were pined with hunger, and your children cry for bread, and you have none to give them, would you not complain of the hardness of their hearts which have this world's goods, and shut up their bowels against them, and not dispense anything to their necessities ? Why, if you know the heart of an indigent person, it cannot but move you to observe this rule. And the rather, because usually with what measure we mete to others, it is Teoomi)ensed into our bosoms by God's providence ; for whatever need others have of us, we have infinitely more of God, and there will a time come when we shall be as destitute before God as they arc before you. For instance, in a time of sickness, when all outward helps fail : Ps. xli. 1 , ' Blessed is he that cousidereth the pooi- ; the Lurd will con.sider him in time of trouble.' Why, be that is
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affected with another's condition as his own, when it is a time of trouble and distress with hiui, and it may be his brother cannot help him, then the Lord will help him, either in sickness or trouble of conscience ; when all outward comforts are as the white of an egg, when the poor perplexed sinner cries, Mercy ! mercy ! the Lord will show him mercy as he did to others : Mat. v. 7, ' Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' Those that only seek to enrich themselves, and solace themselves with mirth and pleasure in the good things they have, must not expect the like promises. But those which have been merciful, bountiful, and ready to help others, God delights to show them mercy ; and when they are most destitute, they shall find that God takes notice of this, that they were ready to relieve others.
Secondly, In forgiving, the same rule holds. A necessary duty ; for while we are here in the world, there will be weaknesses and offences, and we need'mutually to forgive, and to take pardon. It is said. Col. iii. 13, ' Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any ; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.' See the same, Eph. iv. 32, ' Forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Mark, he proceeds upon this principle that Christ layeth down : 'Whatsoever ye would,' &c. We are in the world and in the flesh, and therefore should not rigidly exact upon the fail- ings of others, lest they or others deal so with us when our turn comes. We need pardon in this kind, for we give offence : Eccles. vii. 21, 22, ' Take no heed unto all words that are spoken ; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee ; for oftentimes also thine heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.' The meaning is, we should not be over-affected with others speaking ill of us, because we know we have spoken ill of others, and should pass it by with meekness and neglect ; therefore the consideration of our passions and of our infir- mities should move us to pardon. We have been, or may be as bad as they; we have been once, Titus iii. 3, 'foolish and disobedient,' led by our unruly appetites and desires, therefore we should show meekness to them. Ay, and we may be surprised again : James iii. 1, ' My brethren, be not many masters, for in many things we offend all.' Be not many masters, that is, severe, masterly, or supercilious, if another be fallen and hath offended us, for we shall receive the greater condemnation.