vented us with Overtures of thy Love, even when we were thine Enemies and haft fent thy Son Jefus Chrift to Die for us, when we were difpofed to Crucifie him.

From

K. William's Pray

crs.

Ubdue in me the evil Spirit of Wrath and Revenge; and dispose my Heart patiently to bear Reproaches and Wrongs; and to be ready not only to forgive, but to return Good for E

vil.

F

"Orgive, I beseech Thee, most Merciful Father, to all mine Enemies, all their Malice and Ill Will towards me; and give {. them Repentance and better Minds: Which I heartily beg of thee for them, as I my felf hope for Mercy and Forgivenefs at thy Hands; through the Merits and Mediation of Jefus Chrift, my most Merciful God and Saviour. Amen. And

A

Nd as the Dying Perfon is exhorted, To forgive from the bottom of his heart all Perfon's. that have offended him; So likewife he is admonished; If he bath offended any other, to ask them Forgiveness.

And though this likewife is a very difficult Task, (we being all very backward, through the Pride of our Spirits, to acknowledge we have done amifs;) yet that it is our Duty, as alfo how far it is our Duty, I fhall endeavour to fhew under the Third Particular; viz. That, Where he bath done Injury on Wrong to any Man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his Power.

Of which in its proper Place.

At prefent, before I Difcourfe of Justice, 'tis pertinent to Explain and Enforce the other Branch of Charity; viz. Charity in Giving.

い

-Of Alms-Deeds, Or Charity oney or in Giving elit to 213

T

IS the Direction of the Church of England, in the Order for the Vifitation of the Sick, That The Minister should not omir, earnestly to Move fuch Sick Perfons as are of Ability, to be Liberal to the Poor.

Whencé Obferve,

1. That it is the Duty of the Clergy, to Move Sick and Dying Ferfons to Remember the

Poor.

-T 2. If fuch Sick and Bequeathing Persons are of Ability, they are then to Move them to be Liberal in their Gifts and Legacies to the Poor.

3. They are not only to Move them, but earnestly and with im portunity to Move them.

If therefore the Covetous Mifers of this World, who value

than

their Bags more their Souls,

fhall be offended at this Freedom, (as if this Part of our Office were a Pragmatical Encroachment; as if herein we did tranf grefs the Limits of our Calling, and were as Bufy-bodies in other mens Matters; I fhall for the Conviction of fuch Perfons, and the juft Vindication of my Profeffion, fuggeft the Reasons of fuch Charitable Diftributions. And from thence fhall fhew them, why we of the Clergy do think our felves obliged, with fuch repeated Plainnefs, to remind them of this Duty.

The Clergy by their Office and Calling, are the Ambafadors of Christ. Or, if that may feem a Title of too much State, they are the Stewards of his Houfhold;" who

who are to diftribute to the Fa mily their feveral-Portions nom

Now St. Paul, who was not only a faithful Paftor of the Flock, but alfo a Governor of the Paftors themselves, hath left this Apoftolical Injunction to his Son Timothy; and in him to all other Paftors and Minifters of God's Word.

Charge them that are Rich in this World, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain Riches, but in the living God, wha giveth us richly all things to en joy.

That they do Good, that they be Rich in good Works, ready to Ditribute, willing to Communicate. +3 Laying up in store for themselves. a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. 6. 17, 18,

19.

It appears from this Injuncti on of St. Paul, that Rich men,

as