Of Duty to our Brethren and Relations, Huf band, Wife, Friends, Mafters, Servants.

Se&t. I.

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Sunday xy.

HE fecond fort of Relation is Dues to that of a Brother. Now Bro-Brethren. therhood may be two-fold, either natural, or fpiritual: The former may in the largest extent contain under it all mankind, all that partake of the fame nature: But I fhall not confider it fo in this place; having already mentioned thofe general duties, which belong to all as fuch. I now fpeak of that natural Brotherhood that is Naturaăl. between thofe that are the children of the fame immediate parent: and the duty of thefe is to have united hearts and affections. This nature points out to them; they partaking in a more efpecial manner of each other's fubftance, and therefore ought to have the greateft tenderness and kindness each to other. Thus we fee Abraham makes it an argument, why there fhould be no contention between him and Lot, because they were Brethren, Gen. xiii. 8. And though by Brethren there is meant only coufins, yet that helps the more ftrongly to conclude, that this nearer relation is in reafon to be a greater bar to ftrife; as also that this kindness is in fome degree to be extended to all that have any nearness of blood to us.

2. This

Sunday

The Necef

mong Bre

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2. This Kindness and Love between BreXV. thren and Sifters ought to be very firmly fity of grounded in their hearts; if it be not, they Love a will be of all others in most danger of difren. agreeing: For the continual converfation that is among them, whilft they are at home in the father's houfe, will be apt to minister fome occafion of jar. Befides, the equality that is among them in refpect of birth, often makes them inclinable to envy each other, when one is in any respect advanced above the other. Thus we fee Jofeph's Brethren envied him, because he had most of his father's love; and Rachel envied her fifter Leah, becaufe fhe was fruitful. Therefore, for the preventing of fuch temptations, let all who have Brethren and Sifters, poffefs their mind with a great and real kindness to them, look on them as parts of themselves, and then they will never think fit either to quarrel with them, or to envy them any advantage, any more than one part of the body does another of the fame body, but will ftrive to advance and help forward the good of each other.

Spiritual

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3. The fecond kind of Brotherhood is fpiBrother ritual: That contains all thofe who profefs the fame faith with us. The Church in our baptifm becomes a mother to each baptized perfon; and then fürély they that have the relation of children to her, must have alfo the relation of Brethren to each other. And to this fort of Brethren alfo we owe a great deal

of

of tenderness and affection; the fpiritual bond Sunday of religion fhould, of all others, the most close- XV. ly unite our hearts. This is the Brotherhood which St. Peter exhorts us to love, 1 Pet. ii. 17. And to it we are in an especial manner bound to do all good offices. Do good, faith the Apoftle, to all, but efpecially unto them who are of the houshold of faith, Gal. vi. 10. Our compaffions are to be most melting towards them, of all others, in all their needs. Chrift tells us, That whosoever gives but a cup of cold water to any in the name of a Difciple, fhall not lofe his reward, Matt. x. 42. From whence we may affure our selves, that this peculiar love to Chriftians as Christians, is very acceptable in his fight.

to bold

thefe Bre

4. Several Duties there are required of us Our Duty, to thefe Brethren: One principal is the hold-commuing Communion with them; and that firftion with in doctrine. We are conftantly to continue then. in the belief and profeffion of all thofe neceffary truths, by which we may be marked out as followers and difciples of Chrift. This is that faith which St. Jude fpeaks of, which was once delivered to the Saints, Jude iii. By keeping whereof we continue fill united to this fpiritual Brotherhood, in refpect of profeffion; which we must conftantly do, what ftorms and perfecutions foever attend it, according to the exhortation of the Apostle, Heb. x. 23. Let us hold fast the profeffion of our faith without wavering. Secondly, we

are

Sunday are alfo, as opportunity ferves, to communiXV. cate with them in all holy offices. We must

To bear

ties.

be diligent in frequenting the affemblies of the Saints, which is as it were the badge of our profeffion; And therefore he that willingly withdraws himself from thefe, gives ground to fufpect he will be apt to renounce the other alfo. But these parts of Communion we find ftrictly maintained by the first Christians, Acts ii. 42. They continued ftedfafily in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. They continued, and that ftedfaftly; they were not frighted from it by any perfecutions, though that were a time wherein they were tried with the fharpeft fufferings; which may teach us, that it is not the danger that attends this Duty can acquit us of it.

5. Secondly, We are to bear with the Inwith their firmities of our Chriftian Brethren; accordInfirmi ing to the advice of St. Paul, Rom. xv. 1. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. If one that holds all neceffary Chriftian truths, happen yet to be in fome error, we are not for this either to forfake his Communion, or defpife his perfon. This St. Paul teaches us in the case of that weak Brother, who by error made a cauflefs fcruple about meats, Rom. xiv. Where he bids the ftronger Chriftians, that is, thofe who being better inftructed, difcerned him to be in an error, yet to receive him nevertheless, and

not

not to defpife him; as on the other fide, he bids that weak one not to judge the stronger. The leffer differences in opinion must be born with on both fides, and must not in the leaft abate our brotherly Charity towards each other.

unday

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6. Thirdly, we are to endeavour the re-To restore them after ftoring of any fallen brother, that is, to bring Falls him to repentance, after he hath fallen into any Sin. Thus St. Paul commands the Galatians, that they fhould restore him that was overtaken in a fault, confidering themselves, left they were alfo tempted. We are not to look on him as a caft-away, to give him over as utterly defperate; neither are we to triumph over him, in refpect of our own innocence, like the proud Pharifee over the poor Publi can, Luke xviii. 11. but we are meekly to endeavour his recovery, remembring that our own frailty is fuch, that we are not fe cure from the like Falls.

thize with

7. Fourthly, we are to have a fympathy Tympa and fellow-feeling with thefe Brethren, to be them. nearly touched with whatsoever befalls them, either as they are confidered in fociety, or in fingle perfons. In fociety firft, and fo they make up a Church; and that, either the univerfal, which is made up of all believers throughout the world, or any particular Church, which is made up of all the believers in that particular nation: And whatever happens to either of thefe, either the whole

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