Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Sermon Preached At Greenwich, On The Festival Of St. John The Baptist, June 24, 1774,
a wanton disrespect to superiors , the secret whispers of faction , the rude clamours of wrath , and the still more hateful emotions of malice and envy . Let not such things be once named among you ; let not either these faults of the tongue , or vices of the mind , be any way indulged by men who profess to be the friends of virtue and peace . But that I may yet farther enforce the practice of that duty which
the text recommends , let us consider that , by strife and debate , we shall frustrate one great end of our society , which was instituted on purpose for our mutual benefit and improvement . Our various talents , and our various opportunities of usin < r them , are kindly given us by heaven , that each of us , in our respective stationsmay add his mite to the general fund of human felicity . If ive
, survey the world at large ,-we shall find that one man is intelli gent , another laborious ; one is cautious , another sanguine ; one is grave , another chearful . The eye , or the prudent man , cannot say to the hand , or the active person , / have no need of thee . It is therefore the duty of all , but more especially of us , to make such a wise improvement of our talentsand to discharge the various offices
as-, signed us , with such care and prudence as may best promote the happiness of human life , and answer the particular purpose of outsociable institution . As the regular arrangement of the manifold parts in a building adds strength and beauty , harmony and proportion to the whole , so the united display of our several accomplishments , attended ivith mutual regard , and with mutual peace , must
equally tend to adorn and perpetuate our ancient society . Whereas again it is no less obvious , that a contempt of fundamental rules , obstinate jars and dissensions , an inordinate love of change , a spirit of innovation and discord , will as naturally tend to the ruin of every social pleasure , and the breach of every social tie among men . We are accountable to the great author of every good gift for the use or abuse of our several powers and privileges ; and therefore we may
easily judge how highly he may resent our neglect , and punish our indolence ; how severely he will condemn the unprofitable servant , and in how insignificant , nay , in what a criminal light we must appear to our own e 3 'es , should we ever dare to sli ght the mild lan- ^ guage of peace and friendship , and wilfully obey the turbulent voice of malice and faction .
I shall only add this other motive to enforce the practice of that duty ivhich the text recommends . That it is a duty which we are kindly exhorted to perform , in the respectable and endearing name of Jesus Christ , our universal Lord and lawgiver ; whose instructions to us , and whose most fervent prayers to God for the peace and unity of-mennaturally command ourmost serious attention . If we
, have then any just value in our minds of his conspicuous merits , any dependence in our hearts on the efficacy of his tender intercession , any hope of his favour , or any zeal within us to advance his cause and interest ; let us be perfectly joined together in the same mind , let us live as brethren in union of sentiment , affection , language and manners , Let us maintain a peaceful and kind disposition
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Sermon Preached At Greenwich, On The Festival Of St. John The Baptist, June 24, 1774,
a wanton disrespect to superiors , the secret whispers of faction , the rude clamours of wrath , and the still more hateful emotions of malice and envy . Let not such things be once named among you ; let not either these faults of the tongue , or vices of the mind , be any way indulged by men who profess to be the friends of virtue and peace . But that I may yet farther enforce the practice of that duty which
the text recommends , let us consider that , by strife and debate , we shall frustrate one great end of our society , which was instituted on purpose for our mutual benefit and improvement . Our various talents , and our various opportunities of usin < r them , are kindly given us by heaven , that each of us , in our respective stationsmay add his mite to the general fund of human felicity . If ive
, survey the world at large ,-we shall find that one man is intelli gent , another laborious ; one is cautious , another sanguine ; one is grave , another chearful . The eye , or the prudent man , cannot say to the hand , or the active person , / have no need of thee . It is therefore the duty of all , but more especially of us , to make such a wise improvement of our talentsand to discharge the various offices
as-, signed us , with such care and prudence as may best promote the happiness of human life , and answer the particular purpose of outsociable institution . As the regular arrangement of the manifold parts in a building adds strength and beauty , harmony and proportion to the whole , so the united display of our several accomplishments , attended ivith mutual regard , and with mutual peace , must
equally tend to adorn and perpetuate our ancient society . Whereas again it is no less obvious , that a contempt of fundamental rules , obstinate jars and dissensions , an inordinate love of change , a spirit of innovation and discord , will as naturally tend to the ruin of every social pleasure , and the breach of every social tie among men . We are accountable to the great author of every good gift for the use or abuse of our several powers and privileges ; and therefore we may
easily judge how highly he may resent our neglect , and punish our indolence ; how severely he will condemn the unprofitable servant , and in how insignificant , nay , in what a criminal light we must appear to our own e 3 'es , should we ever dare to sli ght the mild lan- ^ guage of peace and friendship , and wilfully obey the turbulent voice of malice and faction .
I shall only add this other motive to enforce the practice of that duty ivhich the text recommends . That it is a duty which we are kindly exhorted to perform , in the respectable and endearing name of Jesus Christ , our universal Lord and lawgiver ; whose instructions to us , and whose most fervent prayers to God for the peace and unity of-mennaturally command ourmost serious attention . If we
, have then any just value in our minds of his conspicuous merits , any dependence in our hearts on the efficacy of his tender intercession , any hope of his favour , or any zeal within us to advance his cause and interest ; let us be perfectly joined together in the same mind , let us live as brethren in union of sentiment , affection , language and manners , Let us maintain a peaceful and kind disposition