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him even more, than continue in Contention with him.

41. And if a Man will compel you to do an unreafonable thing, fuch as he has no right to demand; be content to do it, and even more than he demands, rather than return him Violence for his Violence.

42. In all things endeavour to relieve the Neceffi

41 And whofoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with

him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee,and from him that would

ties, and to contribute to the borrow of thee, turn

Peace and Satisfaction of all Men. To him that begs any thing of you, give free. ly; and to him that delires to borrow, be not unwil ling to lend.

43. Laftly, The Law commands Men to love their Neighbours, but permits them to hate their Enemies.

not thou away.

43

Ye have heard that it hath been faid, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine ene

44 But I fay unto you, Love your

44. But I fay unto you; my: Love, not only those who love you, but even those alfo who are your greateft Enemies; Speak well, not only of those who speak well of you, but even of thofe alfo who revile and curfe you; be kind, not only to those who are kind

enemies, blefs them that curfe you, do good to them that for them which dehate you, and pray fpitefully use you,and perfecute you:

45 That

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to you, but even to those alfo who hate and reproach you; and pray, not only for those who are friendly to you, but even for thofe also who injure and persecute you.

45. Raise your Virtue and Goodness, above the common rate of Men: Let it be fo univerfal, as to come up to the imitation of God; who beftoweth the Benefit of his Sun and Rain, upon the unjuft and wicked, as well as upon the juft and good.

46. If ye love only thofe who love you, what extraordinary Reward does this deferve? This is not at all above the ordinary praEtife of Mankind: It is no more than what is generally done, even by Perfons of the lowest Character.

47. And if ye be kind and friendly only to those who are the fame to you, what extraordinary Matter is this? This is no more, than what the worst of Men

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Take heed that

ye do not your alms before men, to

be seen of them: of therwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in hea

ven.

"TH

HESE are the Instances, wherein

your Righteoufness must exceed the Righteousness of the Jewish Doctors and Pharifees, if ye will attain to the Virtue and Reward of true Christians There are on the other hand feveral PraEtifes of theirs, which, if ye will be my Disciples, ye muft as carefully avoid. And First, Be careful not to give your Alms openly, out of Oftentation, to be seen and commended of Men; for if ye do, this Praise of Men will be reckoned to you as your Reward, and ye fhall have no Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven.

2. When therefore you

2 Therefore, when do any act of Charity, be

thou doeft thine alms, do not found a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the fynagogues, and in the ftreets, that they may have glory

not like the hypocritical Pharifees, who strive to do it in the moft open and pub, lick Places, and contrive all poffible ways to proclaim

and

and publish it, that they may be admired and applauded by Men. I tell you affuredly, this fhall be their only Reward, and they must expect no other from God.

3. But when you bestow your Alms or do any act of Mercy, except in fuch Cafes where you may modeftly by your good Example ftir up others to the like Practife, to the greater glory of God and good of Men: Except, I fay, in fuch Cafes) chufe to do it with the greatest privacy and fecrecy poffible.

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4 That thine alms

4. And God who fees perfectly your fecret Piety, which cannot be seen or applauded of Men, and ap. proves the fincerity of your ward thee openly.

Heart; will at the Refurrection of the Juft, when all the Actions of all Men shall be made publick, reward you openly before Men and Angels.

5. ¶ Again, When you offer up to God your private Prayers, be not like

may be in fecret: and thy Father which feeth in fe cret, himself shall re

5 And when thou prayeft, thon halt not be as the hypocrites are: for

they

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