SERMON XI. 203 ROMANS XII. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. TH XI. HAT mankind were formed for SERM. fociety, that we were born to ferve and love one another, doth fufficiently appear both from the frame and structure of our bodies, and all the internal qualities and paffions of our minds. was purposely made too ignorant to know, and too indigent to fupply, his own neceffities, that he might be forced, in fpite of himself, to afk the aid and affiftance of his fellow-creatures. Man To keep up and maintain that harmony and good-will amongst men fo inftrumen tal XI. SERM. tal to their happiness, God hath graciously implanted in every breast the great and univerfal principle of Benevolence; filled our hearts with focial affections, with that diffusive spirit of humanity, and that fympathetic tenderness which inclines us to partake of all the joys and forrows, the good and evil which is difpenfed to our fellow-creatures. There have indeed been men (and perhaps now are) who have fo ftifled the cries of nature, fo extirpated the principle of benevolence from their minds, as to deny the reality and existence of it. These men will affert that friendship is nothing but felf-intereft, that pity is weakness, and compaffion folly. No man, fay they, rejoices in another's good fortune, but from the hopes of rivaling or fupplanting him; no no man weeps for the afflictions of his neighbour, but from a fecret dread of falling himself into the fame |