26. Again: we would that all men should love and esteem us, and behave towards us, according to justice, mercy and truth. And we may reasonably desire, that they should do us all the good they can do, without injuring themselves: yea, that in outward things, (according to the known rule) their superfluities should give way to our conveniences, their conveniencies to our necessities, and their necessities to our extremities. Now then let us walk by the same rule: let us do unto all, as we would they should do to us. Let us love and honour all men. Let justice, mercy and truth govern all our minds and actions. Let our superfluities give way to our neighbour’s conveniencies: (and who then will have any superfluities left?) Our conveniencies to our neighbour’s necessities, our necessities to his extremities.
27. This is pure and genuine morality. This do and thou shalt live. _As many as walk by this rule, peace be to them and mercy_: for they are _the Israel of God_. But then be it observed, none can walk by this rule, (nor ever did from the beginning of the world) none can love his neighbour as himself, unless he first love God. And none can love God, unless he believe in Christ, unless he have redemption thro’ his blood, and the Spirit of God bearing witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God. Faith therefore is still the root of all, of present as well as future salvation. Still we must say to every sinner, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Thou shalt be saved now, thou mayst be saved for ever; saved on earth, that thou mayst be saved in heaven. Believe in him and thy faith will work by love. Thou wilt love the Lord thy God, because he hath loved thee: thou wilt love thy neighbour as thyself. And then it will be thy glory and joy, to exert and increase this love, not barely by abstaining from what is contrary thereto, from every unkind thought, word and action, but by shewing all that kindness to every man, which thou wouldst he should shew unto thee.
1 ‒ Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, before the University, on January 1, 1733.
2 ‒ N. B. The following part of this paragraph is now added to the sermon formerly preached.
The following corrections have been made in the text: