shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein
shall be hated. A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many; strong
cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.
The tongue of a man is his fall; but if thou love to hear, thou
shall receive understanding.



SERMON V.
UPON COMPASSION.
ROM. xii. 15.



Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Every man is to be considered in two capacities, the private and
public; as designed to pursue his own interest, and likewise to
contribute to the good of others. Whoever will consider may see
that, in general, there is no contrariety between these; but that
from the original constitution of man, and the circumstances he is
placed in, they perfectly coincide, and mutually carry on each
other. But, among the great variety of affections or principles of
actions in our nature, some in their primary intention and design
seem to belong to the single or private, others to the public or
social capacity. The affections required in the text are of the
latter sort. When we rejoice in the prosperity of others, and
compassionate their distresses, we as it were substitute them for
ourselves, their interest for our own; and have the same kind of
pleasure in their prosperity, and sorrow in their distress, as we