20. To cut off every pretence for unbelief, our blessed Lord, in the following verses, illustrates yet farther what he had said, by an appeal to what passes in our own breasts. _What man_, saith he, _is there of_ you, _who if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone_? Will even natural affection permit you to refuse the reasonable request of one you love? _Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?_ Will he give him hurtful, instead of profitable things? So that even from what you feel and do yourselves, you may receive the fullest assurance, as, on the one hand, that no ill effect, can possibly attend your asking, so on the other, that it will be attended with that good effect, a full supply of all your wants. For _if ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven_, who is pure, unmixt, essential goodness, _give good things to them that ask him_? Or, (as he expresses it on another occasion) _give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him_? In him are included all good things; all wisdom, peace, joy, love: the whole treasures of holiness and happiness: all that God hath prepared for them that love him. 21. But that your prayer may have its full weight with God, see that ye be in charity with all men. For otherwise, it is more likely to bring a curse than a blessing on your own head: nor can you expect, to receive any blessing from God, while you have not charity towards your neighbour. Therefore let this hindrance be removed without delay. Confirm your love towards one another and towards all men. And love them, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. _Therefore all things whatsoever ye would, that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them: for this is the law and the prophets._ 22. This is that royal law, that golden rule of mercy as well as justice, which even the Heathen emperor caused to be written, over the gate of his palace: a rule, which many believe to be naturally engraved on the mind of every one that comes into the world. And thus much is certain, that it commends itself, as soon as heard, to every man’s conscience and understanding: insomuch, that no man can knowingly offend against it, without carrying his condemnation in his own breast. 23. _This is the law and the prophets._ ♦Whatsoever is written in that law which God of old revealed to mankind; and whatsoever precepts God has given by _his holy prophets, which have been since the world began_, they are all summed up in these few words, they are all contained in this short direction. And this rightly understood comprizes the whole of that religion, which our Lord came to establish upon earth.