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And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grafs, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the fans of men.

INTRODUCTION.

As mankind from one parent are divided into many families, and as trading to fea is greatly increased within a few ages paft; amidst

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this extended commerce, how necessary is it that the profeffed followers of Chrift keep facred his boly name, and be employed about trade and traffic no farther than justice and equity evidently accompany! that we may give no juft caufe of offence to any, however diftant or unable to plead their own caufe; and may cantinu ally keep in view the spreading of the true and Saving knowledge of God, and his fon Jefas Chrift, among our fellow-creatures, which, through bis infinite love, fome feel to be more precious than any other treasure.

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NDER the humbling difpenfations. of the Father of mercies, I have felt an inward labour for the good of my fellowcreatures, and a concern that the holy Spirit, which alone can restore mankind to a ftate of true harmony, may with fingleness of heart be waited for and followed.

I trust there are many under that visitation, which, if faithfully attended to, will make them quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord, and qualify with firmness to be true patterns of the chriftian life, who in living and walking may hold forth an invitation to others, to come out of the entanglements of the spirit of this world,

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And that which I feel firft to exprefs is a care for thofe who are in circumftances which appear difficult, with refpect to supporting their families in a way answerable to pure wifdom, that they may not be discouraged, but remember that, in humbly obeying the leading of Chrift, he owneth us, as his friends

Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever i "command you ;" and to be a friend to Chrift is to be united to him who hath all power in heaven and in earth; and, though a woman may forget her fucking child, yet will he not forget his faithful ones.

The condition of many who dwell in cities hath often affected me with a brotherly fympathy, attended with a defire that refigna tion may be laboured for; and, where the holy Leader directeth to a country-life, or fome change of employ, he may be faithfully fol lowed; for, under the refining hand of the Lord, I have feen that the inhabitants of fome cities are greatly increased, through fome. branches of bufinefs which his holy Spirit doth not lead into; and that being entangled in these things tends to bring a cloud over the minds of people convinced of the leadings of this holy Leader, and obftructs the coming of the kingdom of Christ on earth as it is in heaven.

Now, if we indulge a defire to imitate our neighbours in thofe things which harmonize not with the true Chriftian walking, thefe entanglements may hold fast to us, and fome,

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who, in an awakening time, feel tandér faruples, with refpect to their manner of life, may look on the example of others more noted in the church, who yetmay not be refined from every degree of drofs; and, by looking on thefe examples, and deficing to fupport their families in a way pleasant to the natural mind, there may be danger of the worldly wisdom gaining ftrength in them, and of their departure from that pure feeling of truth, which, if faithfully attended to, would teach contentment in the divine will, exen in a very low eftate.

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One, formerly speaking on the profitablenefs of true humility, faith Herthat troubles not himfelf with anxious thoughts for more than is neceffary lives little vlafe than the life of angels, whilft, by a mind content with little, he imitates their want of nothing." Cave's Primitive Christianity, page 31.05

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It is not enough, fays Tertullian, that a Christian be chafte and modeft; but he must appear to be fo: a virtue, of which he fhould have fo great a ftore, that it should flow from his mind upon his habit, and break from the retirements of his confcience into the fuper ficies of his life." Same book, page 43.

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"The garments we wear, fays Clemens, ought to be mean and frugali: that is true fimplicity of habit which takes away what is wain and fuperfluous; that the best and most folid garment which is the farthest from curiofity." Page 49.

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