the christian hath nothing on which to plume himself for the admiration of others. He knows, that the applause of men will not follow the true servant of Christ, and that, if it could, it is too dangerous a thing for him to meddle with, whose inward selfishness costs him a constant hard labour to subdue it.

He values men, and desires to value them more, as God values them. The family of the faithful are his relations for eternity; and he will spiritually esteem these above all other persons. He is to live with them in glory. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples (saith Christ) if ye have love one towards another.

His natural love to his natural friends, is not extinguished by the love of God, but elevated, purified, and increased. He sees more than others of the real worth of their souls, and is more anxious accordingly for their best interest, their immortal welfare. Those among them, who have obtained. like mercy with himself, are more especially endeared. Those, who want this mercy, have his fervent prayers and compassion, because they want it. When he cannot love his friends for Christ's sake, he will not cease to love them for their

own.

Railing and evil-speaking, he will cordially detest. The good he knows of others he will rejoice to mention, and the harm (un

less for prevention of further harm) he will study to conceal. It is a good rule, never to speak of men's faults to others, till we have first and faithfully spoken of them to the offenders themselves. This would prevent a world of mischief and slander, and perhaps save many from a disgraceful persisting in sin.

He will esteem grace, and even common virtues and worth of character, above ́all manner of riches. A rich wicked man is, in a christian's eve, somewhat like a body bloated with unwholesome fat and disease; not very pleasant to look upon, but much to be pitied and deplored. O what a sordid and dangerous evil is fulness of bread, without emptiness of self! The christian will behave to such men with the decency that becomes him, and with the respect due to their station: At the same time, he cannot be partaker of their sins; nor ought he to miss the opportunity, if providence give it him, to set before them better riches than they now enjoy, even God's durable riches and righteousness. Though few of this sort do put their necks to the work of the Lord, (Neh. iii. 5.) or shall be saved, and it is only possible with God to save any of them; yet the christian will be more tender and compassionate to them upon this very account. If they are to have their whole portion in this life; should not the anger, that may be felt from their insolence and pride,

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be turned into pity and prayer; since their riches will soon be corrupted, and not an atom of their pomp can follow them?

With regard to the poor, the christian cannot, as a christian, be wanting in commiseration or relief, so far as it lies in his power. The affliction of their circumstances will reach his heart most, when his hand can do least to abate it. No real christian can despise the poor. He that doeth this is under a worse poverty than their's. God hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom: How then can those among the poor, who are thus blessed, receive contempt from any of God's children? Or how can the poor at large be treated with insolence and cruelty, when the Lord hath declared that he will avenge their cause? If a poor man be wicked, he is doubly entitled to pity; because he hath nothing in this world, and worse than nothing in view for the world to come. If a poor man be gracious, he is doubly an object of love; because he is now under many trials in the flesh, which the wealthy do not feel, and yet is dear to God, as his own blessed child and future inheritor of his glory.

To men of every rank and station the christian will endeavour to render their due; Custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Let his own situation in this world be what it may, he

is the only gentleman in heart, whatever others may seem to be in outward grimace and manners. He is gentle, showing all kindness to all men. This is the golden polish; and, without this, the rest is nothing but dawbing or tinsel.

It will appear from hence, that the christian school teaches the most punctual good manners of any in the world. It inculcates rules of the purest honour and integrity, and enforces every moral obligation, not by a harsh and unpleasant constraint, but by the far more prevailing and happy impressions of dutiful privilege and love. It not only insists upon a decent outside, but leads to the correction of the heart, and to the strictest adjustment of all things into a right order within. No lax morals, no licentious conduct, no ill words, no indecent looks, no, nor yet one evil thought, are toJerated for a moment to the disciple of Jesus Christ. He would be, if he could; and he grieves because he cannot be, in this life--all holiness and perfection.---Thus, though no part or cause of his final salvation depends upon what is done by him or what is done in him; yet he desires to abound in all the fruits of faith, which are by Christ Jesus, to the praise and glory of God." And if these things be so, how can any presume to say, "That the doctrines of grace are pregnant with immorality!" It is the ignorance or relinquishment of these doctrines, which, like

the absence of the sun, occasions most of the moral darkness, together with the speculative and practical atheisms, or philosophisms, that now obscure and torment the world.

CHAP. XV.

THE CHRISTIAN'S CONDUCT TO THE TEMPTED AND DISTRESSED IN MIND.

THE members of the same body have a natural care and sympathy for each other; and so have the members of the church of Christ, which is his spiritual body. They cannot know of the sorrow and trials of a brother's soul, without some concern of spirit, or feeling of compassion.

Godly conference and discourse are often rendered the means of comfort and relief. The Lord, indeed, usually works in this way, that his people may see it to be their greater privilege and duty thus to help each other's faith, and so be joint partakers of his joy. This mutual regard and assistance tend also to unite the flock of Christ, and to make them more and more dear to each other. For want of this, many congregations are like scattered sheep, unaffectionate, disre