376 Prudence neceary in convening SERM. and to his word by finners. Rivers of tears, XIV. he fays, run down his eyes . and horror took ""-v''-'-'hold on him, becaufe wicked men tranfgreffid the divine law. For, proportionable to our efleem for any perfon will be our refentment againft the difhonours which are offered to him : and therefore if our love to God be fupreme as it fhould be, with all the heart and foul, the profanation of his name and laws will be grievous to us. Confequently, we íhould take all the care we can to prevent fuch profanenefs ; and in a particular manner by preventing the occafion of it. It is eafy to fee that fome men are difpofed to take every opportunity of doing defpite to religion; and furely, then, the Pfalmift's way is the belt, * I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with filenee. I held my peace even from good. And indeed charity to men, to finners themfelves, requires this, as well as a zeal of God. One would, even in compaflïon, avoid giving them opportunities to íncreafe their guilt : and if we believe that to trample on the venerable things of religion will draw down miferyon men, a merciful fpirit would, as far as it can be done, íhun the occafions of Pf xxxix. from the beginning. it,
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