172: Tlie indifl!e~fable Duty r fion. But, alas! to what a fad pafs are w.e· con1e, if ndth.er reafon no! rel'jgiop may prefcr.ibe·the rules of honour ; if our noti:– ons of.it mufl: be taken frorp the languag~ of the fons ofBelial, of ftrife and violence; if to imitate the f)eity in his n1ofl: glorious attribute of n1et:.cy and forgivenefs, and be:– conle perfec1 as.our Father: ·which is in hea~ {"~J e-n is p.er(efl, be accoun!ed a bafe and dif-· .honourable thing-; and if fro1n this vaiH~ im.aginary phantaftick fhadow. of reputa– tion, we will violate all laws, human and · divine, and fp-rfeit- eternal h.appinefs! But Vv'ho are tht:y that will 'think the worfe of you for your patience? So.n1e vain empty fools, fon1e profane atheiftical wretches, whofe judg1nents are .,.not valu~ble, nor their pra~fe worth the hav.irig. Or wha:t can they fay of you, but that you.are meek: ~md low.!y, i1n.itators of that bldfed mafl:er \vhom we profefs to ferve? And why do we own the name of Chrifiians-, if we qe afhamed of the fpirit and life of Chriftia.– nity? Why do we not call ourfelves after the name of Cain, Nimrod, or fome other angry and revengeful defh:oyer, if we. e... . fieen1 thofe qualities n1ore g}orious and ex– cellent? But, if we have any deference for fo· wife a man and gre~t a King as Solomon, · · he
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