I44 A .AOpEPI1L YOti?N [SEñM. YSTf. disposition, rude in his behaviour, and makes a very unlovely figure amongst men ? Let him fill what station he will in the church, he bears but a disagreeable cha- racter in the house, and disgraces the family or the city where he dwells. What his secret virtues or graces are, we know not, for they shine all inward ; he keeps all his goodness to himself, and never suffers his light to shine out amongst his neighbours." Can I bear that it shouldbe said concerningme, "He seems indeed to have something of the love of God in him, but he is so rough in his natural temper, and so uncorrected in his manners, that scarce any man loves him ? He may bend his knees to God in prayer, but he has not common civility towards men. His morality and honesty appear not upon him with honour : His virtue does not seem to sit well about him, and his religion is dressed in a very unpleasing form. Is this the way to give reputation to the gospel ? Is this to adorn the doc- trine of God our Saviour in all things ? Tit. ii. 10. When we become christians, we put away bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil-speaking, and filthi- ness, and scurrilous jests, Eph. iv. 31. and v. 4. We are commanded to speak evil of no man, to be no brawl- ers ; but to be gentle, and shew meekness to all, Tit. iii. 2. to prefer one another in honour; to bless, and curse not; to rejoice with them that rejoice, and to weep with them that weep ;; to condescend to men of low es- tate ; and, if possible, to live peaceablywith all men, Rom. xii. 14, 1.5, 16, 18. Are there any souls here of this unpleasing character and carriage ? Did you ever read these words in your bibles? Do ye think these are the commands of Christ, or no ? You profess to love him above all, but what care have yóu taken to obey these precepts of his? or do you think the sublime practices of faith and adoration will make these lower duties needless ? Have ye found the sweetness of being at peace with God, and tasted of the pleasures of his love; and can ye disregard all the practices and pleasures of love and peace among men ? We are not required indeed to sell truth for peace, nor strict godliness for the forms of civility. There is no need that we should conform ourselves to any of the sin.
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