SEAM. VI/1.1 FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. 145 ful practices of this world, in order to fulfil the law of love. But wheresoever the customs of the place where we dwell are consistent with the strict and holy rules of Christ, we should practise them so far, as to render our- selves agreeable to those with whom we converse, that we may shine in the world as the honours of Christ, and that unbelievers may be won by our conversation, to come arid hear our gospel, to learn the same faith, and embrace the same hope: Not only the things that are true, and honest, and just, and pure, but the things that are lovely in the sight ofmen, and things that are ofgood report, must be the subjects of our meditation, our learning and practice; Phil. iv. 8. St. Paul, that great apostle, did not think these things unworthy of his care; he enjoins them upon the primitive christians from his own example, and promises them the presence of the God of peace. These are the things which I have taught you, saith he, these ye have heard and seen in me; conformyour manners to these rules, and the God of peace shall be with you, ver. 9. Believe me, friends, the natural habit of christianity is all decency and loveliness.: We put the religion of our Saviour into a disguise, and make it look unlike it- self, if our temper be sour and fretful, if our carriage be coarse and rude, and our speech savour of rough- ness and wrath. A Jewmight make a better apology for a harsh and severe deportment, than a christian can do; he might put on a morose air with better countenance, and plead the dispensation he was under, the bondage of the law, and the terrors ofmount Sinai, but we, un- der the gospel, are free-born, Gal. iv. 26, 31, and our carriage should be ingenuous in all respects. John the baptist, in his garment of hair, may be indulged in a roughness of speech; he was but a forerunner of the gospel, and can hardly be called a christian: But the followers of the Lamb should have a mild aspect, a plea- singmanner, that every one who beholds us may love us too; that the Son of God, if he were here upon earth, might look upon us and love us in both his natures, with a divine and human love. Thirdly, The last address I would make to those who are furnished with every good quality, and every divine grace, who are beloved by God and men. Such a one VOL. I. 7
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