SERBI. XXIX.] A GOOD REPORT', °SM. 4747 thee? Is that thy business, Peter, to know what shall befal John? Mind thy own duty, and follow thou me. A wise and divine rebuke from our - risen Saviour ! After this, St. Peter well knew how to _censure such imperti- nence, and to reprove busy-bodies. Of the same mind is the apostle Paul. He advisee women how to behave themselves, that they may not fall under this charge. Let them guide the house, says he; and employ themselves in domestic affairs: for if they neglect this work, they learn . to be idle, wandering about fromhouse to house ; and not only idle, but tat lers also, and busy- bodies, speaking' things which they ought not ; gathering .up, matter for slander of their neighbours at their next visit, where every one is ashamed to be silent, and therefore each is ready to furnish the bompany with their share. But this practice in the opi nion of the sacred .writer, furnishes the adversary with daily occasion to slander christianity, and to speak re- proachfully of the gospel, and it. is a thing of very ill fame, 1 Tim. v. 13, 14. II. A public spirit is another thing of good report: Though christians must be diligent in their business, yet they should not confine all their cares within the narrow circle ofself, but have a heartysolicitude for the welfare of the nation in which theydwell, for the neighbours among whom they inhabit, for the church of Christ in the world, and extend their concern to the happiness of mankind. Ttee apostle directs Timothy to make supplications, prayers, , and intercessions .for all men, and to take such a satisfaction in the mercies they receive, as to give thanks to God upon their account, I Tim. ii. 1. He ex- horts the Ephesians to prayer and supplication for all the saints, -Eph. vi. 18. And what he taught, he also practised in an eminent and glorious manner;. the card of all the churches-came daily upon him: And you find him in the beginning of his epistles lifting up his peti- tionsand his praisestoheaven continuallyfor the churches to whomhe writes. " We should rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep, and share with our fellow-christians In . their -joys and their sorrows -, thatwe may therebydouble their joys, ;and. lighten the. weight of their sorrows by. a 2
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