SERM. XX.1
TRUTH.,
9tNCER2TY,
&C.
B¢]
might
follow
my
example,
that
ye might always
act
agree
-
a,bíe
to yourselves,
and
be
constant
to
your
own
virtuous
and
holy
character.
But
what an
inconstant christian
is
he
who
changes
his
principles and practices, being
blown
about
with
the
wind
of
prevailing party,
and
the
humour
of
the times
?
Who
seems
active
in the
cause
of
religion, when religion
is
the fashion
of
the
age
;
but
he grows
ashamed of
every
part of
godliness, when the times
turn
upon
him.
His
religion
dies,
when piety
is
discouraged
in
the
world,
and
a saint
becomes
a
name
of
reproach. To
-day for
the
God
of
Israel,
and to-
morrow among
the worshippers
of
Baal
!
Now a zealot for
pure
doctrine
and worship,
anon
so
lukewarm and indifferent
about
every
thing of religion,
as
though
it
had
no
place
near
his
heart! Multiplying
duties
of
godliness one
week,
and
grossly
negligent
of
all
duty
the
next
!
To -day preaching and practising
the
rules
of
christianity,
and
to-morrow
talking
and living
like
a man
of
heathenism
!
True
and
constant
to
nothing,
but
to
his own
fickle
temper and inconstancy
!
Is
it not
a glorious
character
when
we
can say
of a
good man,
that
"
all
that
have known
him give him
a
good word
:
that
those
who
havelived
many
years with
him,
and
seen him
in his
unguarded
hours,
and
in
the
undress
of
life,
pronounce
him
the
same man as
he
ap-
pears
in
the public world." They who
have known him
longest,
admire
him
most, and
love
him best,
and they
bear a
noble testimony to
his
virtues and
his
graces.
His
graces and
his
virtues advance
with his years, they
imi-
tate the morning
-sun,
which keeps the same
steady pace
through
the heavens,
but
rises hourly,
and
shines with
a
brighter
lustre,
and
with
warmer
beams.
The
path
of
.
the
just,
like the morning 'light shines more
and more
unto the perfect
day.
Prov.
iv. 18.
But
what
a
wretched satire it
is
upon any
man to
say,
"
If
you
see him
for an
hour
his
talents
will
surprise and
please yob,
but
if
you
have a year's
acquaintance
with
him, his evil
qualities are
so
many and
so
hateful,
that
all
his
charms
vanish,
and
he
sinks
and
loses all
your
esteem."
So.
a
torch
blazes high when
it
is
first kindled,
but
the
flame
grows
lower
as
it
burns,
till
it
expire in
stench and
smoke.
Where
such
a
censure
is
just,
or
i