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SEEM.'XXVIII.]
A
LOVELY
CARRIAGE,
&C.
473
pel,
are become christians indeed, and are made
all
over
amiable, and
soft,
And
obliging
.in
their deportment
;
when
they
carry
it like
new creatures,
like
persons
that
are
changed indeed,
that
have much
of
the spirit
of
love
in
them, the
temper
of
the
gospel,
and the temper
of
heaven
!
It
is
this
gospel,
as
I
bave said before,
that
turns
lions
into
lambs,
and
ravens into
doves,
the most
savage
creatures into
mild
and gentle.
While
we
are thus
engaged
in
the practice
of
love, we
have
no need to
abandon our
zeal
for the
truth
;
but
we
should separate
our
divine zeal
from
all
our
own
guilty
passions, lest
instead
of
honouring God,
we
should de-
stroy
his
children.
The'servant of
the
Lord
may
be
bold
and
stedfast
in
the defence
of
the
gospel,
but
he
must
be
gentle towards all
men,
ready
to teach,
and
patient
un-
der
injuries.
"
He
must
not
strive like
a hero
for victo-
ry,
but
when any oppose themselves to the
truth,
he
must
instruct
them
in
meekness,"
2
Tim.
ii.
24, 25.
'While
we
are
peaceful and
harmless,
we
may be
at
the
same time
pru-
dent and wise; our Lord Jesus
has
joined
these two
characters
;
Mat.
x.
l
6.
And
it
is
a
very
lovely
inscrip-
tion for a disciple
of
Christ
to
wear
in'
all
his
public
and
private
conversation;
"
wise as
serpents, and harmless
as
doves
Thus
we
may
guard
ourselves
from
the malice
of
the world,
while
we
attempt
to
win
them
by
all
the
sacred methods
of
humanity and
divine goodness.
HYMN
FOR
SERMON
XXVIII.
CHRISTIAN MORALITY;
viz, A
LOVELY CARRIAGE,
COMMON
METRE.
0
'TIS
a
lovely thing
to see
A man
of
prudent heart,
Whose thoughts, and lips
and
life agree
To
act
a
useful
part.
When envy,
strife, and wars begin
In little
angry
souls
;
Mark
how
the
sons
of
peace
come in,
And quench the kindling coals.
Their
minds
are humble, mild, and meek;
Nor let their fury
rise;
Nor
passion moves
their
lips
to
speak,,
or
pride exalts their eyes,
Their
frame
is
prudence mix'd
with
love
Good works
fulfil
their day
;
They join the serpent
with
thè
dove,
But cast the sting away.
Such was
the
Saviour
of
mankind,
Such pleasures he
pursu'd
;
His
flesh
and blood
were all refired,
His soul
divinely good.
Lord, can these
plants of
virtue
grow!
In
such a soul as
mine?
Thy grace can
form my
nature
so
And
snake my
heart
like
thine.