495 / 514
SLRM.
XRIJC.]
A
GOOD
REPORT,
&C.
487
It
is
the advice
of
the
Holy
Spirit, and
St.
Paul
to
the
christian
converts,
Abstain
from
all
appearance
of
ez
il,
1
Thess.
v.
22.
And the apostle
Jude
requires
us
to.
hate
even
the garments
that
are spotted by the
flesh,
.Jude
ver.
23.
Every
thing
that
looks like
guilt should
forbid
our
approach,
we
should chuse to stand
afar
off,,
and
with
-hold
our
desires,
lest
we
defile
our
consciences,
and bring a
blemish
upon our christian character.
What
an honour
is'
it
to any man, when
it
is
said
concerning
him,
"
He
has a
tender
soul,
and a conscience
that
will
not stretch,
to the length
of
the loose customs
and
fashions
of
the times
;
he
dares not
allow
himself
all
the
liberties
that
are innocent and
lawful,
lest he
should
wound
his own spirit,
and
his good name, by
venturing
too
near
to the
borders
of iniquity." Let
such
a
temper
be
our constant guard
and ornament.
VI.
Following the common practices
of
the
saints in
doubtful matters,
is
another
thing
of
good
report, and
ought
to be
so
among those
that
profess the name
of
Christ
:
Whether
it
be in
our trade and
business, in
our
apparel,
or
our
visits,
in
our
forms
of
address
to
our
superiors, or
common methods
of
conversation and ci-
vility,
of
recreation, or entertainment, let the general
customs
of
the saints
of
the
purest
ages,
or the customs
of
the purest
churches, and the
best christians
in
our
own
age, be a
direction
to our
practice.
Ask
for
the good
old way, says
the
prophet
Jeremy, and
if
we
know
not
what
part
to chuse,
let
us go
by
the footsteps
of
the
flock
of
Christ.
Enquire
what the
followers
of our
Lord
have
done
in
past
ages,
and what the
wisest
and
best
of
them
do
in
our
own age,
and this
will give us
a
considerable
assistance to
determine what ought
to be
our practice.
In
1,Cor.
xi.
16.
the apostle
-Paul
sectas to refer to
this
general head,
for our determination
in
doubtful matters.
When
he
had-been proposing the
law
of nature,
or the
order
of
creation,
to
direct the
man
and
the wotnan what
sort of
coverings they ought to wear,.viz.
"that
a
woman
ought
not
to be uncovered,
and
that
a man should
not
wear long hair,"
that
is,
should
net
nourish
,his
hair
to
make
it
grow long,
.as,
women,
nor
wattage
it
ry°ith
a
nice and effeminate curiosity, be concludes
with
this
sen-
tence,
"
If
any man
seem
to be
contentious,
that
is,
if
any man be
not contented
with the
arguments
I
have
2
I
4