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SERM.
XXIX.]
A
GOOD
REPORT,
&C.
489
food
against
his
conscience. And
the apostle practised this
self
-
denial,
lest
he
should
sin
against
his weak
brother,
lest
he
should grieve
him
by
this
uncharitable license;
as Rom.
xiv.
15.
This
holy
caution and tenderness
of
offending the
weak,
was the
constant practice of
that
blessed saint, who
had
more
knowledge than all
of
us,
but
he had
more condescension and self-denial too.
O
that
we
might all make
him
our pattern,
and practise the
charity
that
we
preach
so
loudly,
and
profess with such
a
modern assurance
!
There
are other practices
which
might
be
comprized
under
this
general character,
and
recommended
as
things
of
good
report.
But
I
must not
draw such discourses
out
to
a
tiresome
'length, which
perhaps
may
create but too
much pain and uneasiness,
by
the very sense and
subject
of
which
they
treat.
Yet
certainly it
is
a
part of
our
duty and our interest
to know,
and meditate, and prac-
tise those things
that
may
gain
us
a good name and
repu-
tation
in
the
world,
and may brighten our
character
among the churches
of Christ;
arid
to
avoid every
thing
that
would blemish our
honour,
or sink
our
esteem among
wise
and
good.
men.
What
arguments
may
be
drawn.
from
the
light
of
na-
ture
to .enforce this
exhortation,
or what
more
powerful
motives
are
derived from the
gospel, to
awaken
and
ex-
cite
us
to the
practice of
all
that
is
honourable,
shall
be
considered
in
the
next
discourse,
when
I
treat of
the
matters
of
virtue and praise,
which
are recommended in
the last words
of
my
text.
HYMN
FOR SERMON
XXIX
CHRISTIAN MORALITY,
viz.
THINGS
OF GOOD
REPORT.
LONG
METRE.
IS
it
a
thing of
good
report,
'To
squander life and
time
away?
To
cut the hours of
duty
short,
While toys and follies waste the day
?
To ask and
prattle
all
affairs,
And mind all
business
but
our
own
?
To live at random, void
of cares,
While all things
to
confusion
run
?
Doth
this become the
christian name,
To
venture
neár the tempter's
door
?
To
sort with men of evil
fame,
And
yet
presume
to
stand secure?
Am
I
my
own
sufficient
guard,
While
I
expose my soul
to
shame?
Can
the
short
joys of
sin
reward
The lasting blemish of my name?
O
may it be
my
constant choice
,
To walk with men
of grace
below,
'Till
I arrive where heavenly
joys,
And never
-
fading honours
grow