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SERIVI.

XXXI.]

OR RF.AIEDIES

AGAINST

FEAR.

7

drawn

to

the

borders

of

a

lie;

nor

must

we

be

ashamed

to

let

the world know

that

we

are the devoted servants

of

truth.

When

some

knavish

or

unjust

practice has overspread

city

or

a

country,

and

become almost unit'ersal,

we

must

dare

to be

honest

in

a

cheating

world;

must

maintain

our

righteousness, and

let

it

shine in

the midst

of

a

deceitful

age,

though perhaps

we

may

be called

scru-

pulous

fools.

If

we

happen

to

be

engagéd

in

necessary business with

persons

who

drink

to excess,

we

,

must

boldly deny

the

imposed

glass, we

must secure

our

own

sobriety,

èven

in

the

midst

of

drunkards, and

as

much

as possible

avoid

their

society:

Nor

should any

scandalous names

of puri-

tan and precisian

affright us from the

paths

of

strict

ho-

liness.

When

we

meet

with gross affronts

in

the

world,

we

may be

made the

scorn and jest,

of

all

the company,

if

we

decline the modish customs

of

satisfaction and bloody

revenge;

we may

be

charged with cowardice

among the

ruffians

of the age;

but

a

man

of honour must have-con-

rage

to bear this charge, unless he will

venture

to

run

upon

the

sword

of God

which

is

drawn

and, pointed

against

revenge, duelling,

and murder.

When the

fashion

of

dress

or

visits,

of salutations or

entertainments,

exceeds

the

bounds

of

modesty

or tem-

perance,

or intrenches upon

truth

or

religion,

we

must

bravely

dare to

be

unfashionable, and have no fellow-

ship

with

any

unfruitful works

of

darkness, .kph.

v.

I

I.

We must

obey

the

great

and

holy

God,

rather

than

Com-

ply

with

the

sinful customs

of

men.

"'Tis

brave

to meet

the

world, stand

fast

among

Whole

crowds;

and.not

be

carry'd

with

the'thraieg.*

I

grant that

religion doth

not

consistin

singularity,

but

there are

some

seasons

when

we

must

be

singular,

if

we

would

be 'holy,

and

exert

a

sacred

fortitude

of

soul,

to

secure ourselves from

the

defilements

of the

world.

"

Come

out

from

among them,

is

the language

of

God,

in such cases,

touch not

the

unclean

thing,

and

be ye

separate,

saith the

Lord,"

2,

Cor.

vi. 17.

ITT.

Another instance

of

necessary

courage

is,

when

4