30Q CHRISTIAN MORALITY) life are dressed up in very magnificent language, an in expresei ons that far exceed the truth of things ? Does not David, in hiss elegy uponSaul and Jonathan, say, they were sn'i'fter than eagles,' they were stronger than lions? 2 Sam. ,i: 23: And even in St., John's history of the lifeand death of Clwistg does he not sup pose, that if all things which Jesus did were written, even the' world itself could not contain the boòks? John xxi. 25. Answer. It is the natural languageof poetry and prophecy,' and the custom Of the eastern nations, to express things in a. lofty and sublime manner; so that there is no danger of being deceived by that language, when a prophet or a poet indulges such figures of speech: Now the books of Job and Psalms; and. David's elegy; are so many Hebrew poems: The business of oratory is a-kin to verse, and sometimes requires a figurative: style. But in familiar language and common discourse, it is not' the custom of mankind to use such extravagance of expression Thehearer is many timesready to be led into a mistake thereby,. because he supposes the speaker tó mein plainly what he says: And I would not willingly indulge á habit of expressing myr thoughts in such a manner in common conversation, as should de= ceive my hearers, to humour a silly affectation. As for the figure whichSt. John uses to represent the variety of, useful things which were-said and done by ow Saviour, it such as can lead no man into a mistake, for none can-believe it to be understood in a literal sense: Besides, if One would indulge- the most superlative expressions and 'boldest figures that human language can furnish one with,,to set out the honours of any per son on earth, there can be no such properor deserving subject as Jesus Christ our Lord. III. The third rule to preserve veracity is this, practise nothingwhich you are ashamed of. Do nothingthat you need be afraid of the ear of the world : 'Walk carefully in the ways of virtue and duty : Fulfil your obligations to God and man to the utmost of your power : Venture upon no practice that needs a cover, a disguise, or an excuse ; and then you will not be so often under the temptation of lying. Let childrenremember this, and have a care of disobeying God, or their parents, even when they are alone ; lest they be tempted to excuse their faults by lying; which indeed does but enlarge and double them, rather than diminish andexcuse them, Let servants takenotice of this, and pay all due honour and faith- ful obedience to their masters and governors ? or else the devil, and their own corrupt hearts, will frequently join together and help them to lie for the cover of their guilt. Let every one that hears this discourse watch over all their actions, and confine them within the rules of religion; otherwise their practice, which will
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