321 CnniSTXAN MA1ALITV. self to a life of useless idleness, and treads round the circle of perpetual mirth and amusement, without profit to himself or the world, is but a child in lonmer marments or an infant of larger. size. The third general head leads us to consider, what forcible arguments christiauity furnishes its with to practise this sobriety, gravity and decency of behaviour : And I 'shall throw them all into a few expostulations. 1. Do we not bear the nameof Christ, a sacred and vene- rable name ? And shall' we cast disgrace upon it by any thing that is mean and dishonourable? Do we not profess to be the followers of a crucified Jesus, to be disciples of the cross ? But wherein do we follow him, if we spend our days in mirth aPd trifling ? His conduct was all holy and heavenly, and we can never look like his disciples, if our conversation savour of earth and vanity. What a noblesimplicity runs through alibis speeches, through -all the actions and the behaviour of our blessed Lord And how little do we imitate him, if we fondly pursue the gay follies of life in our dress, in our speech, and in every thingwe do ! Vo glarings of affected wit, nor insipid pertness, can add any thingto our characteras christians. 2. Let us remember' that we are the sons and daughters of the MostHighGod. Weprofess to separate ourselves from the triflings and impertinences of this world, as well as from the im- piety and guilt of it. " Come out from among them, saith the Lord, and I will be your Father, andye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith God almighty." Surely the children of aprince shouldbehave with solemnity and honour, when they are in the midst of the lower orders of mankind ; and the children of the King of heaven should remember the dignity of their birth, and their high relation, when they are conversant among the sons of earth. Their carriage indeed should not be proud and haughty to the men of this world ; Jesus, the only begotten ,Son, was meek and lowly : And there is a sacred art of maintaining adivine humility, among themeanest of our fellow- creatures, without indulging the practice of any thing"mean and ridiculous; Our blessed Lord was acompanion offishermen' but not of mimics and public jesters. 3. Let us think again, that we aro bought with a high and valuable price ; zee are redeemed, not with corruptible things, ás silver amidgold, but with theprecious blood of Cïerlsl', as of a lamb without blemish and without shot; I Pet'i. 17,18.' And what is it that we are redeemed from ? It is from this evil teorid, and from avain conversation. The Son of God bath loved `trs, and washed us in his o'en blood, and shall we
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=