430 130L'' roarivung. satisfaction and bloody revenge; we may be charged with cow- ardice among theruffians of the age ; but a man of honour must have courage to bear this charge, unless he will venture to run upon the sword of God which is drawn and pointed against re- venge; duelling, and murder: When the fashion of dress or visits, of salutations or enter-' tainments, exceeds thebounds 'of modesty or temperance, or in- trenches upon truth or religion, we must bravely dare to be un- fashionable, and have no fellowship with any unfruitful works of darkness; Eph. v. 11. We must obey the great and holy God, rather than comply with the sinful customs of men. 'r 'Tis brave to meet the world, stand fast among .. " Whole crowds, andnot be carried with the throng." Igrant that religion doth not consist in 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. Comeout fromamong them is the lan- guage of God in such cases, touch not the unclean thing, andbe ye separate, saith the Lord ; 2 Cor. vi. 17. IV. Another instanceof necessary courage, is, when we are called to undertake the cause of the oppressed, to plead for the poor against the mighty, or to vindicate the innocent against the men of slander or violence. It is a cowardly spirit, a spirit of shameful pride, or selfishmeanness, to trample upon those that are lying upon the ground, to tread upon the poor and the dis- tressed, and sometimes through fear of the mighty, as well as scorn of the poor, to neglect the cries of those that are injured. This indeed is the custom of the world ; but if we be the disci pies of Christ, we must have more courage than this, we must openour mouths for the dumb, and plead the cause of those that cannot speakfor themselves; Prov. xxxi..8. When we happen into company that delight in scandal, and the slander goes round from tongue to tongue, we must first guard our lips from the infamous compliance, though we cannot defend our ears : And then we should have some compassion on the absent person, who perhaps may be loaded withcalumny and lies : Nor shouldwe be afraid orrashamed to put in a relieving word ; to support the good name of those that are oppressed by malicious reproaches. And if the censure be never so just, yet where providence doth not plainly call us to join in that censure; let us not betray such an inclination to evil-speaking, nor shew such a baseand mean soul, as to call names for company. Where the life or the estateof our neighbour is in danger, we must venture something to secure it, as well as to, defend his good name. Thisadvice is given in Prov. xxiv. 1], 12. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawnout todeath, and those that
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=