SEf1.320N XXXI. 437 Hast thou obtained holy boldness enough to practise virtue when it is out of fashion. and canst thou refuse to complywith the warmest temptations to a fashionable sin? Hast thou got such a victory over thyselfas todare to be singular, ifthy cons pany would lead thee into any modish vice ? This is an hard lesson to young and tender minds, but it must be learned. O my soul, ifthou wilt be a christian indeed, hast thou courage tovindi- cate the innocent, when he is assaulted with slanders, and to frownupon those who delight in scandal ? Or art thou so meanly spirited, as to join in acommon jest, that is thrown upon the ab- sent, and to mix with theodious tribe ofback-biters ? Remember this is a shameful baseness of spirit : but achristian must be a man of honour. Canst thou-see thy friends, thy companions, indulge a sinful course, and hast thou not one kind admonition for them ? Hast thou not virtue and courage enough to warn thy brother, and to turn his foot from the path of iniquity, that leads to ruin and death? Butremember also, that gentleness and lovemust attend thy rebukes, if thou ever desirest they should attain success. A reprover should have a bold, but a tender spirit. What zeal hast thou, O my soul, for reformation ? Or canst thou bear with immoralities and corruptions of every kind ? And rather than venture to displease,man, wilt thou let thy neighbours go on for W ever to displease God ? hat wouldest thou do, if thou wert called to face the great, and to profess religion before the mighty men of the earth ? Is thy faith grown bold enough to shew itself in a court, in o palace, and to venture allthy earthly interests for the defence ofit ? Thus far concerning thy active fortitude. But how stands the ease with regard to passive valour, and enduring of sufferings ? Is thy heart firm under sharp trials of providence? Canst thou re- sign thy health and thy ease into the hand of God withoutfretting or repining? Or doth thy courage taint, and thy impatience shamefully discover itself under the common pains and diseases of nature ? I grant there is much ofweakness derived even to a manly spirit, from the distempers of the flesh : When the nerves are unbraced, and the tabernacle of the body tottering, the soul partakes of the infirmitiesofthis poor fleshly engine. O frail un- happy state of human nature, and souls that dwell in clay ! But is it thy constant labour and prayer, that patience may have'its perfect' work, that thy spirit may be ever sedate under all the pains and disquietudes of this mortal flesh, and thy temperkept serene under allthe frowns and clouds of heaven ? Art thou ready to face the king of terrors, and to descend into that dark valley ? Thou must meet this adversary shortly, O my soul! Labour therefore daily to get 'courage and victory
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