470 UNIVERSAL RULE or EQUITt. and it is said, he carried it to war with him in the banners of hi* army, that it might regulate his conduct, upon all military occur- rences. What a pity it is that Severus was aheathen ! Or rather what a shame and sorrow it is, that there should be so few of this character in the courts, in the armies, in the markets, the shops, and the families of christians ? When will that bles- sed daycome, that shall bring this departed glory back again to the church of Christ ? When shall the spirit of faith and charity be poured down from on high, and righteousness comefrom hea- ven to dwell amongus ? Recollection.Blessed Saviour, how great is thy goodness, to give us so complete, so plain, so easy, and so divine a rule to square all our actions in the social life ! How happily hast thou comprizedMoses and the prophetsin two short lines, that is, the command of a supreme love to the Lord our God, and a love to our neighbour like that which we bear to ourselves ? Remember, O my soul, this short and comprehensive lesson ; and amongst all thy duties and zeal toward thy God, forget not this rule of conduct toward thy fellow-creatures. I can never complain, it is too high and hard for my understanding to appre- hend, or too tiresome and painful for mymemory to retain, or too burthensome to carry it about always with me. I am convinced fully convinced of the justice of it : It strikes upon myconscience with strong light and evidence, and sometimes I feel the force of it, like an inward motive, awakening me to thepractice of all that it enjoins. O that I might ever live under its prevailing influences, and then I might humbly appeal to God, that I have transacted my affairs withmen, by the principles of sincere god- liness, truth and justice. Forgive, O my gracious God, all the wretched instances of my departure from this sacred law of equity. This sacred law will awaken the soul to repentance, as well as direct it to duty andwhatever station of life I am engaged in, whatever rank, character, office, or relation I bear in the world, or in the church of Christ ; let me form all my future conduct' by this command of my Saviour, let me bring all my pastactions to this holy test, and let my conscience repent or rejoice. ,O how bright a lustrewouldbe cast on the religion of Jesus, and on all the professors of it, if this rule were always in use >! But alas ! it lies silent i' our bibles, and we hear it not ; or it sleeps in our bosom and we awake it not, when we have most needof-its assistance. We read and we forget even this short rule of righteousness, and thus we practice iniquity daily, and injure our neighbours without remorse. O wretched crea- tures that we are ? How great is our negligence and our guilt, that we dó not so much as ask our consciences honest.
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