'SECTION IV. gig your love and pity are the prevailing passions, and that even your anger has something divine and holy in it, as being raised and pointed against the sin rather than against the sinner. Study to make thewhole of your carriage and discourseamongst men so engaging, as may invite strangers to love you, and allure them to love religion for your sake. IV. In order to attain the same end, let your conversation be attended with much self-denial and meekness : avoid the cha- racter of a hutnourist, nor be unreasonably fondof little things, nor peevish for the want of them. Suppress rising passion early. If you are providentiallyled into argument and dispute, whether on themes of belief or practice, be very watchful lest you run into fierce contention, into angry and noisy debate. Guard against every word that savours of malice, or of bitter strife : watch against the first stirrings of sudden wrath or resentment : bear with patience the contradiction of others, andforbear to return ráilingfor railing. Aminister must be gentle, and not apt to strive, but meekly instructing gainsayers. He should ne= ver be ready either to give or take offence, but he should teach his people to neglect and bury resentment, to be deaf to re- proaches, and to forgive injuries, by his own example, even as God hasforgiven all of us. Let us imitate his divine pattern who cancels and forgives our infinite offences for the sake of Jesus Christ. A bishop must not be a brawler or a striker ; 1 Tim. iii. 3. but such as the apostle was, gentle among the peo. ple, even as a nurse cherishes her children ; andbeing affection- ately desirous of their welfare, we should willing to impart not only the gospel of God to them, but any thing that is dear to us, for the salvation of their souls ; I Thess. ii. 7, 8. Never suffer any differences (if possible) to arise between you and any of the people who are committed to your care, or attend on your ministrations : this will endanger the success of your best labours among them, and for this reason, though you visit families with freedom, yet avoid all unnecessary enquiries into their domestic affairs by a prying curiosity ; the pleasure of such secrets will never pay for the danger that attends them, and your own business is sufficient for you. Avoid entering into any of the little private and personal quarrels that may arise among them, unless providence give you an evident call to become a peace-maker: but even in this blessed work there is some dan- ger of disobliging one side or the other ; for though both sides are often to blame, yet each supposes himself so much in the right, that your softest and most candid intimation of their being culpable, even in little things, will sometimes awaken the jea- lousy of one or both parties against you; this will tend to abate their esteem of you, and give a coldness to their attention ótt VOL. Iv. R a
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