submission, but even the minuter beauties of holiness, in a spirit of humility, meekness and affec

tion.

Nor ought I to omit, that professors singularly glorify God in adversity, by feeling, and causing it to be seen that they feel it to be one of its bitterest sorrows, that they have been the means of injuring others. They have unintentionally, but still materially, perhaps, involved many in loss. To see a man reckless of the property, and regardless of the misfortunes of his friends, misfortunes of which he has been the cause, is not honesty, much less honour, or Christianity. It should be the aim and determination of every Christian, that by the most unwearied labour, the most persevering diligence, and the most rigid economy, he may at length pay every creditor to the full amount of his demands. A legal clearance, is not a moral one. It is a disgraceful sight, even for a man of the world, to be seen rising out of adversity, and living in splendour, while his creditors have not received, probably one half or one quarter of their just due; such a person may not be called a rogue, but who will call him an honest man?

III. To the third class, I mean those who are IN AFFLICTION from any of the various causes of human sorrow, whether it be personal or relative trouble, it is not necessary I should say much in addition to what I have already advanced.

Let them restrain their grief, and not be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow. An excessive degree of distress, a refusal to be comforted, a disposition to nourish grief, is a temper dishonourable to a professor, who, in the darkest and dreariest scenes of human life, ought not to appear like the men who are without God and without hope. P▲

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TIENCE must have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. RESIGNATION must not only suppress the murmur, but dictate words of confidence and peace. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him," must be your declaration, as well as your purpose. FAITH, strong, steady faith, which cleaves closer to Christ, in proportion as other things fail, must be in exercise. HOPE, as the anchor of your soul, must keep your little bark safe amidst the storm. MEEKNESS must put forth all its power and beauty in preventing peevishness, and producing a sweetness of temper in the midst of perplexing and ruffling circumstances. ASSURANCE that all things are working together for good, should bear the soul above the low and cloudy horizon of present trials, and enable it to descry eternal sunshine beyond the storm, and rendered the brighter by the gloom, from the midst of which it is contemplated.

While

at the same time, a deep concern should be manifested for a sanctified use of every affliction. Anxiety should be manifested to glorify God in the fires, to have every corruption mortified, and every grace strengthened; to die to earth, and live for heaven.

Thus may the various classes of Christians in adversity, support, adorn, and recommend the religion they profess; and enjoy consolation in their trouble, derived from the consideration that their affliction has yielded something for the advancement of God's cause, and the manifestation of his. glory in the world; while it has been ripening · them for that blessed state, where they shall be before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light

on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto fountains of living waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."Rev. vii. 15-17.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE CONDUCT OF PROFESSORS AWAY FROM HOME.

REAL religion is not merely an occasional act, but a permanent habit, resulting from an internal principle: a principle so fixed as to constitute a moral nature, and so steadily operative, as to form an unchanging character. A real Christian is a Christian always, everywhere, and for all companies he carries with him his piety wherever he goes, as an integral part of himself. It is not like his dress which may be continually altered, or varied to suit his situation, occupation, and society. He needs it everywhere, he loves it everywhere, and is commanded to let it be seen everywhere. Is this, however, invariably remembered and acted upon by professors? Is there not too much of a chameleon kind of religion, that takes its hue from surrounding objects?-a flexible, yielding, easy kind of piety, which can accommodate itself to circumstances, by little sacrifices of principle and consistency? This is seen most conspicuously in the conduct of professing Christians, when away from home. While in the midst of their connexions, they cannot go far astray without its being noticed; and indeed, the temptations to wander from the line of strict propriety, are there neither numerous nor strong; the eyes of their religious friends and of their pastor are upon them;

they would be missed from the house of God, and seen, by those who know them, in the company of the gay, and in the amusements of the fashionable. Hence they are not so much in danger in these circumstances, as when removed by any cause from beneath the notice of those, who, by office, relationship, or affection, are called to watch over them.— Temptations in various ways assail them when from home, from which they are sheltered at home.

Sometimes professors are visiting in gay and worldly families; in such a situation they require great caution and courage, neither to conceal nor compromise their principles. Such visits are undesirable, and are not to be chosen, but submitted to merely as matter of necessity. There is nothing in such a situation congenial with the spirit of piety; and they can rarely maintain their consistency, and at the same time give or receive pleasure. Still, however, they cannot always avoid such intercourse, and when they are under some kind of necessity to enter into it, they should be well aware of their dif ficulties, and pray for grace to be carried through them with honour and a good conscience. They should recollect that they will be both watched as to their consistency, and tried as to their steadfastness, and will need much firmness and circumspection. It is demanded of them by their allegiance to Christ, that while all the rules of politeness and good breeding are observed, there be no concealment of their profession, no joining in amusements from which they conscientiously abstain at home, and no attendance upon heretical worship out of compliment to the host; but on the contrary, an inflexible, dignified and courteous maintenance of their separation from the world, their Christian habits, and religious observances. This is one of