Be not too anxious, my brother, for the good opinion even of the best of men, nor altogether judge of thy state by so uncertain a rule. Concern of this kind seems to argue too fond a regard of thy carnal self, or of thy own state in the world. If they show disrespect, and if it arise from mistake; rejoice that thy true hidden life depends not on the opinions of mortals, but on the love and just judgment of an unerring Redeemer. The opinion of others can never make nor unmake thee, as a christian. But if their disesteem should be founded in truth, fear not to dive to the bottom of thine own undeservings, and cease not to pray for grace to correct them. Be not offended with thy brethren, in either case; for this will lead to ruptures neither for their profit nor thine. The glory of God and of his truth is also concerned, which should fill thee with the greater for bearance and caution in all thy dealings with the household of faith. Pray for wisdom to examine thy cause faithfully, to know the worst that can be found of thyself, and to see into the truth or mistake of others. And if, in thine own conscience, the right be with thee, be thankful for the mercy,, and cease not, because they need it, to pray for them who are in the wrong. Thy true charity should relieve, in this way, their spiritual necessity, and so rise, with that lawful triumphof a christian, by an holy and inward superiority of meekness and of love.

Beware of anger and offence. The wrath of man cannot work the righteousness of God. Be humbled by every disesteem, whether just or unjust, within thyself. This is gaining a step in the great inward and spiritual progress of seif-renunciation; for which end these means, though unpleasant. to proud nature, may have been mercifully and providentially ordained. Fear not to see the worst of thine own infirmities: Tremble rather, lest they should be hidden and unknown to thy soul. When thou art made truly low in thine own eyes, the slights and contempts even of good men, proceeding, as they usually do, not from grace but common infirmities, will not over-much vex thee.. It is the fondness of self, and the pride of our hearts, which render all outward insult and injury distressing and painful. He that thinks httle of himself, can bear to be thought little of by others: But he that is lifted up. within, is grieved, when he cannot find that tribute of respect, which his own foolish fondness hath ordained for himself..

The best remedy for spiritual disorder is spiritual prayer. Corruption inflicts or feels pain; and grace should subdue corruption.. It is the true wisdom of a christian to set his faith, and not the passions of his unholy nature, at work upon evil. Grace will teach him not to huff, or snort, or resent, or speak great swelling words of carnal indignation; but to bear, and forbear, and pray, and wait,

and intreat, according to the occasion. When the rough north wind of trial rages and raves; then the graces of the christian should more abundantly flow. All this is difficult, without a doubt; but will not a gracious success be afterwards a comfort to the believer, both as it affords a real proof of the true life of Christ within him, and an occasion of glorifying God before men? And if it answer these ends, how great is his reason to be thankful!

When gracious men see all this work upon thee, they will honour God in his own gifts: But, if they do not, it is in no man's power to alter thy condition with him. Be deeply thankful, that thou hast found mercy; and show forbearance to those, who need it from thee.

CHAP. XXIV

WEAKNESS IS IMPATIENT.

It is not strength, but weakness, which complains. He, that is strong, can well bear the infirmities of the weak: He, that is weak, cannot bear at all, but is overwhelmed with his own. A father in Christ can put up with the frowardness and indiscretion of the babe in Christ; but the latter, having his. mind but little exercised, is full of dislikes.

and always wants his own will and way : Otherwise, he complains.

This weakness is commonly captious; fonder of finding errors than healing them, and more able to discover the grounds of difference than wisely to take up the points of unity. Sincere, yet quarrelsome; troubled, yet headstrong; young in the faith, yet presuming; fond of parties and persons, of modes and of forms of doctrine, with warm heart and little experience; all this is the character of most young or weak professors.--When they grow older in grace, they become wiser in the kingdom, more catholic, patient, forbearing, candid, and forgiving. They see a thousand mistakes and often wilfulness in their own first profession; and these incline them, through an increase of wisdom and strength, to suffer kindly the infirmities and frailties of others. They then love what is real, encourage what is weak, pardon what is childish, endure what is troublesome, correet what is evil, and pray, not rave, when they see but slow improvements.

CHAP. XXV.

ON RETIREMENT.

WHATEVER is a man's first great business in life, that he will pursue most, and desire to study with the least interruption and disorder. A man of this world hath his heart only in the world; but a christian gets as much as possible into heavenly things, because his heart and his treasure are in heaven. The God of wisdom himself hath said, that no man can serve him and mammon. We have but one heart, which we cannot divide; and, if it were posssible, an heart and an heart, or a heart divided, would be an hateful offering to the Most High.

There is no real christian, but who feels and bewails how often his common affairs draw off his mind from his best affairs, and throw him into dulness and distraction. He feels and bewails this, because he is christian, and because his best affections are somewhere else. His grief is not so much, that he must apply himself to social duties, which are indispensable to every one according to his place under Providence, but that he cannot carry more of the true spirit and unction of religion into them. Could they be more and more sanctified by the word of God and prayer, and could his mind be more delivered from the worldliness both of them