will not wilfully, knowingly, and perseve ringly, do wrong: And therefore if any person will thus do and continue to do wrong, as he cannot deserve the name of an honest man, so much less that of a christian. The counsels of the wicked only are deceit.

Whenever doubts arise upon any subject of this kind, let the christian do as the Psalmist did---set the Lord always before him. If a man walk closely in the fear of God, and set up his Saviour for his example, he will yery rarely through ignorance be guilty of injustice to man.

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I believe, further, that a christian is conscientiously, though not legally, bound, to supply all deficiencies in former failures, whenever providence may afford him the power. That christian seems a very strange one to me, who needs the chain of statutes to bind him to duty; and, therefore, though may be his case, and the case of many an honest man, to become a bankrupt, but certainly a credit to no man; yet when his certificate is granted, and he is thereby become clear of the compulsive force of the laws; how can he delay, with a clear conscience, to make good to the utmost any just losses, which others have sustained by him, as soon afterwards as God shall have given him the ability? I have heard of some, and these too were mere men of the world, who, recovering from ruin, had the

magnanimity and good sense (for indeed it is both when understood) to discharge all remainders to creditors, and, with those remainders, the interest accumulated upon them. And shall one, who calls himself a believer in Jesus and a child of God, neglect, in a similar case, to do both himself and his christian profession so beautiful an honour, only by doing strict justice to those unfortunate sufferers, who, by their confidence in his integrity, have every sort of claim to expect it of him? I should doubt the faith of the professor, who could hesi tate a moment to own, or to do, so plain a duty.

There are also some professions, which no real christian can dare to follow. It is not necessary to name them, because they fall under the stroke of one general rule, which every believer in Christ must approve. The trade, the calling, or the gain, which cannot be prayed over, be lived upon in faith, and carried on with thanksgiving, is, like Achan's golden wedge and Babylonish garment, a curse to the owner, and an abomination to the LORD. On the other hand, a small thing which the righteous hath, is better than great riches of many wicked: and he is much safer and hap pier too, who hath grace in his heart with no money in his purse, than he, who, with thousands of gold and silver, hath the wrath of God along with them.

It is the privilege and duty of a christian

to commit all his present concerns to the favour and blessing of God. He that prays, as well as works, loses no time by his prayers. He that works, but doth not pray, may often expect to labour in vain, as well as in sin, and to bring his affairs to no good end. "Duty hath much present comfort, and no curse in it;" which consideration alone is worth all the care of christian.

CHAP. XIII.

THAT DUTIES ARE NOT TO BE MEASURED BY THE SUCCESS WHICH MAY FOLLOW THEM, BUT BY THE WORD OF GOD ONLY.

WE have much self-love and self-righteousness in our fallen nature, which cause us to expect success from our spiritual or temporal duties, and to be mortified when we do not find it. Whereas if our minds were perfectly given to the Will of God, or in this frail state could be so given; that Will would be perfectly our own.

Let not the christian grieve without hope, if, after all his attention to duty in his common concerns, they may not seem to pros◄ per in his hands; for, however they seem, they do prosper for his real good, and es

pecially if his heart and soul are drawn by any disappointments the closer to God. "God's promises are not to be measured by his providences, but his providences by his promises." The christian, therefore, must keep in the strait path of duty, and leave it to his heavenly Father to appear faithful in the end, who can at no time be otherwise.

In religious duties, such as prayer and exhortation to his family, the christian may likewise not always be attended with success; but is he, or can he dare to stop their performance upon that account? He should remember what God hath appointed him, and he should pray to do it; but, as to the event, this doth not belong to him. It is God's concern entirely. He may indeed rejoice, when he seeth the hand of God; but he must trust and be doing, when he seeth it not. All will be found well sooner or later; and that surely is sufficient for his present comfort.

It hath been a sore trial to many faithful ministers, when they have worked hard in God's vineyard and have not sped. But it is scarcely necessary to observe to these, that they shall be blessed in their labour, if not from it. They feel the comfort of God's promise and presence, or they would go on more heavily still. It is an old complaint, I have stretched forth my hands all the day long to a rebellious and gainsaying people. So Noah was a preacher of righteousness

for 120 years, while the ark was in building; but though it doth not appear, that he wrought upon one soul, he was not, however, the less blessed of God. Our Lord's apostles converted more than himself abundantly; and probably for this reason, that his faithful ministers should not afterwards be too much discouraged, when they see not an immediate or extensive fruit of their labours.

CHAP. XIV.

ON THE DEPORTMENT OF A CHRISTIAN
TO OTHERS.

IN the first place, as much as lieth in him, the christian will, if possible, live in peace with all men. That blessed Dove, the Holy Spirit, harboureth not with contention and strife, but loveth peace, concord and unity, yea, and unanimity too. It is by him that men find but one mind in their house, and in the house of God.

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As the christian is no brawler; so, in his habit of life, he cannot be an arrogant, uplifted, conceited, and presuming person; cause such an one, in this arrogant world, cannot possibly be free from brawling.

Not being a coxcomb or forward person,