By such means, are chief friends separated, and misery and discord sown in society. In such cases, the most prudent resource, is an immediate application, in gentle and Christian terms, to the fountain-head of the calumny." * Admonish a friend; it may be he hath not done it and if he have done it, that he do it no more. Admonish thy friend; it may be he hath not said it; or if he have, that he speak it not again. Admonish a friend; for many times it is a slander and believe not every tale." The Author is well aware, from experience, that in many cases, from unfortunate irritability and unchristian tempers, this admonition, though of Divine * Ecclesiasticus xix. 13, 14, 15. 66 com authority, and given in Christian meekness and good-will, will not always be received with placability and forbeararce; on the contrary, it may increase the evil it was meant to cure.---In such a case, the injured party must rest in silence and submission, and, copying his Great Master and example, mit himself to Him, who judgeth righteously," resting assured, that every accumulation of trial patiently borne, every act of forbearance to others, every sacrifice made to the peace of society, will, through God's mercy, be an addition to "the eternal weight of glory reserved in Heaven for him." "* Finally, let us be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, let * 1 Peter, iii. 8, 9, 10, 11. us love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering railing for railing, but, contrariwise, blessing.-For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, * Follow peace with and ensue it." all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see THE LORD."- † With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of peace.""The fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Hebrews xii. 14. + Ephesians iv. 2, 3. And let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one And the fruit of righ another." teousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." * James iii. 18. CHAPTER IX. ON CHRISTIAN CONDUCT UNDER INJURY AND OPPRESSION. A VARIETY of complaints will, without doubt be adduced to the discouragements attending the performance of Christian duties, occasioned by the unkind and unprincipled conduct of those with whom we are connected.-But it is this which renders Christianity a labour and warfare: To teach us to surmount these difficulties, our SAVIOUR dispensed to us His precepts; and exemplified them in His own conduct; and on these trials, CHRIST and his Apostles have pronounced the most distinguished blessings. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of |