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Beware of exciting others to discord, strife and hatred, of widening instead of healing the breaches that have been made; and labour to promote peace, good-will and love. one of another, brethren."* faults of others, unless you

other way.

"Speak not evil Talk not of the understand it to be

your duty, in order to give salutary warning, or to bring about some good not readily effected any If you feel pleased, and elated when you hear of the falls of professors, you have cause to tremble. Such sad events call you to sorrow, compassion, self-denial, humiliation, and increased vigilance.

Abhor every thing indecent and impure ;—all that loose wit of which the devil is the patron and the prompter; and all those double meanings which, under a veil, or a varnish, instil pollution into the mind. The apostle tells you, that" filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting" should "not be once named among you;" for they are "not convenient," that is, they are unbecoming your holy calling as Christians, They are not the spots of God's children. He gives you also this excellent rule for the right ordering of your discourse on all occasions: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers." If your own discourse be uniformly chaste, and of an instructive nature, it will be a restraint on the insolence of impurity, and may be the means of "turning some from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God." We are also commanded by the apostle to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but

* James iv. 11. + Eph. v. 4, and iv. 29. ‡ Actsxxvi. 18.

rather to reprove them."* Should you ever be present, where obscenity, or profaneness is obtruded, it will be your duty to reprove the evil, or to retire, or, it may be, to do both. But to reprove with calmness and energy will be most in character,-most in the spirit of Christ,-most likely to accomplish the benevolent desire of one who longs to save a soul from death. For "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.t

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We are called more especially by the word of God to avoid all discourse which is calculated to deceive, or which cannot be reconciled with truth, faithfulness and sincerity."Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are his delight. A righteous man" therefore "hateth lying." Truth is one of those perfections which are essential to God; and which, with respect to his promises and covenant engagements to his people, he hath magnified above all his name. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."§ In this perfection his children all resemble him. On the other hand satan is styled the father of lies; and it is by deceit, that he maintains his usurped empire over mankind. The likeness which his children bear him in this particularis also very striking. They live here deceiving, and being deceived. What is called business is mostly carried on at the expence of truth and sincerity; and the young are trained to dissemble and flatter with the tongue. Imposition screened by civil professions, excessive profits made in certain cases by special usage, artful methods of adulterat

* Eph. v. 11. + Lev. xix. 17. Prov. xii. 22. and xiii. 5.
§ Deut. xxxii. 4. Ps. cxxxviii 2.

ing commodities, contrivances for the overthrow and ruin of competitors, schemes of speculation, or monopoly, high pretensions to honour, integrity and disinterestedness, while their real object is to get money by all means consistent with keeping up their credit in the world,-these are some of the mysteries which persons, on their approach to manhood, are often articled to acquire! The prophet's description of the Jews in his day looks like a faithful picture of this and other nations at the present time. "They will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth; but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, &c?"* Deceit pervades the whole intercourse of man with man. Whether he pursue pleasure, or business, his craft is to set snares, and his vexation to be taken in them. There are exceptions no doubt; but this is the usual course and fashion of the world. "They speak vanity every one with his neighbour; with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak." Though they are in a dead sleep as to their spiritual concerns, they are quite alive to their temporal interests, and catch at every advantage. "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way then he boasteth." In buying they are anxious for cheap bargains; in selling for large profits; and to accomplish these they

* Jer. ix. 5. † Ps. xii. 2. ‡ Prov. xx. 14.

stick not at false representations. But "a dreadful sound is in their ears: in their prosperity the destroyer shall come upon them. Behold therefore, I have smitten my hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." For "the getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death."+

A reflecting heathen once observed, that he, who knows not how to dissemble, knows not how to live. This witness, I conceive, is so far true, that you cannot live as the world do unless you can flatter and dissemble with them. But, my beloved brethren, you are to come out from among them, that you may shew them a more excellent way. It is the privilege of your high calling, "that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, you may have your conversation in the world." Let the world see, for their benefit, that you "hate and abhor lying,"§ because you are the children of God, whose character in every age is, that they "walk uprightly, and work righteousness, and speak the truth in their heart."§ While others pass their unmeaning compliments, professing what they neither feel, nor desire, let your "love be without dissimulation." "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another."¶ "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."** As you would not like to be deceived, practice no

*Job xv. 21. Ezek. xxii. 13. Deut. xxxii. 29. + Prov. xxi. 6. † 2 Cor. i. 12. Ps. cxix. 163, and xv. 2. Rom. xii. 9. 1 Eph. iv. 25.

** Luke vi. 31.

deception on others. You may meet with much opposition, and be tried with great difficulties in the performance of these duties; but the prayer of faith will be answered, and the grace of Christ will be sufficient for you. The following are some of the petitions which David used in reference to these duties: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee."*

Let not the name of God be trifled with, or mentioned with lightness of speeh, but hallowed with adoring awe; "that thou mayst fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD."t Nor is it far from you; for you are every were surrounded, and as it were covered with it, calling you, unless you are blinded by the god of this world, to adoring praise: "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that THY NAME is near, thy wondrous works declare."+ Let the profanation of this glorious name by common swearing be regarded with horror; and let it ever meet with rebuke from those who are called lights in the midst of a dark and apostate world. Various forms of common swearing have been invented, with a view of rendering the offence less shocking, and more passable in society. But you are to treat them all as a man

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Ps. cxli. 3. xxviii.3. cxliii. 10. xxv. 21. Deut. xxviii, 58.
Ps. lxxv. 1.

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