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which put their trust in thee, from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who compass me about. They now have compassed us in our steps; they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked which is thy sword'. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men; in whose hand is mischief; and their right hand is full of bribes. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous, and cruel man". Leave me not to mine oppressors. Deliver me from the oppression of man'. O deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked; forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Have respect

unto the covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise thy name*.

Examples.

"Cruelty and violence soon took place in the world, and their dreadful effects have been felt in all ages. Instead of mentioning some flagitious persons of this character, noted with infamy in sacred writ, let me remind the reader of the compassionate tenderness and generous forgiveness which the injured Joseph manifested to his offending brethren." Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man go out from me: And there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph, doth my father yet live? and his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence, &c.* As for f Psal.xvii. 11,12,13. * Psal. xxvi. 9, 10. i Psal. cxix. 121,1S4. Psal. lxxiv. 19, 20, 21.

e Psal. xvii. 7, 8, 9.
h Psal. lxxi. 4.

1 Gen. xlv. 1—5.

you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day. Now therefore, fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones; and he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them".

"Zaccheus, immediately on his conversion, shows his happy turn of mind." Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold".

"Cornelius was a person distinguished by his devotion to God, and beneficence to men. God was pleased to honour him by sending a messenger from heaven," who said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God°. "The greatest of all blessings was conferred on him, even, The knowledge of the way of salvation by Christ."

"We need hardly mention, that, sympathy, kindness, and generous beneficence were eminently manifested by the apostles of our Lord, in the whole course of their ministry, and in their active service for the good of men; and we have seen with what earnestness they enjoined a tender compassion, a kind attention to the distresses of their brethren, and liberality to the poor." Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea, which also they did, and sent unto the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul". "What we read in this passage was a frame of spirit common to the first Christians."

"The spirit of charity and of mutual love was indeed so remarkable in the first ages, that even their enemies said, with admiration and some degree of esteem,' Behold these Christians! How they love one another!

m Gen. 1. 20, 21.
P Acts, xi. 29, 30.

Luke, xix. 8.

• Acts, x. 4.

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OF CENSORIOUSNESS, OR JUDGING OTHERS RASHLY.

SECT. 1. Censoriousness is a disposition quite opposite to the spirit of the Gospel.-2. Its nature and consequences stated by the Apostles.-3. A charitable manner of speaking and acting recommended.-4. The complaints and prayers of the people of God relating to this subject.

SECT. 1. Censoriousness is a disposition quite opposite to the spirit of the Gospel.

JUDGE not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye, and behold a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye". Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right.

SECT. 2. Its nature and

Its nature and consequences stated by the
Apostles.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were

§ 1. a Luke, vi. 37. d Luke, xii. 57.

b Matt. vii. 2-5.

с

© John, vii, 24.

sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

One believeth that he may eat all things; another who is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him who eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgmentseat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: for I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God'. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? but them that are without God judgeth. If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's'. Speak not evil one of another, brethren; he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door'. Therefore thou art

§ 2. Luke, xiii. 1–5.

d Rom. xiv. 13.

1 Cor. v. 12, 13. k James, iv. 11.

b Rom. xiv. 2, 3, 4.

h

e 1 Cor. x. 29.

Cor. xi. 31.

1 James, v. 9.

c Rom. xiv. 10.
f 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4, 5.
i 2 Cor. x. 7.

inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself". Behold thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God"; and art confident, that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which sit in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? That makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonourest thou God??

SECT. 3. A charitable manner of speaking and acting recommended.

Wherefore lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil-speaking. Put them in mind to speak evil of no man. For some learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tatlers also, and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, of things that they understand not. If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth'. Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter, separateth very friends".

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