€I)cap iReposttotj), SUNDAY^ READING. GENERAL RESURRECTION AND DAT of JUDGMENT: Being a Description, taken from SCRIPTVU E, Of srtm" of the Events wH. n will cone to pass 3t th« EM of the World. Sold by HOWARD and EVANS. Printers to the Cheap Repository for Mcra! and Religious IVacis, No. 41 and 4.2, Lo^Jcsel1ers, v vvsme^j and Hawkers, in Town and Country. PRICE Ol-E PENNY, or 6s. per 100. Great Allowance \v il he made to Shopkeeoer^ ind Hawken Cntr t?fi at ^tattouers I^til, » HI THE General Resurrection, &c, EVER since sin entered into the world and death by sin, this earth has been a vast grave-yard, orburying-place for her children. In every age, and in every country, that sentence has been exe- cuting, " Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shait re- turn/' Mankind at first consisted only of one pair, but how inconceivably numerous are now the sons of Adam ! One single nation commonly contains many millions of men, and these milLvns form only one generation. How many, then must be the mil- lions that have appeared on the earth in the long run of near six thousand years! Let imagination call up this vast army ;— infants that have just lived to see the light, multitudes of the young and middle- aged, and all the old and grey-headed also— Person* of all countries and ot successive generations let ( 4 ) them all pass in review before us, and how vast and astonishing is the multitude ! If the posterity of one man, Abraham, by one of his sons, was according to the language of Divine Promise, ' as the stars of heaven and as the sand by the sea-shore, innu- merable/ who can compute the multitudes that have sprung from all the different Patriachs ? Who can number the long line of children that have pro- ceeded from Adam, and all the families of the earth that have sprung from the loins of Noah : Bat what is now become of this vast and inconceivable host? Alas ? they are again turned into earth, their ori- ginal element ; they are all sunk into the grave, exceptingonly the present generation; and we also are going down, one after another, into that place appointed for all living. There as hardly, perhaps been one moment of time, during the space of many thousand years, in which one person or other has not been dropping into the grave ; and in some seasons, through the sword of war, the devouring pestilence, or other visitations of God, thousands have been mowed down at once, and have formed one uudistinguished heap of dead. The greater part of mankind, beyond comparison, are now sleeping under ground. There lies beauty, moul- dering into dust, a prey to the vilest worms ; there lies the mean and humble beggar; and there lies the head that once wore a crown. There he ic I i> / • uut m'nnts, the Samsons,, and the Caesars of the orld There lies the wise and the learned, as weals and helpless as the fool. There lie some with whom we ourselves have conversed, and who' were once our dsar friends and our companions; and there i; e ur fathers and mothers ; and there perhsps also lies a tender wife or husband, a child, a sister, or a brother. And shall they lie there always? Shall this body, that curious workmanship ofGod, ' so fearfully and wonderfully made/ continue always in these ruins, and shall it never be restored ? This we know, that « It is not a thing impossible with God to raise the dead.' He that could first form our bodies out of nothing is just as able to form them a new, and to repair the wastes of time and death. But what has he declared to be his intention in this case ? for on this the matter turns, and it is a point which is fully- revealed in the Scriptures. ' The hour is coming/ says that Sacred Book, « When all that are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and shall come forth j they that have done well, to the re- surrection of life ; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation, — Behold/ says Sfc Paul, ' I shew you a mystery ; we shall not all sleep/ that is, mankind will not all be sleeping in death when the day of the Resurrection comes, for there will be one generation remaining then alive upon earth ; f< but we shall all be changed; in a taol ment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. F or the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead in Christ shall rise first ; then we which are alive aud remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air." Let us now realize the majesty and terror of thife "tremendous day. When the multitudes of the dead are sleeping in the silent grave; when many perhaps of the living are thoughtless of this great event; when some men are running eagerly, as they are now, after riches and honors, and some after sensual pleasures ; while they are eating and drink- ing, marrying and giving in marriage ; ^hile some are asleep in the dead of night ; while some are planning future miechief ; and some are in the very act of gin : while the course of nature seems, to go on as usual, so that unbelieving scoffers take occasion from thence to ask, ff Where is the pro- mise of his coming; for since the fathers fell asleep •11 things contiilue as they were from the beginning of the creation. " — When, perhaps, a few only are serving God, and are looking for their Savior's ap- pearance — while the multitude, in short, no more expect the approaching judgment than the people c Jom did the destruction which bcfel them « ' fine clear morning when Lot fled *way ; or the We of the old world expected the De- M on the day when Noah entered the ark-thea Menly shall the Heavens open over the astonish- lTworld,'and << the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible f for in an instant the sound shall reach all the mansions of the dead, an d in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead shall be raised, and the living shall be changed. This call will be as effectual in raising each of the sons of men as ever that call of Christ was, " La- zarus come forth." O, wh^t a surprize will it be to the thoughtless world ! Should this alarm burst over our heads this moment, with what terror would it strike many a one who reads this description of it ! How dreadful, then, will be the surprize an* consternation when this event shall actually come to pass! Now, indeed, there are many who stop their ears : Now, though the veice of mercy calLs* though reason pleads, and conscience warns, yet multitudes will not hear ; but then there shall be no one among the millions of mankind that shall be able to disobey the summons, for the living shall start and be changed, and the dead rise at the sound. But for what purpose shall they rise ? It is in order that they may come to judgment "For we must all ( 8 ) appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ, and rnust pive an account of the things done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be iT vil.— And these shall go away into everlasting pu- nishment and the righteous into life eternal.— And I saw (says the Apostle) the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works ; and the-seagave up the dead that were in it,and death and hell (that is the place of departed spirits) delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judg- ed every man according to their works, — and who- soever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the lake of fire. And I saw(coutinues the same Apostle) a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven, and the first earth were passed away. — And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying — Behold the Tabernacle or God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cry- ing, for the former things are passed away. — And He that sat on the Throne said, Behold I make all things new." In like manner, we ars told in an- other place, that " the heavens and the earth are but kept in store until the day of destruction and perdition of ungodly men," and that when this 'great and terrible day of the Lord' shall come, then "the very elements shall melt with fervent heat— the , r thalso, and all the works thereof shall be burnt 'Lthehe^ens shall depart as a scroll^they all Ma* old as doth a garment and as a vesture S they be changed, and there shall then be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righte- ousness." Well might the Apostle say, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in ail holy con- versation and godliness ! There are many things spoken of in Scripture that shall follow the grand scene of the Resurrection, which remain to be described, but we shall speak in this place only of one further point, and that is of the person who is to be our judge, it will be Jesus Christ, " for the Father (says the Scripture) judgethno man, for God hath committed all judg- ment to the Son, because he is the Son of Man.— This same Jesus, (said the angels just after his Resurrection,) which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in lice manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."— Once he was "despised and rejected of men ; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so he opened not hismouth i~ iie was mock- i ed,and buffeted, and spit upon; 7 ' h^was himselfar- 1 raigned before the bar of » . itius ?n? md he , was hung upon the cross - ft * st ma- Wactor, the whole iiu • aery- ingCruc.yy Crucify him. But now, "Behold^ cometh 11^ the clouds, and every eye shall see him and they &l so which pierced him, and all nations of th^ earth shall wail before him. — For the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his migh. ty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of oar Lord Jesus Christ ;" now also he is "come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." Some men think that to forget or to disobey Christ is no great matter ; they are good, as they call it, in their own way, and therefore they are satisfied. But such men should be reminded, that it is not at the bar of their own reason, nor even at the bar merely of their own consciences that they are to be tried, but that thev are to be tried at the bar of Tesu6 Christ. " The word that I have spoken to-you, (said our Sav or to the Pharisees) it shall judge you at the last d.iy." Let us further enquire, then, what Christ has spoken to us, and what the Scripture in general hath said respecting the manner of our trial on the Day of Judgment, for this is the way in which alone we can truly know whether we shall be acquitted or condemned. AN HYMN on (he SECOND COMING of CHRIST. LO ! He comes with clouds descending* He that was for sinners slajn ; While the host of Saints attending", Swell the triumph of his train ! Every eye shall now behold him ; Every creature be*d their knee : They that mock'd him too and sold him, Pierc'd and nail'd him to the tree, See, the Angels all adore him ! HaH t ^e trump proclaims the day ! All the nations stand before him, Heaven and earth are fled away ! Come, thou Savior long expected, Sit on thine eternal throne ! Thou that was by man rejected, Claim the kingdom for thine own. THE DAY of JUDGMENT; O R, THE GRAND RECKONING. /CHRISTIANS ! profit by the warning Which the word of God supplies; Think upon that awful morning, When the quick and dead shall rise. Lo 1 each country, every nation, All the globe we now behold, (Wrapt in dreadful conflagration) Smoke and fire at once enfold ! See the works of art so curious, Lofty cities, temples, towers ! See the raging flame so furious All the mighty mass devours ! You who doat on earthly treasures, What dismay will seize your frame, When the sum of all your pleasures Crackiess in the general flame ! ( *3 I , the multitudes surrounding, Whom the grave no more can keep ! Har k ! the awful trumpet sounding ! Death has broke his leaden sleep. 411 that in the tomb now slumber, ' How at once they burst their chain ! See they rise how vast their number ! All that liv'd shall live again. Great and small together meeting, Lo ! the sea gives up her dead ! Then the sea itself retreating, Lo ! the heavens and earth are fled ! See the Lord of Life descending, Hear the dread Archangel's voice ; See the dead on Christ attending , How the saints of God rejoice ! Myriads at that voice shall gather, "Take the kingdom long prepar'd, " Come, ye blessed of my Father, " Share my crown, my cross you shar'd. how different that dread sentence, Which confirms the sinners doom ! - "You who died without repentance,^ "Come to judgment, sinners come," i 14 ) O i to these what wild despairing- What astonishment of heart, Agony past human bearing, Will that dreadful call impart 1 You who now profanely cherish Unbelief and impious pride ; Unbelievers ! see and perish, Cs hist for you in vain has died. You who to the world dissemble, While you practise deeds of night, Hypocrites ! behold and tremble, All these deeds are brought to light. You, who each conviction stifling, Waste your time that sacred store, Rear the Angel, cease yotir trifling, " Time, ' he cries, " shall be no more/ Lost in ease, or drown 'd in pleasure, « We've no time to think/' f m cry, But howe'er you waste the treasure, You rrmst ail find time to die. You, who now this warning slighting, Think that day not worth your care; I who now these lines am writing, You and I must both appear, ( 15 -) that you, these lines perusing, May be wak'd to swift repentance that I, no moment losing, May prepare to meet my sentence* 2? f mm. tHE FOLLOWING T R A C. T S HAVE BEEN LATELY PRINTED AND PUBLISHED HOWARD and EVANS. The History of Mr. Bragwell 7 Parts price 6rf. The Two Shoemakers - - - 5 ditto 4 <£ Pr/c# Threepence, The Story of Joseph and his Brethren. The Explanation of the Ten Commandments. Prayers to be used by a Young Person, by a Grown Per. ion, by the Mastet or Mistress of a Sunday School, &c. Price Twopence. The History of Tom White, the Postillion. The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain. Black Giles the Poacher, in Two Parts. Trice Three -Halfpence. Watts's Hymns for Children, complete, with Prayen, The History of Mary Wood. Mr. Fantom. The Labourers in the Vineyard. The Valley of Tears, in Two Parts. The Judgment Day. Hints to all Ranks on the Scarcity of 1795. Price One Penny. The Two Soldiers. The Thunderstorm, 'Tis all for the Best. The Cottage Cook. The Sunday School. Hester Wilmet, Part I. II. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. A new Ch ristmas Tract. Good Friday Tract. Parley the Porter. The Fall of Adam. The Black Prince. The Cheapside Apprentice. The Lancashire Collier Girl. The Life of William Baker. Betty Brown. The Shopkeeper, 4 parts. The Good Mother's Legacy. The Beggarly Boy. Noah's Flood, The Troubles of Life. The Harvest Home. Sorrowful Sam. Tawney Rachel. Charles Jones, the Footman. General Resurrection and Day of Judgment* Onesimus Patient Joe, Wild Robert, Faith and Works, Gin Shop Sinful Sally, Robert and Rich- ard, Hampshire Tragedy, Bad Bargain. Turn the Carpet, Christmas Hymn, Army of Martyfs, FIFTH COMMANDMENT, « Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give^hee." In the New Testament it is written, " Chrildren obey your parents in all things, for this is well- pleasing to the Lord/' We there also read that our Saviour himself, when he was twelve years old, was subject to his parents, and in one of the following verses it is added, that " Jesus increased in wisdom, and stature, and in favour with God and man." There is hardly any sight more pleasing than that of a little child honouring his parents, listening attentively to all that is said to him, running quickly to fulfil their wishes, and being thus " subject," or obedient to them after the example of Christ his Saviour, ' And, on the other hand, there are few sights more melancholy and unpromising than that of a child who is obstinate and disobedient, whodoes not honour his lather, nor give ear to the voice of his jnother, but must be spoken to again and again, and who can hardly be brought even by stripes to do the thing which is commanded him. The ill-behaviour of some children, and espe- cially of very young ones, may be considered as greatly owing to a fault in their parents, for the same law which says " Children obey your parents/' im> plies that parents ought to teach them obedience. In many places children seem to rule the house; the most important conversation is interrupted by their unseasonable noise : every pie is to wait their wf* and a11 tnin S* are rendered subject t© their P ( t8 ) Now this is just ths contrary to what is should be God has ordained that parents should direct, and children shall ob#y. He has established in the world a plan of subordination, and that person who begins life by rebelling against his parents, in de- fiance of this Commandment of God, will be too likely to prove a bad subject, a violent master, an ill-tempered husband, a troublesome friend, andan undersirable connection in all the latter periods of his life, whereas a young man or woman having for a course of years fulfilled faithfullyand affectionate- ly, and in the fear of God, every filial duty, and especially having done it under trying circum- stances, has given one of the best proofs that can be afforded of a disposition to attend to all the other obligations of relative life, and deserve to be con- sidered on this account, as a valuable friend and a very desirable connection. And now let each of my readers ask himself how jferhe has fulfilled this law of God, remembering also that it ought to be interpreted as including all the various relative duties between man and man. First then, have you set out in infancy with ho- noring your parents, both by your conduct and in your heart, neither disobeying them to their face, nor making light of them behind their back ? Have you never grudged them secretly the obedience you seem to pay, nor been in hast to assert your in- dependence as you were growing up. If you have lost at an early age the blessing of parents,have you submitted in like manner to those whom God's Pro- vidence has put in their place, obeying your fetep- father or step-mother, your elder brother or sister, uncle or aunt ? In more advanced life, have'yow iC *9 I 'severed as the duty of entire submission lessened to shew to each of those all due deference and re- spect? In their old age have you endeavoured to repay them by your affection and watchful attention, as well as by your bounty, if they needed it, for all their care, and tenderness, and liberality, to you in your infancy and youth ? Are you used to honour all your various relations in th 'ir due degree ? Have you submitted yourself to your teachers and instruc- tors, to your spiritual pastors and masters, ordering yourselves lowly and reverently to all your betters ? And further, it is your practice to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, to honour the king, to obey magistrates, not accustoming your- : self to speak disrespectfully of them, nor rashly censuring them in those things which you do not understand? If you are a servant, do you obey your master, not rudely answering again, and "not with eye-service only as pleasing men, but God who trieth the h£art ?" How beautiful is the order of society, when each, according to his place, and in just degree, , pays willing honour to his superiors, and when the superiors regularly fulfil their several parts also; when the people reverence the king, and the king governs well the people : when the children every where are seen honouring their parents, and the parents fulfil their duty to their children; when servants are prompt to obey their masters, and ma- sters deal kindly with their seavants : when wives also and husbands, when brothers and sisters, when Partners in business, when high and low, rich and poor, according to the several ranks which God ha* e $tablished in society ; when landlord and tenant, faster and workm.cn, minister also and people, m* stead of each proudly pushing himself into the chaii of his superior, sits down satisfied with his o\vn place, and endeavours'humbly and thankfully and in the fear of God, to fulfil ail the duties of it! SIXTH COMMANDMENT. " Thou shalt not kill,? This Commandment is sometimes rendered " Thou shalt do no murder." and very properly, for all killing is not intended to be forbidden, mur- der is. Killing haft*, in some cases, been not only allowed but even required in Scripture. Thus for instance it is written til the Levitical Law, " Whoso shecideth man's blood, by man shall hft blood be shed;'"' and the putting of a murderer to death by the regular magistracy, after a fair trial, is undoubtedly a means of preventing murder m general. Murder means the pitting a person to death through deliberate malice, a crime which our very nature teaches us to view with great horror ; but to kill a person by striking him in a pa&sion, without intending his death, or to kill another in a duel, or in a private battle, especially if we have been the aggressors, carries, no doubt, in -it much of the guilt of murder iirlhe sight of God. To let a person perish through neglect, whose life has been entrusted to us\ as the life of a child is to a nurse, as that of all the patients in an hospital is to the apothecary or physician, well deserves also the name of murder. I would 'here take occasion to noticethe great sm of self-murder. We have no right over our own Tives'any more than over -the lives of others, for we belong to God and not to ourselves; and we 01 ( 21 ) dotted in Scripture to bear even the heaviest, ifflitito'ns With patient and resignation to the will of our heavenly Father, \vlip- appoints OW. trials f o l* el S . it may be proper m this place to remark that the enacting of laws which are too sanguinary in their nature, and also the, entering imo, or en- couraging' of win's-, which are vindictive and un- just, Ts unquestionably a'bveach of this Command- niCiit. Bat we must now proceed a step further. -Not, oaly to kill is to be considered as ibrlrdden by this law, but also to injure, or to intend to injure. This law forbids those evil and angry passions which are the reeds of murder. Cain first envied his brother, and afcer that he murdered him. The Pharisees first hated Christ, and after that they were the means of his being put to death. " Whcso hateth his bro- ther, (says' the Apostle)' is a murderer." Our Sa- vior also finds fault with the Pharisees for explain- ing this Commandment so loosly as they did, and then proceeds to warn his Disciples not even fl to be angry with their brother without a cause.'* But again : this Commandment may be consider- ed. as not only forbidding injuries, but as command- ing good will. Christ our Saviour not only did not go about wounding and injuring men, and putting them to death, but he went about befriending them, and doing them good; and we should, according to our opportunity,' go and do likewise. Let us then examine ourselves fully respecting this Commandment, for many are apt to fancy that having never literally been so wicked as to kill any one, they shave- therefore no concern' In it. Let iks bear in mind, that we must not only not kill, but that ( 22 ) we must not intend to kill ; that we must not only not hurt, but that we must not wi.sh to hurt; and that, although therefore we should be sitting i n our private rooms, and not saying or doing any thing yet, if any secret thoughts are indulged in our minds' which are to the prejudice of our neighbor, if \ Ve are allowing ourselves to. indulge the least ill -will to him, we are by no means clear of the sin of breaking this Commandment. Let us reflect ako that when one thing is forbidden in Scripture, the thing contrary to it may often be considered as com- manded. When injuring is forbidden, doing kind- nesses, therefore, may be understood to be com- landed. Instead of prejudicing our neighbour, do we delight in doing him service ? " Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore, love is the ful- filling of the law, for this thQu shalt not kill." Do we then shew love to our neighbor ? Do we then feel a tender concern ; ncver to hurt any one by word or deed? Never to give even to the meanest of our fellow-creatures the smallest degree of needless pain and sorrow? Do we consider it as a part of our business in life to support the week, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, according to our ability, and also to comfort them that are afflicted ? To heal the wounds which others give, and, after the example of our blessed Saviour, to relieve the tem- poral as well as spiritual wants of manknd ? SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. " Thou shalt not commit adultery." In this law of God, as in many of the others, the highest degree of crime is mentioned ; but all the smaller degrees of it are intended also to be for- bidden. Most people, no doubt, will agree that 1 23 ) " thou shalt not kill/' implies also, thou shalt not hurt: and that the command to honour our father and mother includes the honour due to those other persons whom God has placed over us; so also, " thou shalt not steal," means unquestionably,, "thou shalt in no wise defraud or cheat." On the nme principle, then, we ought to understand the. words, " Thou shalt. not commit adultry," as im- plying likewise that we must not be guilty of any thing which is contrary to-strict chastity. Indeed our Saviour himself has put it out of all doubt, that we ought thus to explain this Commandment; for he hath expressly told us, that " Whosoever look* eth on a woman to lust after her, has already com- mitted adultry with her in his heart." The Scrip- tures of the New Testament, in many places de- clare strongly against unclustity of every kind, and solemnly warns us, after speaking of this and other gross sins, that " they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Those who de- liberately and habitually venture on sins of this sort, would do well, therefore, to remember that they do it in defiance of the plainest threatnings of God; and that while they continue in such practices, they can have no hope of eternal life, for " the Scriptures cannot be broken." It is very proper hereto remark that every Com- mandment of God, however strict and harsh it may seem, tends in fact to promote the happiness of his creatures. If mankind were allowed to indulge all their natural inclinations just as they pleased, what misery would fill the earth ! Let us now draw the picture of the wretched state of one who has broken this Commandment of God, and kt us also take occasion to shew from B 4 V ( H ) What sort of small beginning the ruin of a young woman may naturally be supposed to p; < ceed. We will imagine then a young girl sets out in life with a thoughtless and giddy mind, and with a secret inattention and dislike to serious irelieioji*— We will suppose her also, having been somewhat spoiled from her infancy, to be not much used to labor, and to be at the same time fond of finery, or of what she calls fashion and gentility, and apt to dress herself out not perhaps always very deco- rously, with a view to men's admiration. She succeeds in drawing the notice of some bad Hian or other, who begins rotake I berties with her, insisting always that there is no harm in it Such a man as this soon finds out that she has no very strict principles about her, and he takes fur granted that she will make no great conscience of retaining her modesty, having observed that she is not very Conscientious about other matters. She is drawn away, step by- step, one little liberty is permitted ©r perhaps inv ted, and then another, until she has competed her ruin. For a while she tries to con- ceal her shame, by lying or deceit; but it is impos- sible long lo do it. The rale is one, her character is gone, and from this time she rinds it tar more difficult to get her bread honestly than before. Now also she is exposed to the rude insults of every pro- fligate man whom she meets and who knows her story. Being ashamed of her former friends, or havmg friends who are perhaps ashamed of her, she dwells among strangers. She has no eye to pity her, no father or mother to guard and to direct her, no .husband to comfort her, no companion to soothe her or to attend to her in distress. .Heing driven to extremity, and forsaken, as a young wo- man almost always is by her seducer, vice perhaps , ^ Agrees becomes her t rade, and if that be the L C ase she lives among the vilest company. But I j ia [ i s worst of all, her own heart under these cir- cumstances becomes every day more and more hardened. She Ins undone in every, sense. She soon becomes diseased in body and is still more dreadfully ruined as to her mind ; and she ; is every jay sinking lower and lower. As long as she treads this earth, woes upon woes await her, and there seems to be no glimps of hope for her, while in the next world there is nothing but " a fearful ! looking for of fiery indignation." There is o r ten one circumstance in the- situation ofwomen of this sort, and especially of such as may not be' so hardened as I have described, which' is. very atfecting, and that is, the state, of their chil- dren, if they should have any : fcr what a curse do those children commonly seem to them ! What a continual reproach as well as burden! There is no father to support the feeble infant, nor to provide for the mother during her lying-in. In most cases therefore, such children are dreadfully neglected and often perish miserably. But if their bodies are attended to and preserved alive, how exceedingly destitute are they of instruction, and . thus what danger is thv re lest they should perish miserably as to their souis ! Compare now the case' of such an unhappy wo- tai ; 1S has been described, with the lot of one who having maintained her modesty and set out in the br of God, has become united w ith a christian husband in that state of wedlock which has been appointed by the laws of her Maker. Her friends many of them probably abide around her, and her husband, who is her chief earthly dependence, sup- ports, protects, and comforts her; lie commends her to God by his prayers, and he improves her by his christian Counsel and conversation. Her c hil dren rise up and call her blessed. Their educa- tion engages her at home, while the lather is work- ing for the family abroad, and she feels the ten- derest affection for them. She does not view them (like the other woman we described) with a tor- meriting consience, being continually reminded by them of her guilt. She is not ashamed (as the other is; of having them calied by her name, but she views them as a blessing sent from heaven, as both a comfort and credit to her, and as a means possibly of support when old age shall advance, and when both her own and her husband's strength shall fail. What a difference! How excellent then is that law of God which tends to promote such hap- piness as this, and to prevent the misery which was before described. Never perhaps did God consult more clearly the temporal comfort and well-being of his creatures than when he gave the law which says, " Thou shaft not commit adultry," and when he prohibited so effectually as he has done in the New Testament every species of unchastity. In- stead therefore of saying as wicked men are apt to do " where is the harm of following all our natural inclinations ?" let us learn on the contrary to ad- mire the goodness of God in this law, and to con- sider the libertine as one of the greatest enemies of mankind ; as far more hurtful than the theif or the robber : as a rebel in the first place against the Commandment of his God, as a hinderer of his own happiness, and a destroyer of the happiness of his fellow creatures. ( ~7 ) The well-being of a country depends in a great, measure ori the attention which is paid in it to the , ordinance of God respecting matrimony. It is through the institution of families that children are brought up in an orderly manner, and that the knowledge of God and of his laws is handed down from generation to generation. Villages and towns are apt to be peaceable and happy in proportion as the looser people of either sex or few, and the family-met) and women are numerous in the place] and when mutiny or rebellion breaks out in the fleets or armies of the kingdom, it is on the family - men who may be 111 listed in them, that we more I particularly depend for our security. But some there are perhaps, who readily allow all this, and yet their own practice is a contradic- tion to it. Possibly they may think that there is no such great crime committed in thelr'case, because they take care that no one shall see them. They say to themselves, as is represented by the Psalmist, "Surely/the darkness shall coverme."" But are not " the darkness and the light both alike to God? ? ' And is there not " a day coming when that which has been hidden shall be made known, and when God shall judge the secrets of all hearts by Jesus Christ?" " Blessed, "says our Saviour, " are the pure j k heart, for they shall see God. 5 ' In vain there- i fere do men comfort themselves w ith the thoughts of privacy. God sees them now, and is it more than probable that their fellow- creatures also will after a time, find them out, or have even detected | Jneni already, though not known to have done so, j Jj>r a thousand accidents may bring the most hidden thl ngs to light. God also in his just judgment may see fit. thus to punish, even in this world^the secret ( 23 ) offender. Thus, in the case of David, his was lor a time artfully concealed, but Gqd ^ pleased to make it known as a warning to others and as a part of the just penalty due to Hie two dreadful crimes which he had committed. " Tho U didst it secretly," #aid Nathan in the name of the Lord to David, " ; but I will do tin's thing,":.(that i$ I will inflict the punishment,). befoie^alj '.j^l and before- the sun." It is here also worthy of oh~ servatign, that4here is no sin which men can in- dulge to a certain point, and which they can after- wards restrain as they please. " Whosp. com- miteth sin- becomes the servant (or slave) of that sin." He that allows himself even in sinful thoughts, gives the reins to his inclinations, and he little knows whither they may carry him. Let it then be remembered, that sin is to be re- sisted in its first beginnings, and that every thing therefore which may become a temptation cither to a person himself or toothers, h, on every prin- ciple of the Gospel, to be avoided. Let all vicious curiosity be restrained in young people. Let all licentious company, let all immodest bqoks,.and all loo^e songs, as well as that " foolish bilking OT jesting," which borders on indecency, and which the apostle condemns as quite unbecoming in a Christian, be utterly avoided ; and finally, let it be remembered, that Decency, Modesty, and Pro- priety, as well as continual Watchfulness, Tempe- rance and Self-denial, and every thing else which tends to promote purity of Heart and Life, may properly be considered as required of us by this Commandment, 29 , EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. « Thou shalt not steal." To steal is to take either by force or fraud, that which is not our own, and it is a sin which is fov* bidden both by the laws of God and man. It Is punished in this country often even with death, and the New Testament assures us, that thieves whom it names together with adulterers, "shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." Men are com- monly led into this sin through the distress, or ne- ,ces3ity £ as they are apt to call it, which has been brought upon them by their other sins. They have been first idle and extravagant, or drunken and de- bauched, or possible addicted to gaming ; by one or other of these means they have brought themselves into straits, and in order to deliver themselves they have been tempted to take to thieving. Pride also,, strange as it may seem, contributes often to theft. Some men when they have fallen into distress* though possibly it may have happened without any fault of theirs, are ashamed to own it. They think it very lowering to ask help from others, and they will not do it for the world. They will rather take -secretly what is not their .due, than ask openly some charitable friend to assist them. Now I conceive, that in this country if a man can really prove his distress not to have been brought upon him by his vices, there are many good Christians, who, if he applies to them, will take care at least not to let him starve, and there is the parish help to fly to in all cases, so that it seems difficult to state a case in which there can be any tolerable ex- cuse for stealing. In order then to avoid this sin, let every one keep & a distance for whatsoever Jead* to it ; let hin* ( 3° ) keep clear of idleness and debauchery, and extrava- gant living, and above all, 'of gaming. And if un- happily he has already got into trouble, either through any of these vices or through misfortune let him be afraid, of that false shame and of that hurtful pride, or spirit, as it is called, which will not permit him to own what has passed, and to apply to his friends and neighbours. Let another caution here be given. The sin of downright theft is what men commonly come to by degrees. A man, for instance, who cheats his master or superior of money which has been in- trusted to him for some special service, commonly begins merely by borrowing, as he calls it,(though without leave) some small part, perhaps of the mo- ney of his employer. He says to himself, '? 1 will borrow this only for a day or two and then I will replace it but a practice of this sort being once allowed, he goes a little further and a little fur- ther. Large sums are at length misapplied, for it is more than probable that his necessity enereases on him; and now perhaps he takes money to him- self when there is no chance of his soon restoring it, or even of his ever doing so. He is become a thief almost before he is aware of it. At last after trying by various shameful arts to conceal the state of his accounts, and thus adding sin to sin, he is found out, and even though he should not be punished in the same way as other thieves are, yet he is no doubt as guilty as they, and he is pretty sure at least to lose his character and his employ- ment. — There are others again who have after a while become finished rogues, by allowing them- selves at first to steal things which they have- thought very insignificant and trifling* They have. ( 3i ) not considered, that to steal a little tiling may be a oreat crime, and that this is one very common road to robbery, burglary, and to all kinds of wickedness. Children, therefore, should be tafajafhf from their very earliest years to keep their hands from picking and stealing. The children of the rich should be' instructed that to pick fruit out of a garden, to take sweetmeats or any other thing from a shelf, a table/ or a closet, is a breach of this Commandment; and the children of the poor ought in like manner to be told, that to take the turnips out of a field which is not their own or the stakes out of a hedge,or the apples which are lying in an orchard, is the road to greater thefts, and is a sin both against God and against their neighbour. Servants need be on their guard against tempta- tions of the same , sort. If they would be strictly honest; they as well as children must bring their appetites under subjection ; they must take care not privately to taste any thing which is not intended for them ;* neither should they give away meat or drink to any persons to whom they dare not ac- knowledge that they give it, nor in greater quan- tities than they would care to own. I will add, that they ought never to expend their master's money- iri any way whatever that is contrary to his .wishes. Some servants are apt to do this for the sake of maintaining, as they call it, the credit of the family, when the- master is not at all desirous of tnat sort of credit, but thinks perhaps that the ex- Pence or show made in the houskeeperV room or ufchen is a great disgrace to him. Every master's ^°ney his certainly h Is own, and an honest house- tte Per or other serva;U wiU feel himself bound to consider only how he may best fulfil the expressed or implied wishes of his master in every part ofth expenditure intrusted to him. For a servant to take perquisites which lie does not avow perhaps he dares not, is another practice hardly re concileable to exact integrity ; fov though taken in the first instance from the tradesman, the amount or perhaps more than the amount, is charged ^ one way or other to the master, so that the servant should consider himself as taken it from the master, whose leave therefore he should have for doing it. I am aware that a steward, or house keeper, who acts upon these principles, may be exposed possibly to much reproach from those under him, and to many difficulties, to all which I have only to an- swer, that he who will act a christian part, and en- deavour to obtain the favour of God, must run the risk now and then of losing the favour of his fellow- creatures, and must himself become an example of self-denial also. That steward cr housekeeper, it is to be feared, is not very honest, however he may pride himself on his integrity, who has never yet combated any common customs of families, and has never yet been charged by any one with being too particular. In buying and selling nothing is more usual than for each side to try to over-reach the other, and it is little considered that to do this is in other words to steal or cheat. Let me now suppose, for argu- ment's sake, that I have nine sheep to sell, and that having pretended there are ten. 1 take the money for ten, the mistake or ignorance of the buyer be' ing so great that he does not find me out. ■■ QH kpw scandalous !" every one would say! « ttifti . ( 33 ) . V '3 , , downright cheating : this is robbing the other man of the value of one sheep. It is what any one ought to be !ki i ed for, " Well then, as this not a repu- table mode of cheating, beirjg not a very common one, n- r indeed a very easy and pi acticable way nei- ther, I can eiTect the same purpose in the following manner : I have only to pretend that each sheep is about one tenth better than it is, that it is one tenth fatter and heavier, and liner flavored, and older ; I have only to give my word f,,r it, that for some rea- son or other the sheep are each of them worth one tenth more than in fact they are, and then if I suc- ceed in my attempt, it j§ plain that I shall get the value of one sheep more than my due, just as much as if I cheated in the other way. To deceive in selling a horse, to cry up his vir- tues, but to say nothing of his faults, and to en- deavor to get as much money for him with all his faults as if he had no faults at all, is just in like- manner to cheat or steal. To put false marks upon goods in order to make them appear to be the ma- nufacture of some person in repute, who did not really manufacture them or even to give a false outside appearance to them, or to ca A ; them by a Wse name, or in shor , to say any thing of them, Which is known by ourselves not to be truer, in or- : is naught, says the buyer, but afterwards he boasteth." In settlihg the wages of labour, 'there is often rniich fraud attempted on each side. When a work- man or servant pretends to do more work than he really performs, when he spends more idle time than his master knows of, and yet claims the same wages, which are due to one that is d ligent, he then on his side may be said to cheat or steal; and on the other hand, when a master works his ser- vant hard and pays him little - when he takes ad- vantage of the man's willingness and good-nature, or of his modesty and simplicity, whenever, in short, a master fails to raise h is servant's wages according to his deserts, then the master may be said to cheat or steal. " Give unto your servants," says the apostle " that which is just and equal. " There is a certain point which may be called the point of justice and equality between man and man, which each side should aim at, and in proportion as this is missed, one or the other party fails in the strict- ness of his integrity. To smuggle, is undoubtedly to cheat or steal \ nothing can be more clear than this, and it is also for- 'bidden in Scripture, " Render," says our Saviour " to Caesar, the things which are •Caesar's." We are to pay " custom to whom custom is due, and tri- bute to whom tribute is due." Our Savior chose rather to work a mirarcle than to fail in paying tri- bute himself; and yet he did not live under the best of governments. It is the law of the land which decides to whom property shall belong in a vast variety even of questionable cases ; and both the law of the land and natural justice are against the smuggler; for it is to be remembered, that if we pay less duty than the law requires, some other suoject of subjects must necessarily pay more, and to smuggle therefore, is to take money, not from government merely, as some selfish and halt-think- ing people suppose, out from the pockets of these other subjects. It would be easy to add many other cases, and to prove that even this Eighth Commandment ("the one which we are most apt to make our boast of keeping^ is broken by all ranks of people, at least in the spirit of it, almost every day : for let us con- sider only for a moment, what a leaning there is in every man cowards his own side, whenever any question of property is to be desided between him and his neighbour. We are sure to over-rate our own labour and our own skill as well has our own general merit, and we expect to have the price of things adjusted, and all tha affairs of the world ar- ranged, according to this false view of the matter which we have taken ; and of course we in the same degree under-rate the labour, skill, and meirt of other people. Inordinate selfishness is one of the most common and natural dispositions of man, and this selfishness by producing a constant partiality to ■our own side, is the necessary source of frauds in. numerable ; and it is worthy of remark, that while this spirit of selfishness reigns in us, we shall not ™y be always trying to wrong others of their due but we shall also be trying to wrong them without Knowing that we do so. ( 3« ) And now what a view does this consideration give us of the state of the World in respect to jffl matters of p; erty ! What wi ongs are all men committing naturally as it were, en f heir neighbor without heing sensible ofit, or at least what wron^ are they attempting to commit, though unable each to gfcecute his purpose: for undoubtediv it will of. tea happen that the unrea on able claims o! one sitte being opposed by the unrein able claims of the other, the two parties may hit on a pretty fair me- dium in consequence of the struggle, and whenever fortunately things are sealed f£\ri% ifi tlrs- Way, it is well if both sides do not go away complaining how hardly they have each of them been used. Such are the effects of that partiality to ourselves which has been spoken of. Would we then lay the axe to the root of the tree and avoid habitual injust ic e, we must cure this selfishness of spirit. But how is the cure to be ef- fected ? 1 answer, that oar Saviour h>s tnsih acted us in the very point in question, by giving us the foil wing golden rule : « hatsoevcr ye would thd men should do unto you, do yc even so unto them. — Let then :he buyer put himself in the place of the seller, and the seller in that of tli'e buyer, let the master suppose himself ;he servant and the servant imagine himself the master, let each put himself in fhe place of him uith whom he has to deal ; let him, as it were, plead before hi mseif the cause ol his opponent or rival, let him become counsel for a while on that side, and he will find his partiality for himself wonderfully corrected. Let it, inshoit e a rule with all of us never to determine a tween ourselves and our neighbours, till we nav very deliberately and dispassionately weighed it w this manner. ( 37 ) NINTH COMMANDMENT. jjjcu sbait not bear false witness against thy neighbour- TVy ^ar fehe witness against our neighbour, mean- strictly speaking, to swear falsely against a] , ;: | ir in a court of justice. How cnreoil should every one bfe who is called up as an evidence in a public cmH to speak " the truth, the whole truth, an j n . but the truth," He should recollect hiiftseft *^U?re he begins to give his information — he should ipebJfe without heat or malice, and with- out prejahee or partiality, and he should remem- ber, that even a small error in his evidence, a mis- tike for instance in a place or date, may possibly be the means of fixing an unjust charge, and of taking away the reputation or property, nay, even the life of a fellow creature. A witness ought neither to speak falsely in favour of the accused person, nor falsely against him. To do the one, is to bear false witness against the person accused, and to do the other, is to bear a sort of false witness against the prosecutor, and perhaps aiso, against the other wit- nesses in the cause. To do either, is to hurt the public, who are all of them our neighbours, and *hoare more interested than is commonly cunsi- tored, jn having a fair and full testimony given iri every case. '» . My readers no doubt will very readily agree that fought to take the utmost care thus to speak truth m a court of justice, lam afraid, however, there? ^few people who consider, that exactly in the vnie manner, it is our duty to speak truth of our iei ghbour in private company. This Commandment gainst all sorts of false testimony, Jt condemns < 3» ) the private slanderer and tale-bearer, and the mag- nifier of stories against his neighbour as well has the perjured person. Some people are apt, from the very levity of their character, to take up every light rumour against another. Somebody has told them (but they can- not exactly recollect who) that there is some very bad story against such a person: though they scarce- ly know what it is, they proceed to tell it, and they supply by their own invention, such parts as seem necessary in order to make the tale, hold together, and then the whole goes abroad on the same authority: Some are apt to grow warm has they are telling a story, and are continually led by this warmth of theirs to overstate a fact , and often, therefore, to charge guilt much too heavily on him whom they censure. Again vanity is a motive which leads many into falsehoods. They find ihey cannot excite attention unless they magnify what they say, and they are very ambitious of being able to surprize, to interest, and to entertain their hearers ; they perfer wit to truth, and they cannot resist the pleasure of utter- ing a sarcastic jest, and of distinguishing themselves by a lively turn of speech, though at the expericeof candour and of justice. Bui perhaps the most friutful of all the sources of false testimony and misrepresentation, his that spirit of envy and malice, and of jeJousy and p. ide and self- per ference, which unless it is clos^y watched is apt to be incessantly at work in every human breast. Some one is supposed either to I have injured us, or to be now against us, or in some respect or other to stand in the way of our ad« < 39 ) ~r~~ nce ment, or some one is thought to claim the Superiority over us, and seems to possess a greater \ A re of the affection and countenance of one with whom we wish to be the chief favorite. We are prepared to believe an evil story against such a man on very slight evidence, and not only to -be- lieve it, but to spread it eagerly and to exaggerate it exceedingly. On the other hand, we extol him ' that is on our side, for this is indirectly to praise our- selves, but let a man be our enemy, or let him enly be pf-a contrary sect to us in religion, or of an op- posite party to us in politics, how strong then is our disposition to become, partial in all our judgment, and through the prevailing power of thisprejudi.ee to be continually bearing false testimony against tini ! . > ■ Now in many of these cases, it may possibly hap- pen that it is phly some slight exaggeration that is made, or some little fact that is added, and yet that these little matters may make a world of difference, for they may constitute even the whole of the guilt. It is to be recollected also, that stories circulate through many hands, and that if a little addition is made by each, an anecdote which was hardly worth notice at first, may soon grow up into a most mis- chievous and scaudalous falsehood. How numberless are the lies which are in this manner spread abroad in the world, and how enormous is the evil of which we are now speak- ing ! Who then is the person on whom the guilt ought to be fixed ? Undoubtedly dU are guilty who have had a share in the exaggeration. All random talkers, all light unthinking, and on that accouut, inaccurate people, all violent and passion- ate people, all vain people who seek only to be admired* for what they say, and especially all e • ous and jealous people, which tliose never tail u!h who are aspiring and ambitious, together with all partial biggoted and prejudiced people— every on ' of these I fear is apt to be every day a breaker d this Commandment —and so indeed are all who have not yet learnt to exercise a tender conscience in what they say, and' to set a guard upon then ling even in their hours of relaxation, tor let it be re- membered, that there are many who may not intend unjustlv to prejudice their neighbour's reputation but who nevertheless by indulging prejudices and fancies, and by being too inaccurate in general in, respect to truth, are for ever casting unfair blame oa some character or other, and are contributing largely to encrease that quantity of false testimony which is circulating in the world. There are some persons who attempt to avoid the fault of evil speaking by running inro an op- posite extreme, they refuse to tell the faults which they really know, and which it is important to re- veal, and they do this on the most sellish principle, namely, lest they should bring themselves into trouble: their custom is to praise every body, and they think that if they always speak handsomely of others, then others will agree' to speak handsomely of them. We must beware however of imagin- ing that these are the persons who pay obedience to this Commandment, and that their selfish po- licy and misplaced commendations deserve any praise ; as well might the witness in a court of jus- tice, who gives false evidence in favour of the per- son accused, take credit, for his perjury, or the witness who. refuses to give evidence at ah,, take -rrcdu-ior his silence, when the public intend 'ijjr •res that he should su-.ik out.. It. is a truth pi not flattery and fiitse prar&\ nor universaj fence respecting the characters of men which ;uv req uiraihy M Commandment. There are also m my, who through their own ig- norance .ftfthe ■hdtfiVeo^t^goodiicss, are apt io praise fFic ' moStirrclfyioW characters, and wno arc LidV to cha^e' every religions person wkh. that ver/ ))i ej-u:hce* and disposition to false testimony which'i have been condemiung, because he cannot ' ioinintH^prajse. But let flatterers ot tins class i fo> told that all those' who are irreligious are concsr- dered as wicked % the' word of God, and that" (as i Solomon has said i " He thatjustiOeth tne - wicked, 1 and'he'ttuLt Condemnah the just/even they botfai arc an abomination to the Lord." 1 But td'return. The practice of tale bearing- is so common, and it Lads to so much false testimony against bur neighb. airs, that I propose now to warn my readers particularly on this head, and I will da it by subjoining a few, questions which' every one I should be ^ebared to answer, before he vejiturefr i to repea 1 * any talc to the prejudice of another. Fi'ist then, how dd voir hear the story? .From an actual wkne'ss of the fact, or from one that heart* it of another ? fcl came' to/yuu only through tb^ second or third hand, pray suspend a Jm)e your W Mflfii yoa.have.'hfard the truth .more exactly fron- a more nnquesti'onajj.e auth rity. Coacider next how Mr even the eye or ear wit- ness who in ay have told it you is worthy of credit whether for instance he is- an enemy of the accused, $r can have an interest in lowering his .character ; whether he is credulou s ur passionate ,or r ^x-ju^ced.. and whether his memory, in -somje partic^mlar u ' Wst may riot have failed him. Consider also, whether allowing the whole which has been told you to be true, there may not have been something omitted that ought to have been added, the addition of which would make a great dxfferarjcei n the general impression, Consider well also, \\ hether you yourself in listen- ing to your in ornier, have been quite free from prejudice and have avoided every error. It is pos- sible that you may innocently have mistaken some doubtful expression, for in every language there are ambiguous words, ai:d what his said by the speaker rather loosely or figuratively, is sometimes unde.i stood by the hearer much too literally and strictly. It may be well to examine also, whether notwith- standing tie authority on which it stands, there may pot be some such contraritiesan different parts of the story as to render it quite impossible, But even if it should be highly improbable, if, for instance, it should -contain a charge which is contrabicteq 1 by the general character of the accused, a candid man Will not be confident in his belief. Endeavour there- fore in general to know the character of the accu- sed person before you spread a report to his dis-. advantage ; and if he is reputed to be religious, be particularly suspisious of the tales against him, for the world is apt to revile men of Ins cast. < Enquire also, whether the person charge! has ever been charged to his face. Possibly quite ft new light might be thrown on the matter if the ac- cuser would but consent to. meet the person accuse^ face to face. If you are purposing to repeat n_ story, it is a good general rule to tell it first to person supposed to be in fault. And lastly, supposing the fact clear, asK yo. $clf what is the use of telling it, *> c * m ( 43 ). ... {!tf ;^ : tell it from talkativeness, or" from secret envy, from party prejudice. Undoubtedly there may be*»od reasons tor speaking out, especially when the crime is very serious. The public should he warnedtigainst imposition ; the character of men , also ought in a variety of cases to be made known, and if given at. all, it ought undoubtedly to be fairly given Be as tender however, as you properly can oi your neighbour's reputation, and speak against him with regret, not with readiness and satisfaction. Say nothing in, heat, for if you do you will exagge- rate. And do not let the story stand on your own . credit, but ctouse rather to let it stand on the credit of him who told it you, and be always willing there- for (if permitted ) to give up your authority. And now to close this subject, let it ever be re- membered that the love of our neighbour is the great thing which is necssary in order to your fulfilling this commandment. "Love (as was before re- marked ) is the fulriiling-of the law ; for this, thou shj.lt not bear false witness." If men did but love their neighbour's theimelvs, they would then be jealous of their neighbour's reputation, just in the same m inner as they how are of their own, and a, thousand rules and instructions on this subject might, be spared. We do not commonly spread false re- ports against our own wife, or child, or sister, or brother, and the reason is that we love our own kindred. Let us learn then to love all men as bre- thren, and let this Commandment send us to th^r gospel which so strongly iuculcates good-will attd chanty towards our fellow-creatures. TENTH COMMANDMENT, ? Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, ttauslult not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor hh ( 44 ) llian- servant, nor his maid sei vnnt. nor hh ov his ass, nor Wy thing- that is thy neighbour's " Most of the other Command Merits Jpeal oft! ©utward rctjonj and forbid some sin ill t the ! if ffi this Jast lays the axe as it were to the •> ry " for it forbids even those eovetdiis desires W] ,ch a r ' seated in the heart. It i, said, " Thou shalt no covet any thing which is thy neighbour's" Wh t ^ then that ^ ™ost like? tie taste of pe()ple differs. One is in danger of coveting his neiih bours money, another his neighbour's coos nu.eS e and power, a third of coveting the praise and h Uilor *hich he sees given to another. How apt esp* cialiy are many of the poor to covet ail the com- forts and supposed enjoyments of the rich ! They have peculiar cause to beware of breaking this Commandment. Both richand poor, however are apt to covet the posession of any thing for which e a taste. 1 hey no sooner be- fcQldit than they are ready to cry out. * I wish it was mine." It is melancholy to think how few there are in the world who arc thoroughly contented with their lot. Inc young and the . Id, the rich and the poor, the married and the unmarried, the proseprous and the ahlicted, are all of them apt to have some un- satisfied desire. There is always some one thing at least which is possessed by our neighbour, and uhich Provider e has denied to us, and we are disposed to hx our whole attention on that single point. If we are under no temptation to covet €ur neighbour's house, nor his wife, nor his ■ mil- servant, nor his maid-servant, yet we covet per- haps some ox of his or some ass, some inferior thing ©r otter in which we happen to take delight ■ ■ ,e may prob^y be as wretched at the thought i fW possesbing it, as if we had eoveted his wnpte , % and estate. Thus Ahab, dthough he was $1 ofaji $:i i.aria,benng unable to get \he little ' vineyard of Naboch, which would Have made him f&Mmerit c\ibbae commandments of God and of his Savior* &' by day he exercises himself in examining his life by them: he brings ah! is actions, great and snuil and k s very thoughts and desires, to the test. He pray & inr gr^cc to walk agreeably to that will of Hoi which he iiuds revealed in the several Darts of the Holy cripturres, and the very knowledge of his f e/te.m pj ion coasfrajns bis.heart to obedience. Still, *udeeuVju> best services are imperfect, and he un' demands sy> ffgfy the : grpat extent of has duty, that h'Z^jpcv.ye rs^rxxucji; cair.i^ian in himself, where a l & ( ^» t ii u /(| at ajl desire at. .;,He.therey lore does not trust tn has goed works, though he U ^^?^? n ;^ i P; 1 ? 1 ' -flni^sees the necessity of perform- u^g iheaj. The language of his heart may be well e \jv e -se.d Jby a quotation from a jud.sious and emi- Y -iY. divine of the la,- 1. century, \\ We can do 00-, * hing. ; " said he, 1 thai is. merit .■nous and worthy to b|( ly^arc-d, .God, indeed, doth fi be rally promise ■wbatf vesper rains to a blessed life, to as .-.many -as: $ i^f^i e 1 y .. ohse r y e bis Jaw, though they . be, .not ex-- sctly arde to keep it. . Wherefore we'acknow edge a dutiful n^cess/lyj of tjoing well, but, the niiritorioua dignity; of ; d|oing we ; H, ; we ^ut.terJy . renounce. ,• i We &^&QptJj}r }#£.are fijom.rhe .•..perfect, righteousness •of t!,:o law*: 4he little fruit which we -,ha vq • is l.-i'i * l:»'r;e.ss ; s.. God knowcah, corrupt and. unsound:; we nfftt n« ooiUxJeooc, at; aid in it.. We, challenge; nothing tig ♦be wurUi-fe;; jt,^. p^^oantjipuaJ.s^it -tQ God must -k. to beiu- with.. QU£\ i-nbnauties* ; ami* -pardon our ft'fM : : THE END.