“Duty hath much present comfort, and no curse in it ;" which consideration alone is worth all the care of a Christian.

CHAPTER 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 prosper in his hands; for, however they seem, they do prosper for his real good, and especially 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 straight 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 well with him, and that surely is sufficient for him.

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.

CHAPTER 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 are of one mind in their own house, and in the house of God.

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

Not being a coxcomb or forward person, the Christian hath nothing on which to plume himself for the admiration of others. He knows that the applause of men will not follow the true servant of Christ, and that, if it could, it is too dangerous a thing for him to meddle with, whose inward selfishness costs him a constant hard labour to subdue it.

He values men, and desires to value them more, as God values them. The family of the faithful are his relations for eternity; and he will spiritually esteem these above all other persons. He is to live with them in glory. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples," saith Christ, love one towards another."

"if ye

have

His natural love to his natural friends, is not extinguished by the love of God, but elevated, purified, and increased. He sees more of the real worth of their souls, and is more anxious accordingly for their best interest, their immortal welfare. Those among

them, who have obtained like mercy with himself, are more especially endeared. Those, who want this mercy, have his fervent prayers and compassion, because they want it. When he cannot love his friends for Christ's sake, he will not cease to love them for their own.

Railing and evil-speaking he will cordially detest. The good he knows of others he will rejoice to mention, and the harm (unless for prevention of further harm) he will study to conceal. It is a good rule never to speak of men's faults to others, till we have first and faithfully spoken of them to the offenders themselves. This would prevent a world of mischief and slander, and perhaps save many from a disgraceful persisting in sin.

He will esteem grace, and even common virtues and worth of character, above all manner of riches. A rich wicked man is, in a Christian's eye, something like a body bloated with unwholesome fat and disease; not very pleasant to look upon, but much to be pitied and deplored. O what a sordid and dangerous evil is fulness of bread, without emptiness of self! The Christian will behave to such men, with the decency that becomes himself, and with the respect due to their station: at the same time, he cannot be partaker of their sins; nor ought he to miss the opportunity, if providence give it him, to

set before them better riches than they now enjoy, even God's durable riches and righteousness." Though few of this sort do "put their necks to the work of the Lord," (Neh. iii. 5.) or shall be saved, and it is only possible with God to save any of them; yet the Christian will be more tender and compassionate to them upon this very account. If they are to have their whole "portion in this life," should not the anger, that may be felt from their insolence and pride, be turned into pity and prayer; since their riches will soon be corrupted, and not an atom of their pomp can follow them?

With regard to the poor, the Christian cannot, as a Christian, be wanting in commiseration or relief, so far as it lies in his power. The affliction of their

circumstances will reach his

heart most, when his

hand can do least to abate it. No real Christian

can despise the poor. a worse poverty than theirs. the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom" how then can those among the poor, who are thus blessed, receive contempt from any of God's children? Or how can the poor at large be treated with insolence and cruelty, when the Lord hath declared that he "will avenge their cause ?" If a poor man be wicked, he is doubly entitled to pity; because he hath nothing in this world, and worse than nothing in view for the world to come. If a poor man be gracious, he is doubly an object of love; because he is now under many trials in the flesh, which the wealthy do not feel, and yet is dear to God, as his own blessed child and future inheritor of his glory.

He that doeth this, is under "God hath chosen