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"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, ❝ which are these: adultery, fornication, un"cleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witch

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craft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, "strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, mur❝ders, drunkenness, revellings, and such "like, of the which I tell you, that they "which do such things, shall not inherit the "kingdom of GOD. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, "temperance; against which there is no "law."

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"Be kindly affectioned one to another, "with brotherly love, in honour preferring "one another." "A new law," says JESUS CHRIST to his disciples, "I give unto you, "that, as I have loved you, so ye also. ❝ought to love one another." This duty, therefore, is the particular badge of our christian profession; and no man has a right to the name of christian, much less to the promises and rewards of CHRIST's religion, who does not endeavour to fulfil it. "Now "love worketh no ill to his neighbour;" it does and says nothing to the injury of any human being; but is always busied in doing what is good, and honest, and just, and useful. The man who has a true christian affection in the heart, is ever enquiring how he may

be of service to his fellow-creature; and there is no one, how low soever his state of life may be, who will not find occasions of benefiting those around him. He may lend him help in the time of need; he may give him advice in cases of difficulty; and what is better than all, he may help him on to everlasting salvation, by setting him an example of contentment under poverty; of resignanation under affliction; of industry and sobriety, quietness, and honesty, in worldly conduct; of keeping holy the LORD's Day; duly frequenting his church; regularly attending his table; and performing every other duty of piety and devotion.

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"Not slothful in business." part of mankind must necessarily live by the labour of their hands. GOD has ordained it; and, therefore, it is right and wise that it should be so. Such being the case, both duty and necessity oblige those who are in this situation, to be active, and "not sloth❝ful in business ;" and the Bible is full of directions to them to this effect, as well as of promises of the gain, both here and hereafter, which will reward their honest. industry." Seest thou a man diligent in his "business, he shall prosper. "there is profit, and the righteous tendeth to plenty.

In all labour labour of the The thoughts

"of the diligent are a mine of wealth.. Let "every man abide in the same calling wherein "he is called, and study to be quiet, and to "do his own business; that he may walk "honestly to those who are without, and "that he may have lack of nothing."

"Fervent in spirit; serving the LORD; "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; "continuing instant in prayer." These exhortations, my friends, chiefly regard your religious duties, which are not to be lost sight of in performing those of your worldly calling. The christian rule is, "so to pass "through things temporal, as finally not to "lose the things eternal. God has given us time and opportunity sufficient to provide both for our bodies and souls; and it is our part to take care, that in serving man, we do not omit to serve the LORD. People who fill laborious and servile offices in society, have not, it is true, so much leisure for their religious duties, as those in a higher rank of life; and some callings and situa tions there must of necessity be, which will prevent them from attending the public worship of GOD, and hallowing the sabbath day, as regularly and strictly as it is desirable to do. But, though nothing will excuse a man, if he wilfully or unnecessarily absent himself from his church, or exercise his

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worldly calling on the Lord's Day, yet, we may humbly hope, that where the wants of society, or the distressed situation of his family, absolutely oblige him so to do, he will find pardon with GOD for an omission which is forced upon him by necessity; provided he becomes a church to himself, or, in other words, exercises, privately and fervently, those offices of piety and devotion, which, if he were more fortunately circumstanced, he would perform in public, and in the church. Thus, for instance, whatever, or wherever, a man's employment may be, he still take occasion to "serve the LORD"

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in secret; to bless him " fervently in his "spirit," for his innumerable mercies, and undeserved goodness towards himself, his connections, his country, and mankind; tổ "rejoice" in the unspeakable blessing of redemption, and the glorious hope of everlasting life; to be "patient" and resigned under any trials or troubles which the ALMIGHTY may think it right to chasten him with; and to shew 'cheerful contentment in that station of life in which it has pleased God to place him.

"Distributing to the necessity of saints; "given to hospitality. Bless them which 66 persecute you; bless, and curse not; re"joice with them that do rejoice, and weep

"with them that weep: be of the same mind
"one towards another; mind not high
"things, but condescend to men of low
"estate. 99
The apostle, in these words,

again speaks of relative duties, or of those
which are due from us to our fellow-crea-
tures; and assuredly, if they were univer-
sally practised, they would change the earth
on which we dwell into a place of happi-
ness, something resembling the blessed
abodes of heaven. He tells us, to give all
the assistance that we possibly can, in every
place, and at every time, to such of our fel-
low-creatures as require our aid. He tells
us, to wish well even to those who injure us,
and to pray for their conversion; to let no
provocation whatsoever produce hatred,
malice, or the desire of revenge, in our
hearts; or occasion us to use curses and
oaths with our lips. It is melancholy to
think how much this last admonition of St.
Paul is disregarded; and how generally the
"words of wickedness," blasphemous ex-
pressions, and horrid imprecations, are heard
among those, who, from age, or opportuni-
ties of knowing their duty, ought to be
ashamed of using them. Nay, what is still
more shocking to our feelings, we hear even
children, taught by the example of their
parents, profaning the name of GOD with

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