man, as a christian, as a citizen, as a father of a family? And, in determining these questions, neither the approbation nor the cenfure of mankind must be of any account, whatever. We must act by certain principles, and to these we must ever adhere. By this means, however, we shall infallibly fecure to ourfelves the esteem of the best and worthiest part of the community, and, in the generality of occafions, fhall obtain their approbation, without anxioufly feeking it, or making it our principal aim.

But, an action in regard to that falls under no particular law, that we may either perform or neglect, wherein we may proceed in this manner or in that; if in that cafe we direct our conduct fo as beft to conduce to the confirming of our good reputation: by fo doing, we not only are not chargeable with any criminal paffion for fame; we act not only with prudence, but in perfect confiftence with our duty, which enjoins us to do every thing by which we may mediately become useful to others, or acquire a greater and furer influence on the advancement of the general good. A good name may be weakened and loft not only by the actual commiffion of evil, but even by the appearance of it; not only by unjust and bafe, but even by innocent yet imprudent difcourfes and actions. Abftain then from all appearances of evil, and walk, as the apostle recommends, with circumfpection and prudence; not as fools, but as wife.

If, farther, a good reputation be fo highly valuable, then imprint it deeply on your minds, that you

cannot

cannot attack the good name of your neighbour, or bring it by any means into contempt, without caufing great harm to the whole fociety, and rendering yourfelf guilty of the moft crying injuftice, and frequently of the uttermost degree of inhumanity and cruelty. Rather rob your neighbour of his goods; wound him in his perfon; plunge him into poverty and indigence! You will generally hurt him lefs, and do him a more fupportable injury, than by infamously depriving him of the efteem he poffeffes amongst his fellow-beings. By this esteem he may repair the other wrongs you do him; without it, as it frequently happens, neither opulence, nor ftation, nor life itself, have any charms for him. Regard not, therefore, the reputation of your brother, be his condition in life what it may, as a matter of sport, as a fubject for merriment, on which we may boldly display our wit. Conftantly reflect how easily the good name of the inoffenfive may be injured, and how difficult it is to heal the wounds we give it. An ambiguous word, a mysterious look, an eloquent filence, a fneering fmile, a malicious BUT, is more than fufficient to make the most unfavourable impreffion of the character or the conduct of a perfon on the unthinking, the credulous, or the malicious hearer, to occafion the most disadvantageous reports, or to undermine the credit of a harmless or deferving member of the community. Unhappily fuch a report may fo quickly fpread, the raised fufpicion may fo rapidly gain confirmation, it may collect fo many circumstances

circumstances together which render it credible, that it is often immediately no more in your power to repair the injustice you have done. In vain would

you now recall your imprudent expreffions; in vain attempt to flur over the matter as a misunderstanding, an inadvertent escape, a jeft, or an infignificant fportive conceit; in vain will you even implore forgiveness of the injured man! Probably this alteration of your language or your behaviour will be attributed to fear, or to complaifance, or to self-love, or to certain private agreements or compromifes fince made; it will be long ere you can effect a perfuafion that there was nothing at all in the matter, and probably it may require whole years before you can, even by

the most earnest endeavours, be able to efface the impreffion you have made upon others to the prejudice of your neighbour. And if, with all your pains, you are unable to do this; then have you, probably for ever, deftroyed the peace of an innocent man; fapped the foundation of his happiness and of thofe that belong to him; rendered a useful member of civil fociety unprofitable or of little fervice; you have probably deprived him of all heart to amendment had he been fo inclined; and him, whom a concern for his good name retained within the bounds of moderation and honour, you have rendered alike indifferent both to honour and to fhame. What a flagrant enormity! How dreadful will it be to you in the hour of ferious reflection, or in your dying. moments! Can we then ever be too circumfpect,

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too confcientious, when we have to do with our neighbour's fame? Surely no; the greater the va lue, and the more irreparable the lofs of it, fo much the more facred fhould it be to us; and fo much the more should we abftain from every thing that may leffen or impair it. Let us then bridle our tongue and keep a watch at the door of our lips, and banish from our heart all envy, all hatred, all bitternefs and animofity against our brethren. Let us abhor and deteft not only manifest lying and flandering, but likewise regard and avoid all base defamation, all hard and fevere judgments on our neighbour, as fins which can by no means be made to consist with the philanthrophy and the character of a real chriftian. Let us put on the bowels of compaffion, friendlinefs, meeknefs, gentleness and patience, as becomes the children of God and the difciples of Jefus; bearing and forgiving one another with the most cordial affection; and fo act with all men, and so judge of every one, as we should defire, in fimilar circumftances, that they would act by us and judge of our be haviour. But, above all things, let us clothe ourfelves with love, which is the bond of perfection.

SERMON XL.

Of Converfion from a bad courfe of Life.

GOD, we prefent ourselves before thee this day to acknowledge our fins and tranfgrefs fions. We would not conceal them, we would not attempt to justify ourselves in thy fight; we could not answer thee one of a thoufand. Notwithstanding all that thou haft done for us, moft merciful Father, to draw us to thee by making our duty a delight, we have yet refused to obey thee, and have swerved from thy commandments. Virtue and religion are not of fo much weight with us as they ought to be with the wife, with chriftians; fenfuality, unbelief and doubt have weakened their respect and rendered fome of us indifferent towards them; the world and its deceitful, fugacious pleasures too forcibly attract our inclinations and defires; we are more bent upon gratifying

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