They abhor every thing that is sordid a? "^ unjust. — Usury was forbidden under the Mosaic Law; and that prohibition, as to the spirit of it, obtains equally under the Gospel. There is a legal interest of money which may fitly and properly be made : but every kind of extortion is worthy of the utmost abhorrence. To take advantage of the ignorance or the neces- sities of our fellow-creatures, to deceive them in relation to the quality or quantity of the commodities sold to them, to lean unduly to our own interests, and thereby to injure in any respect the interests of others, all this is contrary to the law of love, the law of honesty : and the man who for filthy lucre sake will condescend to sucli meanness, is unworthy of the Chris- tian name. It matters not what profession of religion he may make, nor how high he may stand in the estimation of those who are unacquainted with his character ; he has " the mark of the beast upon him," and will assuredly take his " portion amongst the hypocrites.
We are aware that many religionists will call this statement legal: but let them remember, that Paul himself has given this very description of the Christian's conduct, and has declared, that *' those who are children of the light will walk in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth *^ By these fruits must they be judged of, and " by these fruits must they be known."]
In
•* Eph. V. S—IO.
In relation to persons of thi|| character, we behold with pleasure, -^i^^
III. Their salvation assured —
Our blessed Lord represents them as persons" whose habitation is founded dnarfick^, and their stability is assured to them,
1. By the very graces which they exercise — [We do not mean lo say, that any man, however eminent,
has in himself such a measure of grace, as shall be a safeguard to him under all temptations; for even Paul himself had not in himself " a sufficiency even to think a good thought :" nor can any child of man stand one moment longer than God shall be pleased to uphold him in his everlasting arms : but still God him- self has represented " right&aosness an '». breast-plate," which will resist the darts of our great adversary : ind it must be obvious, that they, in whom there is a principle of oniversal holiness, and whose conduct is so strictly regulated by the Vommands of God, must be comparatively out of the reach of 'he tempter. In matters of daily occurrence, the Believer will ^ill have within himself an evidence chat he is a fallen creature : he will still be subject to mistakes, and infirmities, and falls ; but he will not so fall as to return to the wilful practice of iniquity^, nor so be moved as to " turn back unto perdition."]
2. By the express promises of God —
[Were the Christian's stability to depend solely on the strength of the gracious principle within him, he would have but little hope of enduring to the end: but God has encouraged us to exert ourselves, and to " work out our own salvation with fear and trembling;" in the full persuasion, that " he will give us both to will and to do of his good pleasure." In the Scriptures, both Prophets and Apostles concur in giving us this assurance. Isaiah speaks almost the very language of our text: he draws the very same character almost in the very same terms ; and then declares, that this person " shall dwell on high" (even " in God's holy hill,") that " his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks ; that bread shall be given him, and his wiiters shall be sure**." To the same effect St. Peter speaks: he bids us add to our faith the practice of all social virtues ; and then he tells us that " they who do such things shall never fall, {' never be moved,') but shall have an entrance mini!^tered unto them al)un- dantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'." How " exceeding great and precious are such promises" as these ! How delightful is it to hear God himself engaging to " keep the