and
'Lukeix. 33, 3/. '' Heb. v4. 17, 18.
and readily to *' lay down your lives for his sake?" Let " not these commandments be grievous in your eyes ;" but rather " rejoice if you are counted worthy to suffer for his sake." If at any time you be urged to turn aside from the path of duty, do not let the maxims or habits of the world bias you one moment: you are " not to follow a multitude to do evil:" if a thing be right, you should love it and cleave to it, though the whole world should be against you; just as Noah, Daniel, and Elijah did: and, if a thing be evil, you must not do it, though the loss of all things, yea even of life itseli", should await you for your inte- grity. It were better far to go into a fiery furnace for your stedfastness, than to save yourselves by an undue compliance.
Doubtless this holy walk and conversation will in- volve you in the charge of singularity ; but whose; fault is it, if this conduct makes you singular? Is it yours? Is it not rather theirs, who wdl not yield obedience to the precepts of their God ? We mean not by this to justify any who would affect a needless singularity; far from it: it is only where the world are wrong, that we would recommend any to separate from them. But wheresoever they are wrong, there you must " quit yourselves like men," and shew therii by your example a more perfect way. In important matters, the whole universe should not shake your resolution. Where duty evidently calls, you must be firm, and *' faithful unto death." It is confessedly " a strait and narrow way" in which you are called to walk; and, whilst walking in it, you must of ne- cessity, like Noah, " condemn those" who are walk- ing in " the broad road that leadeth to destruction';'* and consequently, like him, you must incur the scorn and hatred of an ungodly world. But it is better far to brave the hatred of the ungodly, than to participate in the lot that shortly awaits them.
To all, then, who would " adorn the doctrine of our' Saviour," we beg leave to offer this plain and salutary direction: '* Let your light shine before men;" and
let
»Heb. xi. 7.
436 PSALMS, cxix. 132, 133. [427.
\e,t it shine so bright, as to " put to silence the igno- rance of foolish men," and to " make those ashamed, who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." Labour habitually to do this in every thing that re- lates either to God or man. Let your enemies, if possible, " have no evil thing to say of you ;" nothing to lay hold of; nothing that shall give occasion for that malignant triumph, *' There, there, so would we have it." Be jealous for the honour of Christ and his Gospel. Remember that the world, who are blind enough to each other's faults, will be eagle-eyed in discerning yours ; while they will make allowances enough for each other, they will make no allowances for you : and whilst they impute each other's frailties to the weakness of human nature, they will impute yours to the principles you profess. Be careful then to " cut off occasion from those who seek occasion against you." Watch over your whole temper, and spirit, and conduct ; that *' your conversation may be altogether such as becometh the Gospel of Christ:" and " let your light be like that of the sun, shining more and more unto the perfect day." In a word, *' be stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; knowing assuredly, that your la- bour shall not be in vain in the Lord."