religion, and of justifying their own aversion to it. On the other hand, great good is done by those who "walk circumspectly," and " shine forth as lights in the world e." They "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men f," and " shame those who falsely accuse their good conversation in Christ s." What St. Peter says of " wives winning by their good conversation their unbelieving husbands h," we doubt not is often verified in all other relations of life ; those who behold the light that is set before them being constrained to acknowledge, that " the righteous is more excel- lent than his neighbour i." A certain awe is impressed on the minds of the ungodly by the sight of " a man of God." "Herod feared John," when he saw what a just and holy man he wask : and it is particularly said of Saul, that, " when he saiv that David behaved himself very wisely, he feared him1." And if we will walk " holily, justly, and unblameably before men," we shall have a testimony in their consciences, " that God is with us of a truth"1," and that the principles we profess are " worthy of all acceptation n."]
3. The honour of God and his Gospel —
[The argument which St. Paul uses to enforce on servants the maintenance of a dutiful behaviour towards their unbeliev- ing masters, is, " that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed °." How terrible is the thought that our indiscre- tions should ever produce such an effect as this ! On the other hand, our blessed Lord bids us to " make our light shine before men, that they who behold our good works may be stirred up to glorify our heavenly Father p. " What a stimulus is here ! what a motive to circumspection ! what an incentive to every thing that is great and holy ! Believer, can you reflect one moment on the thought, that God can be glorified in you, and not determine, like David, to " walk wisely before him in a perfect way ? " If nothing but your own welfare and the welfare of your fellow-creatures were at stake, you would watch over your every action, your every disposition; but when you consider, that the honour of God himself is in a measure dependent upon you, methinks, you should be utterly pur- posed, that, if it be possible, " God himself shall not find any thing amiss with you i ; and that, at all events, your conduct
of Messrs. Whitfield and Wesley ; which, though afterwards con- demned by the authors themselves, are to this hour made the sole grounds of estimating their character ; and not their character only, but the characters of thousands who were never guilty of any of their extravagances.
e Phil. ii. 15, 16. * 1 Pet. ii. 15. e 1 Pet. iii. 1G.
h 1 Pet. iii. 1. » Prov. xh. 26. k Mark vi. 20.
1 1 Sam. xvhi. 15. ™ 1 Cor. xiv. 25. n 1 Tim. i. 15.
0 1 Tim. vi. 1. P Matt. v. 16. i Ps. xvii. 3.