integrity, should possess the Christian's mind. There are many things which will consist with what is called a sense of honour, which can never be admitted into the conduct of a real saint. The laws of honour have their origin from man: and as they derive their authority from man, so they have respect only to the judgment of man in the observance of them. These therefore may bend to times and circumstances. But the Law of God is inflexible ; and our adherence to it must be uniform under all circumstances. It must regulate the ends which we propose, the means we use in the prosecution of them, and the manner in which we proceed throughout the whole of our deportment. In every thing we must endeavour to approve ourselves to God, and to act as in his immediate presence. Any departure from the strict line of duty, in whatever cir- cumstances we be placed, must be avoided : and our whole conduct towards mankind, in whatever relation to us they stand, must be such as we, in a change of circumstances, should think it right for them to observe towards us. God requires that "truth should be in our inward parts a;" and every act, every word, every purpose and desire of our hearts, ought to be in strict accordance with it.]
2. A want of constancy in religion —
[Many there are, who, having begun well, leave off to behave themselves wisely, and " turn aside from the holy com- mandment delivered to themb." Various are the sources of this declension. Sometimes it begins in a neglect of religious duties, or in the mere formal performance of them. Some- times it originates in the secret indulgence of some hidden lust. Sometimes " the care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches," and the desire of other things which have no direct reference to religion, choke the seed that has been sown in our hearts, and prevent it from bringing forth any fruit unto perfection0. But whatever it be that turns us from God, it should be discounte- nanced in others, and avoided in ourselves. It may have a specious aspect : much may be said for it to extenuate, if not altogether to justify, the practice of it: but if its operation be to turn us aside from God, and from the pursuit of heavenly things, it becomes an evil work, which it behoves us to renounce.
We must, however, be careful not to impute to any line of duty the evils which arise from our own want of care in the prosecution of it There is not any thing which we may not make an occasion of sin. A person may say, ' I have intellectual pursuits, which occupy my mind with such intensity, that I cannot fix it afterwards upon heavenly things :' or, ' I have a manual labour, which indisposes me for heavenly contempla- tion.' In such cases, the duty of these persons is, not to renounce
a Ps. li. 6. b 2 Pet. ii. 21. c Matt. xiii. 22.
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