conflicts, and many humiliating falls : and the fair way to judge any man, is, to inquire what he would have been without reli- gion, and then to compare that with what he is as professing godliness. I may go further, and say, that even that is scarcely a fair criterion ; because he is, by means of his new dispositions, brought into circumstances so entirely new, as that no part of his former experience will avail him for the direction of his conduct : and, inasmuch as the considerations of religion infi- nitely outweigh all others that can operate upon his mind, it is no wonder if they sometimes divert his attention from matters of subordinate importance, which yet ought to be noticed by him in order to a perfect regulation of his conduct.
But, if it be unreasonable for men to "despise the youth" of a religious professor, it is still more unreasonable to despise religion itself on account of the faults of those who profess it. Religion itself is the same, whatever be the conduct of its advocates; and it enjoins nothing but what is holy and just and good : and as well might a man despise the sun because of the exhalations of a dunghill, as despise religion on account of any thing which it may draw forth from the infirmities of our fallen nature. If we received it aright, and improved it as we ought, it would uniformly and universally assimilate us to our God.
Let candour then be exercised towards religion and its ad- herents. Let each stand or fall by their own merits. If those who profess religion walk unworthy of it, let them be con- demned : but let not religion be condemned for their sake. And before they be finally condemned, let that allowance be made for them, which would be made for others of the same age, and similarly circumstanced. And if this candour be exercised, we fear not but that religion itself shall stand ap- proved; and we trust, that the prejudices which exist against it shall be greatly diminished, if not utterly destroyed.]
2. Those who would recommend religion —
[Certainly, it is of vast importance that the professors of religion should adorn it, and walk worthy of it. To those who would approve themselves to God in this respect, I would say, remember how much the welfare of your fellow-creatures, yea, and the honour of your God too, depend on you. Be not hasty in your decisions, nor over-confident that you are right. Be willing to be advised by those of whose wisdom and piety you have reason to hope well. And be careful not to plead one duty as a reason and ground for the neglect of another. Sins and lusts may counteract each other; but graces and duties are, for the most part, harmonious: and if, in any case, you be compelled, for conscience sake, to refuse to man the sub- mission he demands, let it be clear that you act from conscience