in the whole world: It was this self-love that ruined both Lucifer and Adam, and stript them entirely of the divine love and life wherewith once they were adorned.

13. This spirit of self-love being thus seated in the heart, it continually alarms the soul, and engrosses all the faculties to it. self. None but those that are inspired with a heavenly courage, can overcome the malignancy of an evil so strong and boundless, and so deeply rooted within. But to facilitate this victory, the Lord thinks as it were, with himself: "I will permit a virulent lying tongue to insult over such an one, as I formerly permitted Satan to infest my servants Job and Paul for their greater humiliation. This slandering tongue shall be his devil, his scourge, his plague, to buffet him constantly, and help to beat down that proud heart, that haughty look, that aspiring temper, which without this restraint, would at last carry all before it." Thus the Lord leaves nothing untried to use the soul to that excellent spirit of humility, and to set due bounds to the impetuous acting of the spirit of selflove, whereby men are now become allies to Lucifer, that great apostate spirit: who, endeavoring to have a will of his own, opposite to that of his maker, Jost entirely his principality, and that original integrity wherein he was created at first.

14. However, as the Lord is faithful on his side, and has no pleasure at all in the destruction, but preservation of his creatures; so he seeks also to convert the venom of impious tongues thrown on his children, into a precious

medicine, thereby to heal that sore of self-love fostering within, and breeding abundance of oth er spiritual diseases in mind. When the world thinks evil against them, then God brings good out of the evil, which is an art only known by God. For as out of the most poisonous ser. pent an antidote is prepared against poison itself; so God overrules the very worst of coun sels, so as they shall turn to the greatest good of his children. Thus "out of the eater comes forth meat," and out of the bit ter, sweetness; al things being made to "work together for good to them that love God." For instance, they are taught thereby to practise one of the noblest of the works of charity, which is to "bless their enemies, and to pray for them who despitefully use them."

15. He that has thus far got the conquest over the bent of his corrupt nature, as to pray heartily for his enemies, is, methinks, almost arrived to the sublimest degree of true evangelical charity, which alone is able to soften our stubborn hearts into the mild and compassionate heart and mind of Christ, who also has set us a most blessed exemplar in this matter: "Father, (said he,) for give them; for they know not what they do." And this ten der and sympathizing heart Christian must needs have, if ever he wishes to be in a condition to pray for his enemies. True love, wherever it is rooted in a soul, there it will most certainly produce a tender commiseration towards enemies; who at the same time, whilst they hate men, render themselves entirely unst for any communion with God and

Christ, giving up their heart to the devil, that great hater of souls. And this may move every Christian to commiserate the fate of such profligate wretches, who are not of God, but of their fa. ther, the devil: And lest they should forever sink into the jaws of the devil, who here inspires them with hatred, rage, and bitterness, the Lord so earnestly commands his children to pray for them, with this motive an. nexed to the command: "That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven."

16. What has been said of the over-ruling power of God, whereby he converts the venom of lying tongues into a healing medicine, will more fully appear from the following instances: Joseph had never been exalted to the dignity of being ruler over all the land of Egypt, had he not fallen before under the malicious lashes of a wanton tongue, and thereby been condemned to a prison at last. However, wisdom did not leave him in bonds, but brought him, at length, the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him. Had Moses not been persecuted by violent accusations of his enemies, and obliged to flee from the face of Pharaoh, he had not seen the Lord in the bush, after having led Jethro's flock to the back-side of the de. sert. For here by a wonderful sight he enjoyed, he was, as it were, initiated into a new dispensation of life, which then rose upon him. Thus did the spiteful tongue of Doeg, the Edomite, and of other enemies of David, force many a comfortable psalm from the latter, now left apon record for a support of

the church in troubles and trials. The same over-ruling wisdom of God appeared for Daniel, when by the virulency of his accusers, he was cast into the den of lions, but most triumphantly exalted again by Divine Providence, for many good and noble ends; the enemies themselves being made to lay the foundation for his rise and greatness. Mordecai had almost the same providence. His ruin was devised by the murdering tongue of proud Haman, but the Lord returned his wickedness upon his own head, and the bloody machinations did but hasten the destruction of the contriver.

17. Therefore "commit thy way unto the Lord: trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth thy rightcousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day." Only endeavor to be in constant amity with the Lord your God, and to love him with all your heart, and then he will direct your steps: For "when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." If the world be permitted to stain your reputation here, and to detract from your honor, what matters it, if the Lord dignifies you with a crown of eternal glory? It is he that will deliver and honor you at last; and it is he that will give you both grace here, and glory hereafter.

18. Another comfort in trials of this nature, may be drawn from the powerful influence the Lord has upon the hearts of all men. It is he that looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth, from the firm place of his habi tation. He aloue fashions or

frames their hearts, and consid. ers all their works; and he will not deliver you into the will of your enemies. A man fumes often with rage and malice, and is transported to that degree of fury and passion, as if he would bear down all that comes in his way But a little while after, you shall find, that, by an unexpected turn of providence, the man is altogether cooled again; his heat is allayed, and he is now reduced to such a gentleness and moderation of temper, as if he was become quite another man. Nay, how often do we see that the most profligate wretch, designing nothing but spite and malice against a good soul, is stopt in the midst of his passionate pursuit, and with a sweet force and holy violence, as it were, obliged not only entirely to drop his wicked design, but to bestow also tokens of favor and kindness upon the person whom he was to affront. certainly is an operation peculiar to the wisdom of God, who, by his secret and over-ruling power, of ten renders abortive the most malicious project conceived against his children. Thus the Lord came to Laban, when incensed against Jacob, and ordered him to speak not to him, either good or bad: And Esau, who bore his brother no good will at all; yet when he came within sight of him, must needs run to meet him, to embrace him, to fail on his neck, to kiss him, to weep over him, and to receive him with the most endearing expressions of love and kindness.

Which

19. It is the nature of a

malignant tongue, to swell high all on a sudden, and by rage and fury gain applause and admiration every where: but then its downfal is as sudden again, as the rise was before. Calumny is like a fire, whose outrageous flame mounts up to the very sky but then the want of fuel will soon make it go down again. The reason is, because God, who is the everlasting truth itself, hates a spirit of lies beyond any thing: and this is the reason al. so, why all those that have rai. sed their greatness, on no other foundation than lying and self. conceit, may indeed dazzle the eyes of others with a glaring lustre for a while; but when they now think themselves to be fixed in a stability not to be shaken; then generally their ruin is ready at hand, and the Lord's judgment destroys all. Then "the lying lips are put to silence, which spoke grievous things proudly and contemptu. ously against the righteous." Which text plainly shows, that pride and disdain of others, is wont to accompany a slandering and lying tongue. But " WO unto thee that dealest treacher. ously, for when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity." Though a treach erous man may go on a while in quest after more honor and greatness; yet shall evil hunt the violent man at last, and overthrow him.

SWEARING

PROVED.

THE REV. John Maclaurin of Glasgow, well known to the christian world by his valuable writings, in passing one day along the street, was disturbed by the noise of some disorderly soldiers. One of them particularly, just as Mr. Maclaurin approached them, uttered this awful imprecation, "God damn my soul for Christ's sake!" The good man, shocked with hearing such blasphemous language, went up to him, and laying his hand on the shoulder of the man, said to him, with peculiar mildness and solemnity, "Friend, God has already done much for Christ's sake; suppose he should do that too, what would become of you?" It was a word in season, and it came with power. conscience of the soldier sunk un. der the reproof. He was led not

The

swearing, to which he had been long addicted, but to reflect on his ways, and to turn to the Lord. He became a real Chris tian; and proved the soundness of his conversion, by maintaining to the end of his life, a conversa. tion becoming the gospel.

Let this interesting fact stimu late Christians to be faithful in reproving vice. One opportunity suitably improved, may be the means of saving a soul from death, and covering a multitude of sins. Circumstances may, no doubt, be supposed to happen, when the interference of the Christian would be inexpedient. Let conscience faithfully deter. mine whether it be more evident. ly his duty to be silent than to speak. But let him beware of having occasion to reproach him. self with sinful temerity.

Rel. Mon.

My Dear Good Friend,

I HAVE received your letter, at once complimentary and critical on the poem I sent you. Our venerable friend archbish. op Carroll informs me that he has likewise received from you a copy of the same letter; and he has expressed to me in conver.

sation, with the same frankness that you have done in writing, his displeasure at the engraving which has offended you.

While I assure you that I sin. cerely mingle my regrets with yours and with his on this subject permit me, my excellent Gregoire to accompany them with a few