in the day of visitation? If you avow your principles openly, and also act uniformly upon them, it will probably stop the mouths of gainsayers, and may be instrumental in their conversion. And "so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."* The same apostle also has added this farther direction: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.' Answer him with meekness, as being sensible of your own entire dependance on the grace of Christ;-with fear, lest you should be unfaithful to him, and disgrace your calling. Every disciple of Christ must have something to say for his Master, and should have much in his character and conversation to prove the excellence of his religion. Be not afraid then, nor ashamed to tell others, on all proper occasions, what you have believed, and how you are determined, by the grace of God, to live, while you remain in this world. For your encouragement think of the self-denial and fortitude in suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, who "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich ;"+—“ who suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" and yet, “when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Think, I say, of him, who, "in the hour and power of darkness, when the enemy came against him like a flood, before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good * 1 Pet. ii. 15. and iii. 15. + 2 Cor. viii. 9. ‡ 1 Pet. ii. 21. confession."* "* Think also continually of those precious promises by which he sweetly allures you, and of those all-powerful arguments by which he urges you to the conflict, and of the glorious hope that is set before you. "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that But 1 will forewarn you whom you shall fear Fear him who, after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him. Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."+ they can do. And as a farther warning, both seasonable and salutary, think often of the everlasting shame, contempt and misery which must ensue, should the frowns, or flatteries of the world prevail upon you to forsake the ways of Christ, that you may please men. For, "if For, "if you suffer with him, you shall also reign with him; but if you deny him, he also will deny you." Think not, that you can know, and also love Christ, and yet conceal your attachment to him from others, that you may avoid the ridicule and reproach of men. Such time-serving Luke, xxii. 53. Mark, viii, 36. Isa, lix. 19, 1 Tim. vi. 13. + Mat. x, 22. Rey, iii. 5. John xvi.33. 2 Tim, ii, 12. policy would be a gross imposition on yourselves, and prove you to be strangers, yea enemies to Christ; for "ye cannot serve two masters; and he that is not with Christ is against him."* It would be acting the part of an idiot, who after having lighted a candle covers it with a bushel, instead of placing it where others, by the help of its light, may see about the room, or pursue their occupation. Though you have but one talent, you are to occupy with it, and not hide it in the earth, lest you should at length hear the fearful sentence, "Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."* The servants of God have been taught to confess him under every dispensation, and in every age. David declared he would "speak of the testimonies of God before kings, and not be ashamed." He reproved also, and remonstrated with those wretched men, who derided the truths of revelation in his day, and whom satan had beguiled with the same lie, by which he deceives men now; namely, that their happiness lies in the love of the world, and in following their own inclinations. "O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and pursue a lie?"+ O the folly of follies, to be ashamed of that which is our only glory! If you refuse Christ and his gospel, you part with all the wisdom, truth, and happiness that are attainable here; and in their stead you embrace folly, deceit and misery, with a world lying in wickedness. And, O! where shall you appear, and what will you have to say in the end which is fast approaching? Do you tremble in apprehension * Mat. vi. 24. xii. 30. xxv. 30. + Ps. cxix. 46. iv. 2 } of the issue, as conscious that you have failed in this great duty? And who can say he has not? Then humble yourselves before the Lord of glory whom you have offended, and he shall lift you up. Seek for mercy while it may be had, and that with earnest cries, and tears of godly sorrow, and in such words as these, if you find them suitable to your case: O most gracious, Lord, forgive, I beseech thee, my guilty shame, my base and cowardly fear of man, and my inordinate love of present ease, which have prevented me from confessing thee as I was bound to do by all the ties of duty and love. In the abundance of thy mercy cleanse me from this my great sin through the blood of the atonement, and deliver me in future, from "the fear of man which bringeth a snare."* O Lord, increase my faith; and give me wisdom and fortitude, that I may follow thee in all things according to the gospel, with stedfastness and constancy, neither deterred by opposition, nor seduced by any selfish and worldly regards. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take, not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."+ Every Christian must, in some degree, be a teacher and a martyr he is to instruct others by his advice and example, and to bear witness in word and deed, to the truth as it is in Jesus. As the government of the tongue includes several essential parts of Christian obedience, I shall treat the subject somewhat more particularly. To * Prov. xxix. 25. + Ps. li, 10. K manage our speech well on all occasions is indeed a difficult attainment; but it is exceedingly desirable, because it renders us a blessing to others, and proves a good proficiency in the knowledge of Christ. For, "if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."* Whoever can refrain his tongue from evil, is thoroughly established in the principles of Christianity, and completely qualified for all the duties of self-government. On the other hand we are assured by the same authority, that, "if any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."* When the tongue is neither sanctified by grace, nor controlled by the word of God, the religion professed is counterfeit. But it is common with men to think otherwise; and because the heart is deceitful above all things, they impose even upon themselves, and flatter themselves in their own eyes till their iniquity is found to be hateful. The vices of the tongue are exceedingly numerous; for it diffuses far and wide the abominations of the heart. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity-it setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell. Satan working in the heart presseth the tongue into his service. Observe, that to be "whisperers, backbiters, boasters, inventors of evil things," was the character of the heathen in the apostle's time; and it is the character of unbelievers now. Backbiting is despicable, and slander diabolical. Remember the divine admonition; "Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people."+ * James iii. 2. and i. 26. + Rom. i. 30. Lev. xix. 16. |