hope of reward, if they think that which is in itself a crime, will be accepted as a service, as the Amalekite, expecting a recompense from David for slaying an enemy, asserted that he killed Saul, who had fallen on his own sword; sometimes out of impious vain-glory, boasting of excesses which they never committed, that, in the society of the dissipated, they may gain credit for daring or success in licentiousness; sometimes out of unwillingness to undertake an enterprise for which talents render them qualified, as Moses pleaded that he was slow of speech, being loth to encounter the danger of bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt; and sometimes out of dissembled humility, when they hope to make self-detraction a bait for commendation, and by a pretence of refusing, to obtain the higher praise. This last is a common device of the self-conceited, of whom it has been well said, that though they cannot endure to be contradicted in any thing else, they would be very

sorry to have you yield to them in this.

Another offence against the ninth commandment is by open reviling and reproaches, by bitter taunts, or sarcastic scoffing. These are immediate incitements to anger and revenge, and so the Apostle speaks of evil-speaking in company with irritated affections. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you." 991 And our Lord himself classes the same vices together: "Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: but whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council.2 And so this violence of the tongue seems to offend against the sixth as well as the ninth commandment, as in the paraphrase of the Church Catechism it is said, "Thou shalt hurt nobody by word or deed."

1 Ephes. iv. 31.

2 Matt. v. 22.

Another offence, as dangerous as subtle, is to involve ourselves in rash promises, which it may cost guilt or the risk of strong temptation to fulfil. Thus the Jews bound themselves in a malicious vow, not to eat or drink until they had slain Paul. Thus Herod promised with an oath to give the damsel whatever she would ask for; and unwillingly, for his oath's sake, became the murderer of John the Baptist. In a moment of passion, we bind ourselves to vows, which cannot, without shame, be recalled, or, without injustice be fulfilled. Sentiments of honour and probity urge us not to recede unhappiness or guilt forbid us to advance. The time is arrived that we must act; and we find ourselves on the horns of a dilemma, that will wound reputation, or peace of mind for ever. Jephthah promises the sacrifice of "whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of his house to meet him, when he returns in peace from the children of Ammon:" and behold! his daughter comes out to meet

him with timbrels and dances. And she is his only child beside her he has neither son nor daughter. And when he sees her, he rends his clothes and says, Alas! my daughter, thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back. And she says to him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which proceeded out of thy mouth. And he did with her according to the vow which he had vowed. And the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year." i

Christians too sometimes enter into engagements, and form ties, that prove the sacrifice of others, if not of themselves. They do not indeed now slay with the knife, and burn with the fire. But they destroy happiness and charac

1 Judges, xi. 34.

ter, that is dearer than life: they consume the soul, and those hopes and graces of the Gospel, that adorn it more than any earthly tenement, and are more precious to it than any perishable habitation. And perhaps, as they advance in years, they feel the galling yoke of promises, which early imprudence has made. A better reason has been restored, and they would gladly shake it off. But they are encompassed in the trammels of youthful follies; or the cords of vice hold every effort in constraint. They cannot escape without a penalty; and that penalty they have not the courage to incur.

Finally, my brethren, hurt nobody by word any more than deed: keep your tongues from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering. And to do this, avoid that vehemence of party-spirit which begets prejudice, and represents those who differ from you as actuated by bad motives. It is difficult to esteem a man whose judgment contradicts our determined pre