None fo meek and lowly as the Saviour." And to thofe whom he came to fave he always fhewed it, unless when reproof was neceffary; then he fometimes fhewed divine difpleafure. But, when he had a taunting lawyer to deal with, he appeared the lion of the tribe of Judah, and fpake like an angry judge: for after he had reproved the religious order with a-Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites, for ye are as graves that appear not-one of your profeffion was offended. Then answered one of the lawyers, and faid unto him, Mafter, thus faying, thou reproacheft us also. And be faid, Wo unto you also, ye lawyers; for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be born, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.-Wo unto you, Lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge. And, as he faid thefe things unto them, they began to urge bim vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things. Thus the fountain of charity has been provoked by a lawyer.

When the Saviour faid Wo unto you, Lawyers, it was without reftriction; confcience was left to fecond the motion, and make application. And, when the proverb fays, Who can find a virtuous woman? every one who has got fuch a blefling may stand forth, and fay, "I can."

The Saviour's wo is to whom it may concern.

He once told a lawyer that he was not far from the kingdom of God; but we do not read of

his getting into it. He had told the Lord that to love God with all the heart, foul, mind, and frength, was more than all whole burnt-offerings and facrifices which was a true confeffion; but faith in the heart, and faith in Chrift, were wanting. With the heart man believeth, and with the tongue confeffion is made.

There may be fuch characters as honeft lawyers in the world, though the bible doth not give us exprefs account of any. And, if I was to afk "Who can find one?" I fhould put no more .contempt upon the cloth than the proverb that fays, Who can find a virtuous woman? cafts upon the female fex, which is a larger body corporate than that of the lawyers; or elfe wo be to us, and to all the world. And the proverb-Every one (like you, Sir) will proclaim bis own goodness, but a faithful man who can find ?-you might fay is a contempt of all the human race (which are not all lawyers, for there are fome who are partakers of grace;) and yet the prove:bial challenge has a meaning, all being concluded in unbelief.

For my own part, I would as foon undertake to find a faithful man, or a virtuous woman, as an honeft lawyer; and, if compelled to undertake an endless fearch after, the latter, I would, not chufe to begin with you; for, though you have got the word love in your confeffion, as the lawyer in the gofpel had in his, which is the

greatest

greatest thing in the kingdom of God; yet your heart may be as far from it as his was, Your great outcry gives room for fufpicion. The lawyer who firft cried out in behalf of the fraternity, in the gospel, was the firft that received the denunciation. So faying, thou reproacheft us also. And Jefus faid, Wo unto you lawyers.

not;

Your counfel, like that of Ahithophel, is not good. You seem to be a stranger to the root of the matter. Befides, a man who will give me counsel must not upbraid me with the fins of my youth, after repentance obtained, and a public. and private confeffion made. This is not acting like God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth but like the devil, who accufes for what is paft and pardoned. If I was to be ftoned to-mor row by a lawyer that is innocent in thought, word, and deed, I should expect no great danger from you. Those who accufed the adulterous woman all fled when the Saviour defcribed the executioner. He that is without fin, let him first caft a stone at her -was fufficient. There were many accufers, but not one to execute the fentence; confcience flogged them all out of court as foon as the Judge bid them do their office. And, if I was to be brought forth, he would ferve you the fame, and I should be (as fhe was) left alone with Jefus; for neither devils nor lawyers can prevail against a finner at the feet of the wonderful Counsellor, and the Judge of all the earth.

You

You feem to take offence at a fingle word or two, in my writings, without understanding my scope. I feldom or ever mention or interfere with the world. What have I to do with them that are without? My bufinefs is chiefly with those who are within. It is profeffors that I have to do with. Lawyers and counsellors, who mind only their own employments, and let religion and the gospel of Jefus alone; who never come within reach of the gospel found; keep without the pale of the church, and come not under the notice or cognizance of the gospel miniftry; I have nothing to do with it is profeffing lawyers that Christ pronounced his wo against, who were profeffors of the Jewish church. My book of the Skeleton is written to profeffors of whatever calling or denomination, whom it may concern; and to graceless profeffors in particular, to fhew them their errors, and to caution others against fuch as lie in wait only to deceive.

I shall obey your voice; if they fue me for my coat or cloak, they will moft furely have it. I fhall bear the crofs with all the patience I can, exhort the unruly, pray for my enemies, and give fuch feafonable admonition as the Lord fhall furnish me with; and if even a profeffing lawyer fhould ftand in the way of my miniftry, I fhall use sharpness, according to the power given me. An attorney who minds nothing but law, and lets the gofpel alone, afts in character; but

the

the man who carries on the following things, which you mention, under a cloak of religion, is no more. like the former character than Simon Magus was like Nicodemus.

"Are there not many particulars, fuch as fictitious pleading and ftatement of facts, to be obferved, which you are aware do not exist ?” You puzzle me, Sir, with your learning. If your statements and pleas be nothing but fictions, how can they be facts? If you ftate things against a perfon which have no exiftence, then you lay things to his charge that he knows not; and inftead of pleading against a man his own re-. proach, (Job xix. 5.) you either bear, or countenance, a falfe witnefs against your neighbour. And can you do thefe things under a profeffion of religion?

If you undertake caufes for your clients which you know you cannot poffibly fucceed in, (as you fay) then it is clear that, for the fake of mammon, you fet yourself against God, against truth, law, justice, and equity; and would reduce a family to poverty for a little ill-gotten wealth. He that getteth riches, and not by right, fhall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a. foot. If your confcience be clear of these things, you needed not have brought them forth; and, if guilty, your confcience will make a faultering anfwer at the great tribunal.

"You fill perfift to include the whole profeffion