especially in the highest order of society, will appear in their crimson colours. It will then be seen whose example countenanced the abounding and practical infidelity of the day, and occasioned the crimes which they affect to condemn in others. We want a faithful Latimer in the family of every sinner of rank--in every pulpit-to lift up his voice like a trumpet;" and show to each house" of British" Israel," without exception, "their transgressions." With a blessing on such faithful admonitions, our attention would not be confined to "the green bag;" but each man, repenting of his wickedness, would exclaim, with imploring solicitude for mercy"What have I done?" We should, under such an influence, approach" the throne of grace," and pray with ardent and persevering importunity," God be merciful to me a sinner!" Do our great men see, and suitably improve the discovery of a divine hand? Are they become examples, which it would be safe for their inferiors to follow? Are they examples of temperance and chastity of justice and faithfulness--of faith in the truth, and reverence for the NAME of God? Are our superiors in rank and station patterns of HOLINESS and DEVOTION? If, after all our sufferings, we still behold "wickedness in high places"-flattering courtiers, selfish politicians-the law of fashion, the law of honour, "falsely so called," preferred to the law and gospel of "the blessed God" can we wonder at the sight of worldly minded ministers of the sanctuary--selfish, sensual, and dissipated gentlemen-avaricious and oppressing lawyers-fraudulent tradesmen-unfaithful husbands and wives-haughty and overbearing masters and mistresses-idle, dishonest, and disrespectful servants-all under the profession of religion and loyalty? Can we wonder if such scarlet hypocrisy in religion should produce infidelity, opposition to the government, and laws of the country, in the lower orders of society, with such examples of rebellion against the law, the government, and the gospel of "God our Saviour?" A Christian, indeed, must be a good subject, his duty being clearly expressed and strongly enforced." Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the LORD's sake; honour the king; pray for kings and all that are in authority under him, that we may live peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty. This was the duty of Christians, even under the tyrannical government of Nero, the Roman emperor; it cannot be less so under a government, which affords protection to my life and character, my liberty and property. I am thankful to him" who maketh wars to cease to the ends of the earth." The late protracted war was "a sore judgment;" and its effects will be transmitted to the next generation. The trial is general, and to the majority of persons very grievous. We feel the effects of " the calamity that is over past." We ought to feel them, and we must feel them. How can they answer the designs of infinite wisdom and goodness, if not deeply felt. The Prophet says, "Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not SEE; but they shall see!" The God of Justice has more arrows in his quiver; civil war, famine, and pestilence. Let not England presume. Her crimes are aggravated by her pre-eminent advantages; and they who "know their Lord's will, and do it not, shall be beaten with many stripes;" and " to whom much is given, of them much will be required." It may be thought by those who have not read the sacred Scriptures in the spirit of the sacred Scriptures, that I have more than intimated, that when "the bag" shall be unsealed, the Christian indeed has not any judgment to fear. This truth is part of " the glad tidings of great joy," and constitutes the gospel. Those who die under the LAW must answer for ALL their sins; but those who live and die in the faith," immediately enter the society of "the spirits of the just, MADE PERFECT" in holiness and joy. At the judgment day, the Saviour will “ appear the second time to their SALVATION. Then "Who shall lay any thing to their charge? Who is he that condemneth them? It is God that justifieth !" Those who "die in their sins," will rise and be judged in them; but BLESSED are the dead which die in the Lord;"and to their public honour and happiness the judgment day will confirm their blessedness. At that solemn and decisive day, the Judge of all will say, "Come ye BLESSED of my Father!" Indeed, "that word by which we shall be judged at the last day," has already pronounced the destiny of the real penitent and believing soul, in the following words: "BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord IMPUTETII not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." It is this free, ample, perfect pardon, and the spirit of holiness and peace that accompanies it, which enlivens the duties and alleviates the sufferings of life-disarms death of its sting, and judgment of its terrors. The ignorant, the self-righteous, the lukewarm, the hypocrite, and the presumptuous, may cavil at this delightful truth, while they continue in the repetition of it, rest in hearing and reading it, that "God pardoneth and absolveth all such as TRULY repent and UNFEIGNEDLY BELIEVE his holy Gospel." Let the devotees to worldly pleasure lay before us an equivalent to that substantial joy, which faith in the gospel inspires, and we will listen to them; and if they cannot accept this challenge, and despise and deride our principles and their effects, we will commit them to the compassion of God, and leave them to the decision of that day, when "the judgment shall sit and the books be opened !" This was written during the unhappy and painful period of the late Queen's trial. I should have withheld it from the public, had it not been exclusively of a moral and religious tendency.-Editor. No. XXI. ON SLANDER. MINISTERS of the Gospel will often be assailed by the Whisperers, who wish to alienate their minds from envied individuals. There are those little minds, who, wishing to monopolize a minister's confidence, cannot bear to see him equally free and happy with any persons except themselves; and no sooner do they observe the cordiality of friendship between him and any of his hearers, than the WHISPER is seasonably given. Thus the Rev. Mr. X. was addressed the other day: “Mr. X., you know my friendship for you is sincere. I observe your growing intimacy with a person, whose name I shall not mention; you are often together, and I hear you are very partial to him. Be on your guard; he is not to be trusted with secrets; and I assure you, in confidence, as a friend, that he is very fickle." The Minister's answer to the insinuation was worthy of his character and office: “I thank you for the kindness intended me, by the caution. I will be on my guard against committing myself, by an imprudent confidence, but equally against unjust suspicions." This answer affronted the jealous informer, as she found her whispers had made no impression; and, although too proud to appear hurt, from that time her friendship for the minister diminished." The lady, however, on telling another minister the story, succeeded; for he was a poor, fawning creature, to be bought by a present. After receiving a favour, he would flatter and cringe, as his interest required; and as he joined the lady in her secret censures, he was considered by her as secure. Thus a minister who can speak and be silent, nod or frown, come and go, at this lady's will, is the favourite. I pity the minister whose weakness throws him into the snares of such tyrants. They wish you to believe, that their attention and favour to the poor minister and his family, is from piety and liberality; whereas they show him respect, because they despise their superiors and equals; and expect from him, as a principal person in their society, singular homage. I know a lady, whose only claims to attention are her money, and warm profession of religion. Many seem to admire. her these she rewards. She is kind to the poor, who happen to become favourites; and two or three are confidants. In company with these, she vents her contempt of money, and of those that love it, mixed with secret scandal. The poor slaves exclaim-Ah! Madam, I wish all rich persons were like you. This feeds her vanity—“ she has their reward." A wealthy person of sense and education would never stoop to such low artifice; and as to real religion, it is as opposite to all such proud ostentation, low cunning, sly calumny, and hypocrisy, as light to darkness. A lady of property and little education, who is very fond of levelling her superiors in money and talents, by tracing their family up to some mean original-on hearing her servant extol the minister who had come too close to her conscience, asked Samuel, if he never heard that the minister's father was only a poor shoemaker at the same time Samuel knew that her mother kept a day-school! and that the minister's father was a respectable farmer. What blindness and self-delusion reigns over the soul that delights in censure! "As the north wind driveth away rain, so should a countenance" of disapprobation in all, especially in ministers," a backbiting tongue!" Next to the ministers of the gospel, the deacons of the church and their wives, are warned against being " double tongued, or given to slander." Indeed every person in a Christian society, addicted to secret slander, which is supported and concealed by duplicity, in proportion to their influence, is a dangerous person. The deacon who discharges his duty with fidelity to God, to the minister, and the church, is " worthy of double honour." But if he neglects the duties of his offices, or accompanies the discharge of it with scandalous whispers, he will receive, and is worthy of, a double portion of DISGRACE. But the perfection of slander consists in the concealment of it under the mask of friendship. The whisperer speaks in a low voice, that gives his lie an air of importance; whilst his soft address excites curiosity and gains attention. The hearer thinks the story more likely to be true, as it seems to proceed from tenderness for the reputation of the person, whose character the whisperer is murdering; and when the whisperer adds, "I won't say any more," the impression goes deeper; for you suspect the worst is too bad to be mentioned. I will illustrate the operation of lurking calumny of this kind. I was one day on a visit, where I heard a female extol a gentleman's attention and kindness; she said he was her only friend and confidant. Paying her another visit soon after, 1 was surprised and shocked to hear her soft whispers of calumny against this only friend; for speaking of his housekeeper, she said, "I know his weakness, and if there be not too great an intimacy between him and his housekeeper, I am sure it is not his fault." I returned home lost in amazement and grief, knowing the unsuspecting confidence her friend reposed in her. My mind exclaimed, what a world! who can be safe from such secret slander? Whither is friendship fled? Never, no never after this, could I enjoy the society of this slanderer, never trust myself alone in her company, though I was sometimes obliged to endure it in the presence of others. I wondered at the patience of God; but strange to tell, a considerable time after this, I found this very man had forged and whispered scandal against his most intimate friends; and I have reasons to believe, that he had contracted this diabolical habit by his intimacy with the woman who had slandered him. "Evil communications corrupt good manners." Thus the whisperer" sows discord among brethren" and friends; ministers and their hearers are prejudiced against each other; the man who would lend a sum of money to an honest tradesman, shuts his heart and hand, because the whisperer assures him that the man he would serve, is extravagant, idle, or near bankruptcy. Family discord, disaffection between members of churches, and jealousy between husband and wife are promoted. Tradesmen lose their customers, and servants their places. Young persons engaged to each other are alienated, and, in a word, "the whisperer separateth chief friends." What can rouse the indignation of upright minds like, slanderous whispers against a person for whom the slanderer professes friendship. The double-tongue speaks to you with "a creamy smoothness," whilst the restless whisperer "fumbles for his brains,❞—hesitates,— hopes you will not mention it, and then with pestilential breath, whispers the slander. He may affectpiety, and add-" you know me too well to suppose for a moment, that I would forge the story, exaggerate it, or believe it without the strongest evidence." Thus this false friend endorses a bad note. Their piety a system of deceit, Scripture employ'd to sanctify the cheat; Secret scandal is often concealed by affected hatred of it, and a careless or partial liberality to the poor. Know you no female whom the following lines describe ?— "Flavia, most tender of her own good name, Is rather careless of a sister's fame; Her superfluity the poor supplies, But if she touch a character, it dies." I have known such a lady so tortured by hearing another person praised for their liberality, that she has instantly slandered their motives, and told an old story against their characters. Her scandal has new minted an old lie, Or taxed invention for a fresh supply. A secret slanderer is artful, for slander is a work of darkness, and the author of it is tremblingly anxious for concealment. "He hates the light" of truth," because his deed is evil." By such cruel cunning |