Ecclus xxvii. 2. both parties. As a nail fiicketh faft between the joinings of the ftones, fo doth fin ftick close between buying and felling. We need not defcend to particulars : much penetration is not neceffary to judge of these things, but a fair and equitable difpofition. Acuteness of understanding is feldom wanted, except to palliate what is wrong. Whatever is understood to be right by both parties, is fo and when they differ, it is mostly concerning the facts, rarely about the principles they ought to act upon. A great variety of cafes will occur; in which, as a fair and honeft difpofition may give proof of it's integrity, fo he who has a tendency to double dealing, will find opportunities in abundance to deceive himfelf, as well as thofe that deal with him. He will have a thousand apologies to allege, and be able to raise arguments in his own defence, which it may } may require fome skill to answer, and yet but a little honefty to defpife. For certain truths are easier to understand, and feel, than to explain. And if you can once bear to deliberate, and begin to reason about a piece of profitable villany, the odds are great that you conclude at laft to commit it. We need not add furely upon this fubject, that all falfhood is forbidden. It finks a tradefman, or any man down to a low rank, when he fubmits to this practice; and on any occafion, or in any manner, tranfgreffes the bounds of truth. We may safely pronounce all That to be ftolen, which is gained by lying. The like might be faid in the cafe of contracts of every fort, when fraudulently made, or not performed faithfully; of breaches of truft repofed in us, either by exprefs agreement, or tacit confent; and in fhort, of every advantage we take over another another perfon, by which we deprive him But there is no neceffity to profecute these things particularly for it is not inftruction or skill, that is requifite; but Cor.i.12. rather, on the contrary, Simplicity and godly fincerity, the reverse of fleshly wifdom. An honest mind is the best instructor, and will teach us beyond a thousand caProv. xxi. fuifts. It is joy to the just to do judgment: he who truly loves that which is just and equal, and from his heart defires another's welfare as his own, may be depended on; and he alone: he has a principle within him, a fecret power, a magnet that will be an infallible director; and turn him true and fure to the point of right, amidst all the darkness of difputation, and all the attractions of felf-intereft. Vice has often been compared to a noxious weed, of a quick, alas! and con tinual growth: and we are perpetually employed, we labourers in this moral field, to check it. We offer men reasons to fet against inclination, we oppose duty to intereft; hoping to put fome stop to the particular tranfgreffions at least that are most predominant: but they fpring up again in oppofition to all our labours; and the rank harveft grows under the hands of the reaper.. Set your affection on things above, not on Colof.iii. things on earth. Could men be brought to alter the object of their defires, the task of reformation would be all done at once; their conduct would follow of itself the change of their affections, and there would be little need for us to explain or inculcate the commandments. Let but this fentiment, the defire of hea venly things, enter into the heart, and poffefs the dominion there; and no vice can stand before it. Every irregular appetite and paffion, ambition, envy, ava 20. rice, selfishness; all thofe corrupt affec- Mark iv. comes that Good ground, which bringeth forth fruit, fome thirty fold, fome fixty, and Some an hundred. SER |