er man, this world or a future, an ingenuous difpofition is particularly pleasing. He that covereth his sins shall not pros per: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs, xxxviii. 13. Never evade the claims of creditors by false promises. A man deftitute of confcience, when preffed, will promife any thing to procure prefent relief; but this is adding fin to fin. He acts like the highwayman, who, having plundered the traveller, murders every one who endeavours to apprehend him. Such a character feems prepared for any enterprise of darkness. His confcience is feared as with a hot iron and he is fure, if converting grace prevent not, to have his part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. xxi. 8. Sit not down contented if in debt. He that is eafy, happy, and satisfied in fuch a fituation, wears a character fo nearly verging towards that of a villain, that it would require great penetration indeed to diftinguish them. There fore, 3. Endeavour as soon as possible to discharge your debts. In order to this, contrive to pay. Lay down fome pru dent plan for the attainment of this defirable end. If you feel yourself incompetent to this, request fome faithful friend to aflift you by his counfel: And refolve to use as many contrivances to pay, as you or others have done to contract debts. It is equally neceffary that you exert yourfelves to pay. Wishes, unaccompanied by fuitable endeavours, only tend to poverty and difgrace. Let juftice to your creditors be a fpur to your application and induftry in your calling. Tobe negligent when opportunities for exertion offer, or to wafte your time in indolence and trifling, is indirect robbery of thofe whofe claims upon you reach to every reasonable effort within your power. Nor is it lefs incumbent that you deny yourselves to pay. The delicacies of the table, the fuperfluities of drefs, &c. are glaringly inconfiftent with a ftate of infolvency. To make entertainments for your friends or acquaintance, with what is not your own, is to defraud your creditors, and to feed others on the fpoils of their property. Before you are hofpitable and generous, determine to be just. Begin this needful work immediately. Difinclination_to any duty will furnish many fpecious arguments for prefent neglect. Hence many fuppofe they could pay if circumftances were any way altered from what they are. They intend to apply themselves feriously to this concern hereafter, just as fome talk of future repentance for the fins they are now committing. But we may venture to affirm, that if you do not now do what your opportunities admit of, your inten. tions to pay at all may be very juftly queftioned. Whatsoe ver, then, thine hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. If you wish to fucceed, persevere in your attempts to pay. Though you may fee many difficulties before you, do net defpond and fay, there is no hope. Though your first efforts may be baffled, look upward and try again. Much may be and has been done by little and little. If confcientious and diligent in the path of duty, you have many encouraging de clarations of Scripture on your fide. See Gal. vi. 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due time we shall reap if we faint not. Prov. iii. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Pfalm xxxvii. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Surely none will anfwer the foregoing plain remarks by obferving, "Many lay great ftrefs upon moral honesty for falvation; but we renounce the pharifaic fentiment, and glory in affurance of eternal life, because we truft in the finished righteoufnefs of the Son of God."-Mistake me not, friend! I have not been substituting honefty in the stead of the Saviour and his bleffed work. I wish not to flatter the expectations of him, who makes integrity between man and man, a reason for setting afide the Gofpel! But I with to remind the profeffor of evangelic truth, that unless his faith lead him to the love of focial juftice, he is deceiving his own foul, if he fuppofe himself made a partaker of the faith of Chrift. For this is the will of God-that no man go beyond or defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of such. 1 Theff. iv. 6. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil. iv. 8. FIGLINUS. POETRY. AN ADDRESS TO A LIBERTINE, His sufferings, death, our hope for proach. Ah! what will it avail at close of life, The empty boasting of thy vainful heart, Just like a bubble blown up in the air, And breaks whilst gilstering with the Tyrian dies! [thy steps, Cease from thy course! nor madly urge Without one wary glance where Ruin lies [barbed darts. Ambush'd to strike thee with her Pale Death stalks round thee, whose fulfilment soon [with thee; Arrests the rapid wheel of Time And soon revolving seasons cease to roll. Hell gapes its pond'rous jaws-Heav'n stands revealed; [urges on Earth, with portentious struggles, Thy rebel steps to seek a happier land. The Gospel, mark'd divine, wide to thy view [eye; In living characters bespeaks thine And far and wide, triumphant in its train, [the slave; It draws the prince, the peasant, and Brings down the proud, conceited, and the high, [the dust; And robs them of their honours in Lifts up the lowly and the contrite [erring steps, heart, Who sighs for Truth to guide his Free from the thousand whirlpools that surround. [save. Immortal soul! Immanuel waits to O! would thy stubborn enmity submit To that blest page, which paints him to thy view! [fort here; His birth, his life, our joy and com peace and heav'n, [earth, Of everlasting bliss, unknown on Where vice and sorrow, with gigantic strides, [less sway, Stalk o'er the land, and hold a boundAnd stretch their baneful sceptre o'er the mind; [her guilt, The human mind beclouded with Where Conscience, with her scourge of tenfold ire, [solid joy; Proclaims no peace, nor yields one Joy to be found alone where heav'n reveal'd [blood. Give us a welcome thro' Immanuel's Should he in anger cut thy thread of [thy thoughts And launch thee off!-Send forth To dread Eternity's unbounded sea. Then turn them to that Saviour's wondrous love, [thy heart. Which still invites thee to bestow Where never-failing streams of pleasure flow. [forth the lay, There mayest thou join in pouring The lay melodious to that sov'reign thron'd, [ance found: At whose meek cross, thy soul acceptNow landed safely where no sin in[self, life, vites, And blisful millions, rebels like thyAdore the grace, which snatc'd them from the flame. To smile amid' the sons of strife, Whilst heav'nly joys are mine; SEEKING THE LOVE OF GOD. HY love, O God! I cannot claim, What e're's my lot beneath the skies, To Worth do I possess; Rule thou my heart; beam from thine eyes, And oe'r my features shine. Should Heav'ns unerring hand ordain To bend my drooping soul; And thus, as moments creep along, Heav'ns high behests, are right; Thy first-born and delight. But should my God on me bestow And bless with good in store; And ev'ry needless wish control, But in some calm retreat reside, With tenderest passions blest; Be it my care with heedful art, And sooth the woe-fraught To wipe the tear from sorrow's eye, to pass a social hour. Then O my Saviour, to my heart, And ev'ry grace increase; And yield my soul in peace. Contented at the hour of death, A captive to thy love; Yet still at that my wishes aim, 'Tis true, by crimes so odious made; |