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Sometimes we are led to this reflection, BY OBSERV

ING MULTIPLIED INSTANCES OF FALSE PROFESSION.

These are to be found in every period of the church: our own age abounds with them, and fome of these unhappy characters excite our surprise, as well as our forrow. They promised fair; they "did many wonderful things"; for a while they bore cheerfully" the "reproach of the crofs;" they paffed us on the road, and reproved the fluggishness of our fteps. By and by we met them on their return, laughing at that which once made them tremble, and loathing that which was once esteemed by them like life from the dead. Our entreaties were defpifed; as far as the eye could reach, we watched them with tears and alarm; fat down "difcouraged because of the way," and "faid in our hafte ALL men are liars."-" Take ઃઃ ye heed every one of his neighbour, and truft ye not ❝ in ANY brother: for EVERY brother will utterly fup"plant, and EVERY neighbour will walk with flan"ders." But it was in our hafte we faid this; it was a rafh conclufion. What, because there is counterfeit coin, is there no genuine gold? Were all the difciples falfe, because one of them was a devil? "They went "out from us, but they were not of us for if they "had been of us, they would no doubt have continued “with us: but they went out that it might be made "manifeft they were not all of us." But, alas! the falling star strikes every eye, while few observe the fixed and the regular orbs. The apoftacy of one pretender often excites more attention than the lives of many folid and steady chriftians. They who would never mention the excellencies of profeffors, will be

forward enough to publish their disgrace. It gratifies the malignity of those who only wait for our halting, and occafions a triumph in the enemy's camp: "aha! "aha! fo would we have it."

The inference is still more frequently derived from the RIGHTEOUS THEMSELVES. There are five things which will be found to have their influence in producing it: THE OBSCURITY OF THEIR STATIONS; THE DIFFIDENCE OF THEIR DISPOSITIONS; THE MANNER OF THEIR CONVERSION; THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR OPINIONS, and THE IMPERFECTIONS OF THEIR

CHARACTER.

I. THE OBSCURITY OF THE STATIONS in which many of the righteous are placed, hides them from obfervation. When the rich and the honourable become pious, they are not long concealed. A thousand eyes are drawn towards the elevation; the eminence of their condition causes their virtues to fhine like the reflection of the fun from the tops of high mountains, feen by many, and from afar. They are like a city fet on a hill, which cannot be hid. But much more religion than is neceffary to canonize them, would be even unobserved among the fhades of poverty, and in the common operations of life. Here perfons have little opportunity or ability to display their character; they are often fanctified and removed, unknown to any but a few neighbours involved in the fame indigence. Their excellencies are of the common, fober, unfplendid kind; or if they poffefs thofe virtues which diftinguish and strike, they are rendered incapable of exer cifing them by their circumstances. Courage demands

danger. Where there is no dignity, there can be no condefcenfion. Where there are no diftinctions to elate, humility cannot fhine; and where there is nothing to give, benevolence cannot appear. God indeed "looketh to the heart," and "where there is "first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what "a man hath, and not according to what he has not." In forming his estimate of the services of his people, he confiders not only what they do, but what they wish to do. He fees many a benefactor where there is nothing done, many a martyr where there is nothing fuffered. But we can only know them by "their "fruits" and their good works, as far as they are obfervable, are few; their principles, however well established, are checked and limited, both in their effect and difcovery. Such are God's "hidden ones;" hidden by the obfcurity of their fituations, and the restrictions of their circumstances; they are candles, but candles put under bufhels.

The poor are too generally overlooked, whereas by christians they should be principally regarded. The difpenfation of the gospel is peculiarly their privilege; the most extensive provinces of religion are occupied by them, and were we to open a more familiar intercourse with them, it would often rectify our mistakes. All exertions to render the GREAT religious have hitherto proved ineffectual; and the bible holds forth a language, fufficient to fill all those who aim at their converfion with defpair. Few comparatively are called from the higher orders of fociety. He who was poor himself, whose kingdom is not of this world, and of whom it was faid, "have any of the rulers believed on

"him?" generally felects his followers from the lower ranks of life; and there we are to seek them. "I "am left alone!" But perhaps, complaining prophet, you have been only at court; walking through palaces or manfions; examining the high places of the earth. "What doft thou here, Elijah ?" Who led thee here in fearch of religion? "Not many wife men after “the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are "called." "How can ye believe who receive honour "one of another, and feek not the honour that cometh "from God only ?" "How hardly fhall they that "have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven! it is "eafier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, "than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of "God." The voice of Heaven calls you away from the "gold ring, and the goodly clothing." "Hearken, 66 my beloved brethren, hath not God chafen the poor "of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom "which he hath promised to them that love him?” Follow him. He will lead you in another direction. Go through yonder village; mingle with the poor and needy. Their neceffities have compelled them to seek relief and folace in religion, and they have found them there. Enter that cottage: "The voice of rejoicing "and of falvation is in the tabernacle of the righteous." "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a "ftalled ox with hatred and strife." "A little that a

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righteous man hath, isbetter than the riches of many "wicked." Enter yonder fanctuary: the common people hear him gladly. The congregation withdraws. Obferve those who approach and affemble around the table of the Lord. Ah! well fays God in the lan

guage of prophecy, "I will leave in the midst of thee "an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust "in the name of the Lord."

II. A TIMID DISPOSITION conceals many. A bold mind will foon obtrude a man into notice; he will fignalize himself by his forwardness on every occafion; he will be the firft to fpeak, and to act. Eager to engage in every duty, and always talking on religious themes, many will remark him as a lively foul, and fay, "come, behold his zeal for the Lord of hofts."

We will not deny that this difpofition may fometimes be connected with fincerity; but inftances of an oppofite nature are much more common, and a mind dealing in profeffions, and fond of publicity, is generally, and defervedly to be fufpected. It has been justly observed, that when of old the angels defcended, they affumed the form and likeness of men; but when Satan appeared, he transformed himself into an angel of light. The pretender exceeds the real character; the actor furpaffes nature, and goes beyond life. Where a man regards fhow only, he can afford to be more expenfive and magnificent in appearances, than those who are concerned for the reality. Empty veffels found loudeft; religion runs along like a river, noiseless in proportion as it is deep.

True piety affects no unneceffary expofure; its voice is not heard in the street; it does not found a trumpet before it; the left hand knows not what the right hand doeth. It rather eludes public obfervation, and retires from the applaufe of the multitude. It does not act to be seen of men, or to make a fair fhow

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