the provocations you have to be in an evil temper, will justify you. But go and hear what the Lord God saith to this, and mark the example which Christ hath set before you, that you might follow his steps, he cries: "Come and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart." There is your

pattern.

9. Therefore, set before you the example of Christ. Imitate this example, till it affect your heart, and change it into the same image. It is reported of a very pious Earl, who was remarkable for a quiet spirit under all the injuries he met with, that his wife asked him, how he came to have such meek, humble and quiet spirit? he answered: "When any wrong me, I instantly turn to look at the injuries that Jesus Christ suffered, and continue to look at them, till my own spirit is wholly quieted. Does not Christ say to you and to me, "Come, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart?" All Christians should learn this lesson well of their divine Master, "To be meek and lowly of heart."

10. Pray down the sin of anger, and earnestly beg for the spirit of meekness. Entreat the Lord to quiet and sweeten thy froward nature; pray also for heavenly mindedness, that you may not be disquieted with worldly cares. A heavenly-minded Christian, is not soon cast down with worldly troubles. Pray also for faith, "To cast all your cares upon him, who careth for you;" trust to him, who hath promised, "That all things shall work together for your good." God will turn the injuries you endure, to your benefit and advantage in the end. Why then would you be angry

with those that trouble you? If the wicked curse, God will turn their curses into blessings, to those that love and serve him. Pray also for love, which is of more force to restrain you from revenge, than any injury to provoke you to anger: "for love suffereth long, and is kind." Love will induce you to look on him who offends you, as your brother, whom therefore you must forgive, as you would have God to forgive you. Love will lead you to think of the unbounded mercies of God, whose virtues you must imitate, if you are his child; he forgives you, and forgives your enemies, and cannot you forgive them? You stand in need of infinite mercy, to wash away your many foul offences, and will you not let one drop of mercy fall on your brother, to forgive some trifling wrong against you? O pray for love, and pray for patience, and pray for the assistance of God's Spirit, to mortify your anger, and to sanctify your nature, so that you may serve God, and benefit mankind, and extend the kingdom of salvation upon earth.

CHAPTER V.

OF OUR OUTWARD CONDITIONS.

I.-On CONDEMNING our Brethren.

THIS is a very common sin. St. Paul blames the Corinthians, and St. James rebukes the Jews, for their extreme partiality for the rich, and their contempt of their poor brethren. There is a warrantable respect,

due to the aged, the gifted, the good, and the great. But we must not prefer the ungodly rich to the pious poor; nor shew more respect to worldly lustre, than to spirituality of character. But strong faith should be preferred to a gold ring; and true holiness to worldly riches. "For God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom." "God filleth the hungry soul with good things, and the rich he sends empty away." The men of the world who grow rich in earthly treasures, are apt to despise the poor. What care they for the poor, they value their dogs before them. They too often persuade their poor brethren because they bear the image of the Lord Christ. They who idolize the world despise the poor both for their poverty and piety, when God esteems them as "The excellent of the earth."

II. The Christian's DUTIES.

1. Own the people that fear God, let them be ever so poor in this world. "For God hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven." They are the glory of God, the treasure of God, the portion of God, and his peculiar people. And shall we be ashamed of them that are the children of grace, because they are poor? What is this, but to be ashamed of Christ? for he accounts these as his members, and looks upon what is done to them as done to himself, and will say in the day of judgment, "Whatsoever ye have done unto them, ye have done it unto me." Oh then, be not ashamed of them, as you would not have Christ to

be ashamed of you. They are the treasure of the church and the glory of Christ, and on that account, we should highly value them. The pious poor are precious treasures indeed, for Christ dwelleth in them. What jewels so precious as those in whom Christ has his habitation? Then, for shame, be not ashamed of the godly poor.

When pious Lawrence was to suffer martyrdom, the tyrant that persecuted him, took him to be a rich man, and demanded of him to discover where his treasures were kept. Lawrence gathered a company of the pious poor, and said, these are the precious treasures of the church which I am to take care of, and in whom Christ dwelleth and reigneth.

"Mind not

2. Cleave close to them that fear God. high things, but condescend to men of low estate." Jerome advised his friends to go often to the cells of the poor and needy. Rich men will associate with the rich, and also with the profane and debauched poor, that will flatter their vices; and they can be hospitable to the wicked rabble, when they will have nothing to do with the needy members of Christ. Alas! this is not the life of christians, but of heathens. One soul, be the man ever so poor, if it have Christ dwelling in it, is of far more value than a whole town of debauched profligates, and atheistical wretches. God's people, whether poor or rich, are the glory of the world. God speaks of all the rest as vile and worthless. "Thou, Lord, puttest away, all the wicked of the earth like dross." God's people are usually called in scripture his portion, "The Lord's portion is his people." Deut. xxxii. 9. His

Exod. xix. "Thou shalt

treasure, his peculiar treasure, "Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me, above all people." 5. His glory, the crown of his glory. also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." Isai. Ixii. 3. What is it so? Are poor saints in such esteem with God, that he esteems them, as his portion, his treasure, and his glory! O then, how ought you to cleave to such a people, and associate much with them, whose society is indeed, the communion of saints.

3. Delight in these people, as those in whom God himself delights. King David said unto the Lord,

My goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." Kings have their delights, and the poor saints were King David's chief delight on earth. No wonder, for in this he conforms to God, whose chief delight is in his saints. Hence some observe that the lion and the eagle were not offered in sacrifice to God; but the poor lamb and the meek dove were. The great of the world, though high as the eagle, and strong as the lion, are not regarded of God; but those that are contemptible in the eyes of the world are precious in the sight of God.-Then you should delight in those that are the delight of the Lord God.

4. Do them good, as the best and chief objects of charity. "Do good unto all men; but especially unto them that are of the household of faith."-There is a mistaken charity. If you are loving and charitable to all sorts of men, without distinction, it may get you a name and good report, and the praise of