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When

country, where our patrimony lies, and submissive to the laws of that all-powerful King, whose subjects we are. our hearts are thus right towards our Creator, we shall soon accustom ourselves to suspend the precipitate emotions of nature, and of sin: Let us only make the trial with willing minds;—in doing so, we shall at first suffer from our self-love; but that suffering will soon cease, through the pious tranquillity which will possess our souls.

OF WORLDLY DIVERSIONS AND

AMUSEMENTS.

E

1. We need not be scrupulous, in judg ing ourselves too strictly, for our participation of those diversions and amusements, which our rank or station in life makes it proper for us to enjoy. Some very good and well-meaning people consider all worldly amusements as criminal; but, though their principle (in this censure) is good, they carry it too farthey overstrain our duty to God, and forget that care which he permits us to take of ourselves. Those amusements, which are in themselves innocent, and suitable to our situation in the world, are not displeasing in the sight of our merciful Creator; "who has richly given

us all good things;" and who will accept our moderate and thankful enjoyment of them, as a part of our duty and obedience to Himself. We should avoid all appearance of over-strictness and singu larity, for the sake also of those amongst whom we live, lest we raise in them a fear and dislike of our holy Religion, even while we profess ourselves its most zealous disciples.

2. A haughty, severe, and stoical deportment, and an unrelenting strictness of opinion, on the social and cheerful enjoyments of life, is far from giving a just and true conception of religion, to such as are averse from it, and devoted to the pomps and vanities of life. This severity (instead of convincing them of their errors, and recalling them to the God of mercy and goodness) may harden their minds still more, by representing the worship of God as a system of unceasing penance and mortification. Many

good, but inistaken people, too often seek to convert and reform others, by exhibiting, in their own practice, certain painful acts of self-denial. But it is not in these that true religion consists :-When used in moderation, they may, indeed, be innocent, and sometimes useful; but God is not to be served only with the words of the mouth, or the bending of the knee; it is the pure and upright heart which He requires, and with which alone he will be satisfied. With this

pure and upright frame of mind, we may live in the world, without either affectation or singularity, and cheerfully conform to its customs and amusements, and yet preserve the most strict subjection to our duty to God. We should never fail to examine ourselves, whether the love of God be the first principle of our conduct, and firmly resist all temptations from the world, when they would engage our thoughts too much, and withdraw our hearts from Him.-This is true reli

gion, and the. service of God-of that God, who made the world and all things in it; and who, although a jealous God, is the God of love, who delights in the happiness of his creatures :—all other ways of serving him are but the outward forms and ceremonies instituted by bigotry and superstition.

will you

say,

"How can I pos

3. But sibly preserve my will and intentions always upright and pure, whilst I live in a corrupt and dissipated world, with which I constantly mix?-How can I defend my heart against the torment of my passions, and the bad examples which surround me?-How can I hope to appear uncontaminated in the sight of that God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, when I am too often enticed away from him, by the hurry and tumult of society, which expose a Christian's soul to so much danger?"

I acknowledge that the risk is great,

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