an any vapivoviva vi སསཔ ས སབ given offence and provoked ridicule. W where the people of God were distinctly from the children of men, I would no myself with either-religion is not party, my interest to keep well with all. A thou I have sat by and listened to the impugn Maker's laws, and the despising of the Jesus, and smiled assent, or looked in because some person was present befor did not wish to expose my opinions. A times I have helped to criticise and ex] to whose piety I might have bowed my shame, because I would not share the ob zeal provoked. When called upon to those with whom in motive and princi united, I have refused, lest it should of friend or patron in the neighbourhood. W upon to choose a friend, a residence, an -religion doubtlessly was the most impor ained, some way or other always alize my thoughts and affections. God, I could not say my prayers yself of ministry abroad, without uld be said, what would be thought eart grew cold for want of encareless for want of exhortation, e they were to be found, because e it convenient, or at least expese. In my habits, in the ordering the same. The religious benefit of course the first considerationeligiously inclined, and as they espects, I was obliged to connive -s, and keep them in good humour gulations suggested by my pious fare. As I grew in years, being for judicious piety, many young t me for advice, and looked to Doubtless their salvation was my I could it be otherwise, when I parted from every body in better humour selves than I found them, and particular exciting suspicion that any body conn them could be wrong. In great thingstimes in my life great things came to be -then there was too much at stake-Go require the sacrifice-my earthly happ establishment in life-the keeping of my society-my means of usefulness-my v of existing-of course God knows the circ of his creatures, and judges them accor always intended to make religion my chi it so happened that I was always oblige to circumstances. Thus, day after day, day after day Think not it was an easy, unobstructed the contrary, there never was a day but my needed to be appeased for equivocation ach stood opposed to the other, one by deceiving all. A thouasked and controversies held, ■l to do things, which to have left e ended all controversy. To a uggles and arduous contrivances oncile the word of God with the en to have chosen between them e path of duty plain. Year after r went on. If any would know d I will tell that too. horizon. There are clouds about re the brightness of its meridian. s exhausted and the activities of The spirits have lost the zest of interests of fresh-born existence. erhaps the whole of life is gone; gained by it, is to experience at first, that one thing is needful" - I have proved it, because all eternity. Those whom I might have warne not, are bitterly gathering the fruits of thei They whom I disowned and defamed for t sake, are in mansions of glory at their G hand. They for whose sake I did it, have me, but are using still the pleas, and su and accommodations I taught them. And that I have suffered to pass in mischievous which a word of disapprobation might have can never be purchased back. And the d godly compromise are more than the remain for devotedness to God. And no would persuade any one to decision, they a that I did not always think so. And whe with any one of the inferiority of earth they answer that it is indeed very truehappily we none of us think so: and th heart disclaims the ungodly fellowship, memory seals my lips. And-worse co |