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trine, is very forcible, and deserving of our attention. In another place and eccafion, he refers to a fimilar proof: “By "their fruits, ye fhall know them;" and, again, "Do men gather grapes of thorns, "or figs of thiftles?"

The triumph of truth must be the deftruction of the kingdom of Satan: every artifice would therefore be, of course, employed by him, to divert mankind from receiving it.

Nothing is more dangerous to the peace, honor and happiness of fociety, than falsehood. Let me, therefore, entreat of all my readers, but more especially young people in whofe tender minds the habits both of good and evil are more easily contracted, to guard against this vice with the utmost vigilance; let me warn them against the practice, even in sport; or on the idea, that if it injures no one there can be no harm in it: this is a mode of reasoning which, though common, is entirely fallacious; fince what is in its own nature wrong, can never by any circum

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flance be made otherwife; and we are exprefsly told, that we are not to do evil that good may come of it: befides, were there no other reason, the danger of such an indulgence ought to deter us: we can never tell where to ftop; and, if once fuffered to become habitual, the confequence may prove fatal to our peace, both here and hereafter. The character of a liar, is univerfally held in the utmost contempt; and, should he speak truth, no credit is given him.

Let thofe, alfo, who reject the truths of the Gospel, remember that, in so doing, they difown God, who made the world, themselves and every thing in it, and are a counter-part of those wicked and obstinate Jews who were conftantly infulting and reviling our blessed Lord.

"48. Then answered the Jews, and "faid unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and haft a devil?

"49. Jefus anfwered, I have not a "devil:

"devil: but I honour my Father, and ye "do difhonour me.

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50. And I feek not mine own glory: "there is one that feeketh and judgeth."

I cannot fuffer this paffage to pass, without pointing out the diftinction made by our Saviour, between private injuries and those offered to God, or religion; the former he submitted to with patience and meeknefs, the latter he never fuffered to pass without cenfure: thus, when they reproached him with being a Samaritan, (the greatest infult which could be offered to a Jew,) he fuffers it to pafs without notice; but when they added, that he had a devil, he felt the honor of God and religion concerned in denying the charge and declaring, that every work he performed was in honor of the Father, tho' they attempted to dishonor him by fuppofing him in league with the devil. Nothing could equal the impiety of this fupposition, but the abfurdity of it: this is more fully pointed out in another paffage,

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where the Jews accufe him of cafting out devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils; as if he would lend his affiftance to effect his own deftruction.

From our Lord's conduct upon this occafion, let us learn to defpife all injurious attacks upon ourfelves (further than may be necessary to clear our characters from any imputation of guilt or dishonor caft upon them), and be at all times ready to support with steadiness, though without heat or paffion, thofe fublime truths, upon which all our hopes of happiness are built, and to vindicate the honor of God and religion, if ever we fhould happen to be in company with thofe who fhall make such a vindication neceffary; for though it is a virtue to put up with private injuries, filence in fuch cafes as these is unpardonable; fince, by fuch a conduct, we may be ranked amongst the number of unbelievers, and thereby add our fanction to the affronts offered to God, to the great injury of religion. Whosoever, "therefore, fhall be afhamed of me, and Tt

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of my words, in this adulterous and finful

generation, of him alfo fhall the Son of "man be afhamed, when he cometh in the "glory of his Father, with the holy angels.” -St. Mark, chap. viii. ver. 38.

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'51. Verily, verily, I fay unto you, If "a man keep my saying he shall never fee "death.

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52.

Then faid the Jews unto him, "Now we know that thou haft a devil. "Abraham is dead, and the prophets; " and thou fayeft, If a man keep my say"ing he fhall never taste of death.

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53. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead whom makest thou thyself? 54. Jefus answered, If I honour myfelf, my honour is nothing: it is my "Father that honoureth me, of whom ye fay, That he is your God.

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but 55. Yet ye have not known him; "I know him: and if I fhould fay, I know " him not, I fhall be a lyar like unto you; " but I know him, and keep his faying."

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