of their neighbours are, generally, the most alive to the fentiments and speeches of the neighbourhood concerning themfelves. And it may be confidered as a truth established by experience, that perfons who in common occurrences are very anxious as to the judgement which the world may pronounce on their conduct, will be found in heart devoted, in practice confirmed, to the world. If you perceive decifive indications of this anxioufnefs in the language and deportment of a particular individual; be prepared to expect in that individual, fometimes inftances of departure from Chriftian moderation, fometimes compliance with enfnaring customs; fometimes an eager defire to imitate foolish, extravagant, or otherwise objectionable proceedings in the domeftic habits of families in the vicinity. See that you be not that individual. In proportion as attention to be quiet and to do your own bufinefs contributes to guard you against this anxious apprehenfion, this fudden and lively feeling, of the animadverfions and the fneers of the worldly-minded; it guards you against conformity to the world, against becoming en flaved to a worldly fpirit.

In our endeavours, my brethren, confcientiously to discharge, in dependence on the divine

divine grace, the obligations which have now been investigated; let us look to our univerfal pattern, the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the office which he came as man to execute was of the most public nature; though it constrained him to move continually from village to village, from city to city; though in towns it enveloped him in overwhelming crowds, and even in deferts furrounded him with multitudes : how eminently was he diftinguished by quietnefs in every branch of his duty! He did not cry, nor ftrive, nor caufe his voice to be heard in the ftreet (i). How eminent also was his diligence in his proper work! He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil. He was conftantly about His Father's bufinefs. It was his meat to do the will of His Father that sent Him, and to finish His Father's work (j). all things He has given us an example, that we fhould do as He has done (k). Would we follow his commandments? Let us walk in his steps. Would we reign with Him hereafter? Let us be conformed to His image here.

(i) Ifa. xlii. z.

(k) John, xiii. 15.

In

(j) A&ts, x. 38. Luke, ii. 49. John, iv. 34

SER.

SERMON XVII.

ON PARTIALITY.

ACTS, vi. 1.

And in thofe Days, when the Number of the Difciples was multiplied, there arofe a Murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their Widows were neglected in the daily Miniftration.

A

NEW commandment I give unto

ye

our Lord to the apostles on the evening before His death, that love one another: as I have loved you, that ye alfo love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (a). Obedience to this commandment became an immediate and a distinguishing mark of the early Chrif tians. Their fervent love for each other raifed the astonishment and the admiration of the heathen among whom they dwelt: and contributed to win the hearts of unbelievers to the religion of Chrift. One way in which this love fhewed itself was bountiful kind

nefs to the diftreffed. No fooner had the preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecoft been the means of converting three thousand fouls, than we learn that all that believed were together, and had all things common: and the richer among them fold their poffeffions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need (b). Some time afterwards, when the number of Chriftians at Jerufalem was much enlarged, the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one foul: neither faid any of them that aught of the things which he poffeffed was his own; but they had all things common. And great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them. that lacked: for as many as were poffeffors of lands, or houses, fold them, and brought the prices of the things that were fold, and laid them down at the Apostle's feet; and diftribution was made unto every man according as he bad need (c). Wrong practices, however, or wrong feelings, refulting from that corruption of human nature which, even when grace, brought under subjection by divine always ftriving to recover its dominion over the heart, speedily began to take place with refpect to the diftribution of this charitable fund. There arofe a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because (c) A&ts, iv. 32-34.

(b) A&s, ii. 44, 45•

is

their

their widows were neglected in the daily mi niftration. These Grecians were Jews from foreign countries, who had come to Jerufalem, and had there been converted to Christianity. The Hebrews were native Jews refident in Judæa, who had alfe embraced the Gospel. As the principal part of the fund from which daily fupport was furnished to the poor had probably been con tributed by the Hebrews; it is alfo probable that the management and disposal of it might be left principally in their hands. The Gre cians either perceived, or imagined, that the widows belonging to their body were not relieved equally with the widows of the Hebrews. They complained to the apostles; and requested them to remedy the evil. The apostles called together the whole assembly: of Chriftians. And having publickly declared in the first place, that it would be entirely unreasonable and fruitless to expect that they themselves, to whom Chrift had committed the office of preaching the gofpel, should leave their fpecial function of prayer and of the miniftry of the word in order to fuperintend the diftribution of provisions: they defired the multitude to look out from among themfelves feven men of honest report, and full of the Holy Ghost and

Y 4