pleasure in relating the evil actions of our enemies. We compare with fome degrees of pride the advantages, we have over others. We recount with too fenfible a pleasure the worldly happiness, we enjoy. This ftrengthens our paffions, and increases our corruption. God grant that I may watch against a weakness, which. has fo evil confequences.

May I never hear, never repeat with pleasure, fuch things, as may difhonor God, hurt my own character, or injure my neighbor.

James vi. II. Speak not evil one of another. True humility makes us fee our own faults. without concerning ourselves with the faults of others.

Against Anger.

Ecclef. vii. 9. Be not hafty in thy Spirit to be angry, for anger refteth in the bofem of fools. O Lord, who art a God ready to pardon, flow to anger, and of great kindness, remove far from me all occafions and effects of caufeless and immoderate anger; all pride and prejudice, and too much concern for the things of this world; all intemperate fpeeches and indecent paffions.

Give me, O God, a mild, a peaceable, a meek, and a humble fpirit; that, remembering my own infirmities, I may bear with those of others; that I may think lowly of myself, and not be angry, when others alfo think lowly of me; that I may be patient toward all men, gentle and easy to be intreated; that God for Chrift's fake may be fo toward me. Amen.

Ephef. iv. 26. Be angry, and fin not; let not the fun go down upon your wrath.

Prov. xix. 11. The difcretion of a man deferreth his anger.

A foft answer turneth away ftrife.

1

Prov. xvi. 32. He, that is flow to anger, is better, than the mighty; and he, that ruleth his fpirit, than he, that taketh a city.

Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to

ward another.

Supprefs the very beginning of anger. Do not indulge it, even where there are real faults; but try the gentle way, which may probably fucceed better, and with more ease.

Seldom do people vex us on purpose; and yet prejudice very often makes us think that they do. A fenfe of one's own integrity will make one pass by injuries more easily.

Be not too much concerned to tell the inju ries, you have received. Accuftom yourself to filence, if you would. learn to govern your tongue.

Deliver me O God, from all violent and finful paffions, and give me grace to stand against them.

Matth. v. 4. Blaffed are the meek.

Inftruct me, Lord, in this Chriftian virtue ;; Thou, who art the mafter and teacher of it. For forgiveness of injuries.

en.

Luke vi. 37. Forgive, and ye fhall be forgiv

O God, who alone canft order the unruly wills and affections of finful men, fhow mercy

to thy fervant by making my corrupt nature obedient to thy commands.

O God, who haft made it my everlasting in-. tereft as well, as my duty, to forgive my neighbor, whatever wrong he has done me.; help me to overcome all the difficulties, I have to ftruggle with; all pride, prejudice, and defire of rendering evil for evil; that I may not deprive my foul of that mercy, which thy infinite goodnefs has offered to finners.

James ii. 13. He fhall have judgment with. out mercy, that hath fhowed no mercy.

O bleffed God, help me in this great concern, that I may never fall under thy wrath for want of fhowing mercy to others; but grant, O bleffed Jefus, that in this I may be thy difci ple indeed. Amen.

Slander.

Matt. xi. 19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they fay, behold a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and finners.

Whatever measure a good man takes, he will hardly efcape the cenfure of the world; the best way is, not to be concerned at them.

It is an instance of humility, filently to bear the calumnies, which are raised against us, when they relate to ourselves only; but it is a duty of prudence and charity, modeftly to vindicate ourselves, when the honor of God and the Church is concerned.

Both Jefus Christ and John the Baptist were flandered; who then will complain, that they

cannot fatisfy the world, and ftop mens mouths?

Pfa. cxx. 2. Deliver my foul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Uncharitableness..

Envy makes us fee, what will ferve to accufe others; and not perceive, what may justify them. A truly good man is always difpofed to excufe, what is evil in his brethren, as far, as truth will fuffer him..

FRIDAY MEDITATIONS..

PENITENCE.

Luke xviii. 3 The Publican, ftanding afar off, would not fo much as lift up his eyes to Heaven; but fmote upon his breast, faying, God be merciful to me, a finner.

HAT would become of me, if Thou,
O God, shouldest not have mercy up-

WHAT

on me?

When I feriously confider thefe dreadful truths, that all they are accurfed, who do err and go aftray from thy commandments; that the unprofitable fervant was caft into outer darkness'; when I think of these things, I cannot but fear for myself, and tremble to think of the account I have to give.

Ifaiah ixvi. 2. To this man will I look, even to him, that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Pfa. xxxiv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto them, that are of a contrite heart; and will fave fuch, as be of a humble fpirit.

Look upon me, gracious Lord, with an eye of mercy.

Pfa. xxv. 2. For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon my iniquities, for they are great.

My only comfort is, they are not too great for thy mercy; and the Lord Jefus, our advocate, has affured us even with an oath, that all fins fhall be forgiven unto the fons of men. That is, if with hearty repentance and true faith they turn unto God.

O moft powerful Advocate, I put my caufe into thy hands; let it be unto thy fervant according to this word; let thy blood and merits plead for my pardon; fay unto me, as Thou didit unto the penitent in thy gofpel, thy fins are forgiven; and grant that I may live to bring forth fruits, meet for repentance.

Matt. vi. 14. If ye forgive men their trefpafLes, your heavenly Father will alfo forgive your trefpaffes.

Even the power to perform this most kind condition must be from thy grace, O Jefus ; and I truft Thou wilt grant me this grace, because the very will to afk it is from Thee, and from thy will, which wills nothing in vain.

Perfect, therefore, O my Saviour, the work, which Thou haft begun in me; and let me feel the effects of thy grace in the conftancy of my devotions, in care of my foul, in a faithful dif charge of my duty, and in all thofe acts of righteoufnefs, piety, and chartiy, by which F fhall be judged at the last day..