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avoid every thing that may corrupt the minds of thofe, we are concerned with. At the fame time, we should be equally ready, when we can do it with propriety, to throw out good hints for their improvement.

It is impoffible for any human being to guard his words and his actions with perfect care; yet still perhaps we may have fewer idle words to account for than we perhaps otherwise might have, if we keep it continually in our minds, that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

XXII.

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Do not found a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the fynagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I Jay unto you, they have their reward.-Matthew, vi. 2.

IN the divine difcourfe, from whence this verse

is taken, our bleffed Saviour corrects a number of impurities, and corrupt practices, which had obtained in the Jewish church and as the heart of man is at all times the fame; we fhall, in general, find ourselves equally concerned in all these prohibitions, with the ancient Jews. The fpirit of different religions, and the customs of different nations, may modify vice in various ways; but wherever man is found, there all the great principles of wickednefs will be found with him; which will differ no more through the whole fpecies, than the caft of one national countenance from another. Thus the text, though spoken to Jews, is equally applicable to chriftians. In explaining it, I fhall firft fhew you what our Saviour

means

means by founding a trumpet; and fhall then explain the subsequent fentence, they have their reward.

The trumpet was much used in the ceremo nies of the Jewish law: and was generally in tended, as indeed it is now, to proclaim fomething, that men were concerned to hear. Hence to found a trumpet became proverbial among the Jews. When the Pharifees therefore ftood praying in the corners of the streets, our Saviour fays they founded a trumpet-that is, they called men by their hypocritical geftures to take notice of their fanctity.

But now, though the customs, and manners of the times, we live in, will not bear us out in founding our trumpets in the loud manner, in which these Pharifees founded theirs; yet there are few of us, who do not wish to found them in a lower note. In plain words, there are few of us, who are entirely fatisfied with doing our good actions in the fight of our heavenly father, who feeth in fecret. We fhould rather wish, that the eye of man might have a little view of them.

After the return of the Jews from the Babylonifh captivity, in which they had fuffered fo much for their idolatry, that mode of wicked

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nefs ceased. The fashionable virtue among them became piety to God: and all the hypocrites of those days, who wished to attract the attention of the people, laid themselves out in frequenting the temple-in making their gift of Corban-in faying long prayers-and praying in the corners. of the streets.

The fashionable virtue with us is not fo much piety as charity. We are content, when we da pray, to pray in private: but we have often a fecret with, just to found the trumpet a little, when we do an act of kindness, or charity. The times will not bear a loud, pharifaical blast: but a light, gentle air may answer our intention very well; and yet give no offence. Is is an easy matter to give a hint of a kind intention-ta drop an intimation, that things may go better with a diftreffed perfon by and by—or to confult a friend in what way a good office may best be done-with an earnest request, that the thing may not be spoken of, as it is a mere trifle. However it generally happens, that fome way or other, the thing is spoken of, and gets abroad. It is an easy matter to contrive a private publi

cation.

BUT are we not ordered to let our light

fine before men, that they may see our good works?

Certainly but go on with the text. For what reafon are they to see our good works? Is it not that they may glorify our Father, which is in heaven? Now if you do your good works in fuch a way, as to glorify yourself, rather than your Father, which is in heaven; you certainly do not let your light fhine before men, in the way which the scriptures enjoin.

The precife meaning of the text feems to be this. If your good works happen to be seen, let your heart refer them to God, who enables you to do them; that he may be glorified through you his unworthy inftrument. If you fet your felf up as the doer of good works, you endeavour to get the praise from God, who profeffes himfelf to be the author of all good, and whom you ought always to glorify.

It is the heart then chiefly which you must regard. If be a benevolent man, your good you works must often, of course, be done before men; and you may often have occafion to confult á friend on the propriety of a charitable action : only be affured, that it is performed on a true religious principle; and with as little oftentation as poffible; and all is right.

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