I APPEAL to you, in the next place, Whether you are not bound to preferve and vindicate the character of the righteous, in oppofition to, and that you may counteract the influence of, misrepresentation and detraction?

WE well know that good may be evil fpoken of: we well know that some men are exceedingly eager to grafp at, and to circulate, unfavourable reports of the pious, the wife and good. They leffen the worth of the righteous, they impute improper motives to their best actions, and take delight in bringing them to their own level; or, if poffible, to place them below themselves; foolishly imagining, that the errors and failings, and faults, they ascribe to others, withdraw attention from their own, and more than overbalance their weaknesses; if they allow they are chargeable with any. Ill men envy the juft, and rejoice in their depreffion and difgrace. Piety, and punctuality in celebrating the institutions of religion, has often been branded as hypocrify. Almsgiving and attention to the neceffities and comfort of the

poor, is named oftentation. Liberality

in its moft generous deeds and exertions, has been represented as the most interested selfishnefs. Regular manners, are ftiled want of spirit and penurioufnefs. If, my friends, we know that the righteous are fo mifreprefented and traduced, if, especially, they have qualified us to be vouchers and witnesses for their worth, by their friendship and good offices, are not we called upon to do them juftice? Let us affert the purity of their principles, the genuinenefs, the regularity, and fervour of their devotions, their pure and active charity, and that, in a word, their behaviour was fuch as becomes that grace of GOD, the Gospel of JESUS, which denies ungodliness and worldly lufts, and teaches

men to live foberly, righteously, and godly "in the world."

But you may do a great deal more than counteracting the tales of detraction and flander, in doing justice to the memory of the righteous. I exhort you to speak of their worth, and to exhibit their characters; that thereby men may be induced to admire and receive that bleffed fyftem, the excellence and power, and truth of which, are demon

ftrated

ftrated in their attainments and worth, and happiness for you are required to employ every method for affecting and impressing the minds of men, and of leading them to think seriously of their fouls, of their duty, and eternity. Thus, our LORD urges his followers to manifeft fuperior goodness for promoting the interefts of religion: "Let your light fo fhine before men, that they feeing

66

your good works, may glorify your Father "in heaven." St. Peter, alfo, encourages Christian wives to distinguish themselves for female excellence, by it's tendency to win their husbands to the faith and obedience of the Gospel, &c. :--but, poffibly you are afraid to propose yourselves as models of excellence for the imitation of others, and of those especially whose best interests you have most at heart: to them too, your real character, poffibly, is not fufficiently known: refpecting you, they may remain under the influence of mifreprefentation, prejudice, and fufpicion. If these things are so, or if you only think your example labours under fuch difadvantages, you are bound the more to avail yourselves of the known worth and reputation of the righteous, for arresting

the

the attention and exciting the esteem of your friends, and gaining their hearts. From time to time, and as occafion offers, thus addrefs thofe who are dear to you, "Come and fee what this righteous man

66

was, what objects he purfued, what worth "he manifefted. He preferred the fervice "of GOD. He fought the honour that "cometh from GOD. He was refpected and

honoured in life. His memory is dear to "his furviving friends. He refifted the pre-.

vailing vices and temptations of the age, "and of his condition in life. He wit"neffed for GOD. He adorned the doctrine "of GOD his Saviour," &c. By reprefentations of this kind, and the reflections and expoftulations they naturally fuggeft, much good may be done; your object may be forwarded and fecured. Your friends are attentive, are affected; they arise and follow the righteous; they walk as they have them. for examples.

THUS am I led to add, in the laft place, See you preferve the memory of the just in honoured remembrance, on account of your duty to GOD, for promoting the honour of

his name, and the interests of the kingdom of CHRIST. The glory of GoD, and the fuccefs of the Gospel, are connected with holding the righteous in high reputation.

On this fubject we are authorized to employ a ftrong expreffion, because it is fcriptural: In honouring the righteous, you are "workers together with God." The pen of inspiration is employed in recording the characters, and in publishing the honours of the excellent of the earth. If there was good reason for preserving the faith and holiness, the intrepidity and patience, in a word, the excellence of the faints of ancient times, there is good reafon for preferving the memory of the fame virtues and excellence still. To queftion this, is to blame the piety of the facred writers, and the Spirit by whom they were moved. What the facred writers did, we are bound to do, as we are called and enabled, in honouring the righteous. We have more than precedent, however it is evidently our duty. Honouring the righteous, is to the glory of GOD, and the promoting of the interests of the Gofpel: because, in them, in their attainments