IX.-The Politics of the Christian Gentleman X.-The Literature of the Christian Gentleman XI.-Family Government of the Christian Gentleman XII.-The exterior Intercourse of the Christian Gentleman XIII.-Familiar Talk of the Christian Gentleman 50 61 65 - 73 85 87 91 99 103 XVI.-The Scriptural Model of a Christian Gentleman XVII.-The Sabbath of the Christián Gentleman XVIII.-The same Subject, under the Christian Dispensa- XIX.-The National Consecration of the Sabbath THE PORTRAITURE OF A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN. SECTION I. INTRODUCTION. THE physical state of the globe of our earth is not more diversified by climate, soil, and cultivation, than the aspect and temperature of religion is affected by the circumstances, habits, and prejudices of mankind. Truth is immutable, determinate, and single; error is fluctuating, variable, and multifold. Some truths are abstract, and stand in separation from man's infirmity; but others sustain the gross admixture of human passions, ignorances, and perversities; and of this latter class is religion, which, even in its Christian form, and founded on the oracles of God, has its perfect and unerring essence obscured in various degrees, and falsified in a thousand ways by its connexion with corrupt natures, and its passage through a medium of contagious defilement. To draw from this precious gift its real virtue and profit, the nearer we get to its source the better. It is a most beneficial exercise to the faculties of man to pierce through the subtleties which his own presumptuous understanding and vain curiosity have interposed to the pure emanation of the word of Jehovah reposited in the sacred Scriptures. To escape out of the intricacies of human invention to the clear element in which truth resides, is the privilege of humble inquiry; and to promote and assist this inquiry, our religious literature abounds in valuable directories and expositions. With respect, also, to Christian practice generally, we are in no want of guides and counsellors. But how in these days of intellectual activity, when so much is busily wrong, partially right, and essentially good, and so many incongruous characters are crowded on the same stage, amidst so much stirring and strife of opinion, boldness of speculation, and contest for distinction, a pious individual is to comport himself in all his relations and transactions, so as to reconcile and unite in one vocation and system of behaviour the duties and habits proper to the Christian Gentleman, it is the object of this little manual to explain. It is not Christianity in ordinary life, but Christianity in a special relation and connexion, that will be the subject of its inquiry. Neglecting the plains |