integrity, it will be esteemed as of secondary importance to their talent. They can get on; they can make a good bargain—that is the cardinal point. Here, therefore, is an ordeal for a godly tradesman. To be reputed soft and behind the age, because he dare not overreach his neighbour, will tend to stagger his pride and test his principle. He must endure to be accounted a fool, and to be pitied as too scrupulous for success. He must esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of earth. When he sees competitors prospering by doubtful expedients, or hears them glorying in their equivocal gains, his reflection and his joy will be-"So did not I, because of the fear of God."

As from the unrighteous expedients, so from the unhallowed indulgences of the child of this world, will the fear of God restrain the child of light. He will not ask what is pleasant, what is customary, what is fashionable—but what is right. He is constrained to come out from the course of this world, and to be separate, that he may not touch the unclean thing. His ambition is to be one of the

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peculiar people, who are zealous of good works." Peculiarity is essential to Christianity; not an affected peculiarity, not the visor which designing men put on for the purpose of deceiving-but that honest, artless peculiarity, which springs from

fearing God rather than man. Alas! that this should be peculiar, even in the so-called Christian world.

Therefore, brethren, "if sinners entice you, consent ye not." "Choose rather to suffer afflic tion with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." You may be branded as unsocial, puritanical, precise; but, in reply to all such charges, suffice it for you to answer, "so dare not, and so do not I, because of the fear of God."

No less cogent will be the influence of this motive in guarding you against desecration or profanation of the ordinances of the day of God. Worldly people think, that if they frequent the sanctuary in the morning, the rest of the Sabbath may be spent in sloth, recreation, or business. The newspaper or the ledger, the feast or the excursion, occupies the principal portion of the day. Yea, and the very courts of the Lord's house are defiled by their buying and selling in thought and desire; for their heart goeth after their covetousness, whilst their knees are bent in worship. Here, again, Divine fear will be to you as a wall of fire, to set you apart from the course of this world; you will abide faithful amid the faithless, scrupulous amid the licentious, devout amid the irrreverent"because of the fear of God."

Glorious liberty of the sons of God! Free to

do every thing but sin-they are therefore free indeed! Bound by one silken tie, they are disencumbered from a thousand chains. freeman, who is free to serve God.

He is the

He is the

Him whose

slave, who is not at liberty to serve service is perfect freedom. There is a yoke in that service, but it is easy-a burden, but it is light. "His commandments are not grievous; His ways are ways of pleasantness." He is a Master full of grace, full of pity, full of tenderness. He never forsakes those who fear Him. "He pitieth them as a father pitieth his children." "He spareth them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." He will give them the first-fruits of heaven. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." "Walking in the fear of God, they walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." Their fear hath no torment, and their submission no servility.

Such and so excellent was the master principle of this illustrious servant of God. We shall trace its mighty working again and again, as we proceed with the illustration of his character; we shall see it, now emboldening him for conflict; now stimulating him to duty; now restraining him from temptation; now upholding him under difficulties; now humbling him in the dust; now lifting him above “the fear of man, which bringeth a snare.”

Men and brethren, look, I pray you, into your own

What part or lot "Little children, let no

hearts, and see if this sovereign motive is reigning there. Too many will find it hard to discover what holds the supremacy within them; so manifold, capricious, and conflicting are the impulses which sway them, that they resemble the reed shaken with the wind, or the seaweed torn from the rock, and tossed to and fro on the weltering waves of the ocean. One thing at least is clear, that if there be any ruling sentiment in your souls, it is not the fear of God. What, then, is the worth of your Christianity? Of what avail is your creed or your profession? can you have in Christ? man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." Were you justified through his blood, you would be governed by His fear. "Turn ye, then, turn ye; for why will ye die?" Take with you words, and say unto God-"O Lord, our Lord, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us; but by Thee only will we henceforth make mention of Thy name." Say not "The standard set before us is too high for us; we cannot attain to it;-to carry out the fear of God into all the ramifications of commercial life, is simply impossible." "With man it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." "If, therefore, thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that

believeth." Ask the holiest and most consistent merchant you know, what is the secret of his excellency, and he will answer, "By the grace of God, I am whatsoever I am." The same grace is sufficient for you. The same grace may through Christ be yours. If you name the Name of Christ, see that you depart from iniquity. Never give occasion to the men of the world to say, "These godly men pray in the closet, bow down in the sanctuary, shine in the saintly circle; but they can cheat, deceive, and overreach like other men, when they come down into the secularities of earth." Wo to that man by whom such an offence cometh. He is a practical libel on Christianity; his profession is a snare, and his confidence like the spider's web.

But blessed are ye who " adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things," "who are in the fear of the Lord all the day long;" "ye are epistles of Christ, known and read of all men." Those who have to do with you, take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

And now, beloved, "my heart's desire and prayer to God for you" all is, that through the power of His Spirit, His holy fear may so rule in your hearts, and so embody itself in your lives, as