Page images
PDF
EPUB

not want to be warned against the sin of detraction, and the crime of defamation, were not they, like other persons, exposed to the assaults of the soul's adversary, and that their only advantage lies in having stronger weapons with which to oppose him.

That they, like others, must watch and pray, lest they fall into temptation.

That the charity enjoined by the apostle Paul is christian love, not alms-giving.

That it is easier to perform all the other duties of christians, than to suppress one severe remark, one backbiting, injurious word.

That the world's good report attends and repays deeds of active benevolence; but that our conflicts with our jealous feelings and defamatory propensities are hidden in the secret of our hearts, and we have not the aid of external praise to assist us to conquer them.

And lastly, that they must remember, in order to strengthen them in their struggles, the words of the apostle James, chapter 1st, verse 26th.

CHAPTER XVII.

ADDRESS TO THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

PERMIT me now, my dear brothers and sisters, members of the society to which I have the privilege of belonging, to address you on this subject, as Friends have always deeply felt, and duly considered its importance, and have also by their wise regulations endeavoured to guard against the sin of which it treats. In us, therefore, who are defended against this sin by official warnings, and reminded of its ensnaring power, by the following query read at stated times in our meetings of discipline,

"Are friends preserved in. love towards each other; and are they careful to avoid and discourage tale-bearing and detraction?" in us I say, detraction is less excusable than in any others. But it may be right for me to add, lest this query be misunderstood by some of my readers; that it does not mean we are to cultivate a christian spirit towards the members of our society alone.

We know that the feelings of gospel love are of a more diffusive nature, that we are to desire the welfare of the whole family of man

[graphic]

kind, and to endeavour to promote it to our best ability; and though, according to the apostle's words, "we may be willing more especially to do good to those who are of the household of faith," still we are expected to perform the offices of christian duty to all who require them of us, be they Jew or Gentile, and the warning against tale-bearing and detraction is of universal not particular application.

Seeing then, that the wisdom of our pious ancestors has thus afforded us an earthly guard against this ensnaring sin, "What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness?"

"Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness."

But I would more particularly call on you, my dear younger brethren and sisters, to remember the obligation of watchfulness which this query imposes upon you, as you are a party to the answergiven; and if your consciences accuse you of having acted or spoken contrary to that duty which it inculcates, you must be well aware that you are also a party to an imposition, and a falsehood, unless the answer to the query be guarded in an almost impossible degree.

My observation tells me that the young, whatever be their belief or situation, are always more or less inclined to satire.

The young feel deeply, and think superfi

cially; with them appearances are almost every thing. To the ridiculous in persons and things they are peculiarly alive; foibles they perceive immediately; and as they have not yet learnt to feel their own infirmities, they have no mercy on those of others! indulgence, owing to their want of self-knowledge, never being the character of youth;-hence, hasty and uncandid judgment, and a love of finding out the absurd, attended often with great power of ridicule, make the young of both sexes apt to indulge in satire and detraction. Vanity also comes into play. They fancy that severity looks like wit and intellectual superiority; and I have sometimes, with no inconsiderable moral disgust, heard parents repeat the pert satirical sayings of their children, as evidences, in their opinion, no doubt, of precosity and brightness of intellect.

With this conviction on my mind of the disadvantages as well as advantages belonging to the brilliant season of youth, I have often contemplated with admiration, amongst many other of the benefits peculiar to our society, this query relative to tale-bearing and detraction.

nance.

Detraction is so universal that one forgets it is a sin, or we are reconciled to commit it, because we have so many to keep us in counte"As in some instances," says the author of the Government of the Tongue," detraction is one of the highest sins, so in the geit is certainly one of the most common; being so becomes insensible. This

vice above all others seems to have maintained not only its empire but its reputation too. Men are not yet convinced heartily that it is a sin, or if any, not of so deep a dye, or so wide an extent, as it really is. They have, if not false, yet imperfect notions of it, and by not knowing how far its circle reaches, do often, like young conjurors, step beyond the limits of their safety. This I am the apter to believe, because I see some degree of fault cleave to those who have eminently corrected all other exorbitances of the tongue. Many who would startle at an oath, do yet glide glibly into a detraction, which yet, methinks, persons otherwise of strict conversation should not do frequently and habitually, had not their easy thoughts of the guilt smoothed the way to it. It may therefore be no unkind attempt to try to disentangle from this snare by displaying it, showing the whole contexture of the sin, how it is woven with threads of different sizes, yet the least of them strong enough to noose and entrap us: and alas! if Satan fetters us, it is indifferent to him whether it be by a cable or a hair. "Nay, perhaps, the smallest sins are his greatest stratagems. It was a good reply of Plato's to one who murmured at his reproving him for a small matter: "custom," says he, "is no small matter," and indeed, supposing any sin were so small as we are willing to fancy most, yet an indulgent habit even of that would be certainly ruinous, that indulgence being perfectly opposite to the love of God, which better can consist with indeliberate com

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »