March 29

sion to reprove? Let us remember what was said of Leighton—He rebuked faults with such kindness and mildness that they were never repeated, not because the reproved were afraid, but ashamed to repeat them. As much as lieth in us let us live peaceably with all men; and resolve to act upon the lesson we teach our infants—

"I'll not easily offend, Nor be easily offended; What 's amiss I'll strive to mend, And endure what can't be mended."

And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And ye masters, forbear threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons with him. Gentleness indeed must peculiarly appear in our treatment of those who are placed under us. It is one of Lavater's aphorisms on man, and will, we are persuaded, be found without exception true—"If without living with him, or studying him, you would know a man at once, observe how he acts and speaks towards his inferiors." Towards his superiors and his equals he is guarded, but with his inferiors he is open and free—and if with them he assumes airs, and commands harshly, and answers roughly; if he swaggers, scolds, and threatens; if he tries to inspire fear rather than to gain love—he has a tyrannical and a villanous heart. A common observer would say—he is no gentleman; every thing in the Gospel says—he is no Christian.

MARCH 29.—"Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint."—2 Samuel 15:15.

THIS was said on the trying emergency when he was about to leave Jerusalem, to escape from the vile rebellion of Absalom. And it was well said. And it shows us what little reason David had to complain, all men are liars. With a few exceptions, no one ever had more attached and devoted adherents than he.

There is no spiritual meaning in the words. They intend no more than they express. But who can help thinking with what propriety they may be adopted by Christians, and addressed to Christ? He is their Lord and King. They profess to be his servants. He has the appointment of their work. And they should be ready to do his will without partiality as well as without hypocrisy—"Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint."

This is our reasonable service: and four things should excite, sustain, and increase this readiness.

First, the consciousness of our obligations to him. How much do we owe him! What has he not done for us? and in a way the most expensive to himself? He was rich, and for our sakes he became poor—

"He sunk beneath our heavy woes, To raise us to his throne: There's not gift his hand bestows, But cost his heart a groan."

We can never discharge our obligations to a love that passeth knowledge. But we should be deeply sensible of them; and hold