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Duty to offer it, though unasked, when we find him pursuing any Course which must probably prove ruinous, or very injurious to him. But it is an Affair of great Delicacy, and requires much Address and an Acquaintance with the Temper and Character of the Man, (in many Instances,) to make the Advice salutary; but it is an Act of Friendship, and ought not to be neglected, though by it we risk his Displeasure, and possibly his Reproach. But if we succeed, we save our Neighbour, and secure his future Friendship. At any Rate, we perform an act of Duty, and secure the Approbation of our own Hearts. If we really wish our Neighbour to be benefitted by our Advice, we should be careful to give it to him in the most kind and friendly Manner, for our Success will depend much upon the Manner in which our Advice is given.

REBUKE, REPROOF. These, when well timed and judiciously administered, are often of the utmost Consequence to our Neighbours, Friends and Acquaintance; and when we judge it may be useful to give Reproof, we ought not to withhold it. Much of what is said in the last Article, of Advice, is applicable here. But we may observe, that Rebuke, generally, comes with a better Grace, and is more apt to produce a good Effect, when given by a Superiour, than by an Equal or an Inferiour; when

WITHHOLDING REPROOF, is not always blameable. As for Example, when we know our Neighbour to be incorrigible; when from his known Character, we can expect no Return, but Reviling and Reproach; when he is under the Influence of any violent Passion, or Intoxication; when he is much older than we are, or greatly our Superiour in any Respect; or when we are known to have been guilty of the same Misconduct ourselves. In this last Case, however, if we confess ourselves to have been thus guilty, and having seen the Folly or Guilt, have reformed, we are the most proper Persons to administer Reproof, as we then can speak experimentally. But exclusive of these and several other Limitations, which might be added, it is, no Doubt, our Duty to rebuke and reprove our Neighbour, according to our best Discretion, when we can reasonably hope to reclaim him from his Vices, or bring him to proper Reflections, and a just Sense of his Duty. The Scriptures frequently enjoin it upon us to give Reproof and Exhortation. "Thou shalt, in any wise, rebuke thy Neighbour, and not suffer Sin upon him." "As an Ear-ring of Gold, so is a wise Reprover to an obedient Ear." "A Word fitly spoken, is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver."

REFUSING

given in a kind, cool, calm Manner, than when urged in a passionate or resentful one; and when the Subject of it, also, is in the same cool, unimpassioned State of Mind, than when ruffled or agitated. These are the fitting Opportunities for Speaking,* and ought to be carefully attended to, as the well timing a Reproof, is of the greatest Consequence to its Efficacy.

INFORMATION,

INSTRUCTION.

When our

Neighbour is in Danger of suffering through Ignorance, or is at a Loss how to act on any important Occasion, we ought certainly to give him all the Information in our Power, and not let him injure himself, for want of timely Information and Counsel.

SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT, is the Ordinance of God, and without it Society cannot subsist. The Directions of the Gospel on this Head, are explicit, and demand Submission to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lord's sake, and that not only for Wrath, that is Fear of Punishment, but for Conscience Sake. But we are not hereby bound to obey unlawful Commands, of any Authority whatever; for the Commands of God are paramount to

all

* "Mollia tempora fandi."

REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO GIVE INFORMATION OR INSTRUCTION, when needed, is unkind and unneighbourly; but to take Advantage of our Neighbour's Ignorance, is like taking Advantage of a Man's Poverty, to oppress him; which, both Reason and Scripture inform us, is most odious and offensive in the Sight of Heaven, and the most remote from the benevolent Temper of the Gospel.

DISOBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY, SEDITION, TREASON, REBELLION.

Disobedience to lawful

Authority is, in general, undoubtedly criminal, as the Christian Religion strongly inculcates Obedience to the Powers that be; and, for a still stronger Reason, Sedition, Treason and Rebellion, (all which are the highest political Crimes,) are reprobated in the New Testament. But, when there is such gross and oppressive Mismanagement in the Administration of public Affairs, as to produce a high Degree of Discontent among the People at large, and the Government, which was established for the Good of the Community, becomes intolerable, and Redress of Grievances cannot be obtained by constitutional Means, the People have then an undoubted Right to resist the Government, and place other Men in Authority, in whom they can confide; provided there is the highest Reason to expect Success; for otherwise, there is no Oppres

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all others, and at all times, and in all places, and under all circumstances, are entitled to unqualified and implicit Obedience.

LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY, PATRIOTISM. If this be not a Modification of Self Love, or an Expansion of it, it certainly very much resembles it. Like this too, it is implanted by our beneficent Maker in every Breast, and is as strong in Countries parched by burning Suns, or locked up by the Rigour of almost perpetual Frost, as in the more comfortable Climates of the temperate Zones, just as Self Love is as strong, in the meanest Slave, as in the Prince; and without it, Society could not subsist any more than an Individual without Self Love. It is undoubtedly a very useful Passion or Instinct, but like any other Faculty, may be in Excess or Defect, or improperly directed. First, it is in Excess, when it prompts the Inhabitants of one Country, to make War upon, or to invade, plunder, or conquer another, without just and most weighty Reasons; and (we may add too,) without a fair Prospect of a successful Result; for War is the severest Scourge that divine Providence employs, to chastise the Nations of the World, and often injures the Aggressor as much as the Aggrieved. Secondly, this Love of Country is greatly deficient, when, in an invaded People, it does not exert itself properly,

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