erence to sex or person.

Deut. xxv. 11, 12. when

men strive together,' &c. Job xxxi. 1. 'I made a cove

1 Cor. xi. 10. for this have power on her head, Heb. xii. 28. we may serve

nant with mine eyes,' &c. cause ought the woman to because of the angels.' God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.' 2 Kings iv. 15. 'when he had called her, she stood in the door.' The same ideas of womanly decorum existed even among the Gentiles. Thus Homer introduces Penelope ;

στη ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο. Odyss. ά. 333.

She

beneath

The portal of her stately mansion stood.

I. 414. Cowper's Translation.

Opposed to this are obscene conversation, and filthy and licentious gestures. Isai. iii. 16, &c. 'therefore Jehovah will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will discover their secret parts.' Matt. v. 28. 'whosoever looketh on a woman,' &c. Eph. v. 4. neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient.' 2 Pet. ii. 14. having eyes full of adultery.'

Decency consists in refraining from indecorum or lasciviousnsss in dress or personal appearance. Exod. xx. 26. neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.' Deut. xxii. 5. the woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so are abomination unto Jehovah thy God.' Zeph. i. 8. it shall come that I will punish all such as are clothed

to pass

.....

in strange apparel.' Matt. xi. 8. clothing are in kings' houses.'

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they that wear soft

6

1 Tim. ii. 9. in

like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.' 1 Pet. iii. 3. 'whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.' 2 Kings ix. 30. she painted her face,' &c.

Moderation in the enjoyment of temporal possessions manifests itself in the virtues of contentment, frugality, industry, and a liberal spirit.

Contentment is that virtue whereby a man is inwardly satisfied with the lot assigned him by divine providence. Prov. x. 22. the blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich.' xxx. 3. 'give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.' Eccles. iii. 12, 13. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life; and also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.' v. 18, &c. behold that which I have seen; it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all the labour that he 'taketh under the sun all the days of his life which God giveth him, for it is his portion; every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God: for he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.' vi. 1, 2. 'there is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men; a man to whom God hath given

riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it.' ix. 9, 10. 'live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest—. Zech. ix. 16, 17. how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!'-. Philipp. iv. 11, 12. not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content: I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.' 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. 'godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and raiment let us therewith be content.' Heb. xiii. 5. be content with such things as ye have.' Even in poverty. Psal. xxiii. 1, 2. Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.' xxxiv. 9, &c. there is no want to them that fear him; the young lions do lack and suffer hunger-.' xxxvii, 16, 18, 19. a little that a righteous man hath is better, &c. ..... they shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.' xl. 17. I am poor and needy, yet Jehovah thinketh upon me-.' lxviii. 10. prepared of thy goodness for the poor.' 'Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish.' Hence poverty is not to be accounted a disgrace. Prov. xvii. 5, whoso mocketh the poor, reproacheth his maker.' xix. 1. 'better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips.' xxviii. 6. better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his

6

thou hast Prov. x. 3.

6

6

ways, though he be rich.' v. 11. 'the rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.' We are forbidden to glory in riches, or to put our confidence in them. Prov. xi. 28. 'he that trusteth in his riches shall fall.' Eccles. vi. 11. 'seeing there be many things that multiply vanity-.' Mark Mark x. 23-25. how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God !..... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle-.' 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God.' 2 Kings xx. 13, 14. Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things.' Opposed to this are, first, anxiety respecting the necessaries of life. Matt. vi. 25, &c. take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.' v. 33. seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.'

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Secondly, covetousness. Job xx. 15. he hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again.' Josh. vii. 21. when I saw among the spoils, &c. ..... then I coveted them and took them.' Psal. cxix. 36. 'incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.' Prov. i. 19. 'so are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.' xv. 27. he that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house.' xx. 21. an inheritance 6 may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.' Eccles. ii. 26. 'to the sinner he giveth 46

VOL. II.

travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.' iv. 8. there is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother, yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches.' v. 10. he that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver.' Isai. lvii. 17. for the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him.' Matt. vi. 19. lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt.' xxvii. 5. 'he cast down the pieces of silver,' &c. Luke xii. 15. take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth.' 1 Tim. vi. 9, &c. they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.' Heb. xiii. 5. let your conversation be without covetousness. For covetousness is idolatry.' Matt. vi. 24. 'ye cannot serve God and mammon.' Eph. v. 5. nor covetous man, who is an idolater.' Col iii. 5. covetousness, which is idolatry.' It is likewise styled the root of all evil. 1 Tim. vi. 10. 'the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.'

Thirdly, a murmuring against the wisdom of God in making provision for the wants of this life. Jude 16. 'these are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Frugality consists in avoiding expense, so far as is seemly, and in wasting nothing which is capable of