ON

Faithfulness in Little Things.

THE opportunities for displaying great deeds of good ess are rare, and when they do present themselves, here are many powerful stimulants to kindle magnaimity and perseverence. But the little occasions to tand firm in the cause of truth come upon us inadverently; and almost every moment they render it necesary for us, without ceasing, to maintain a warfare against oride, slothfulness, and a domineering, lordly disposiion; against precipitancy, impatience, &c.; opposing our corrupt wills every where, and in all things. If we will be faithful herein, our fallen nature will have no spare time to draw breath, but must die to all its propensities.

Supporting a life of godliness, is like unto successful management and economy in outward and domestic affairs. If attention is not paid to minute matters, frugally to save, and avoid unnecessary expenses, there is a greater probability, step by step, of a declension in point of property, than by large undertakings which na

turally excite caution. He who learns, by sistance, to make a right application in sma a spiritual nature, will not fail to accumulat sure, as well as he who is attentive in tempo Great things are only great, because many rials are brought and combined together-he ful to lose nothing, will generally increase his is well for us to consider that it is not so mu do, as the motives of love in which our actio and surrendering our own wills; this it is renders our good works acceptable, in the I People judge of our actions according to servation, but with God, those things are no in the eyes of men shine with great lustre, for a sincere intention, a will ready to bend to all occasions, and an upright entire forsaking

Our faith is tried more powerfully in com rences, and less exposed to a mixture of pr uncommon and remarkable concerns. We a we are many times more attached to certain than to matters of moment-for instance, find it much easier to give generous alms, th themselves a favourite diversion. Man is ve become beguiled by little things, because them as matters of indifference, and imagi free from any powerful attachment to them God commands him to forsake them, h painful experience, how inordinate and unwar attachment to, and practice of them was; besid our inattention to small duties, we frequently and stumble our families, and those about us; cannot believe that we fear God with upright our conduct in small concerns is immoderate less; for how can an observer reconcile the being strong and scrupulous observers of duties that require the greatest sacrifices,

tere of small account have an

customed to unfaithfulness, grieves the Holy Spirit, d by degrees learns to account it a matter of small conquence to go counter to the will of God: on the conary, true love esteems nothing indifferent; every thing pable of pleasing or displeasing God, appearing great; ot that true love drives the soul into a slavish fearful crupulousness, but it allows of no particular set bounds > faithfulness; it moves the mind in simplicity to pass y those things that God doth not require, but does not esitate a moment about those things he does require, be hey great or small; so that our obedience in small maters does not originate from a forcible terror on the mind; t all arises in and by a continual current and power of ove, free from those slavish fears and consultations, accompanying restless, anxious, and distressed souls. Man is drawn into the way of his duty through love to God: for even in the time of greatest trial, when the Spirit of truth unceasingly urges the submissive soul, step by step in the observance of small duties, and seems about to divest it of all freedom, behold, it finds itself on a wide plain, and enjoys the depth of peace and freedom in him. -Oh! how happy is that soul.

Finally, it is particularly necessary for those who are naturally of an inadvertent and unwatchful disposition to be mindful. Man, by paying little regard to small duties, becomes accustomed to make no account of them; he does not enough consider the lead and tendency thereof; -he does not enough view the almost imperceptible ascendency and assimilation of these things, in and with his fallen propensities-he forgets the compunction and remorse which these things have heretofore occasioned :— he had rather indulge an imaginary idea of his establishment, and depend on his own judgment, (which has, however, ofttimes deceived him) than to settle down into a constant, diligent, attentive watchfulness. We are apt to say it is a little thing, it is nothing, yea, it is nothing! -but it is a nothing on which thy all depends-suck