surety
for the debts of his son, not in the least expecting that he ever
should be called upon for the payment of them; but as his son has not
discharged his debts, the father has been called upon to do so; and
except the money is paid within a few days, he will be imprisoned.

How precious it is, even for this life, to act according to the word
of God! This perfect revelation of His mind gives us directions for
every thing, even the most minute affairs of this life. It commands
us, "Be thou not one of them that strike hands, or of them that are
sureties for debts." Prov. xxii. 26. The way in which Satan ensnares
persons, to bring them into the net, and to bring trouble upon them
by becoming sureties, is, that he seeks to represent the matter as if
there were no danger connected with that particular case, and that
one might be sure one should never be called upon to pay the money;
but the Lord, the faithful Friend, tells us in His own word that the
only way in such a matter "to be sure" is "to hate suretiship." Prov.
xi. 15. The following points seem to me of solemn moment for
consideration, if I were called upon to become surety for another: 1.
What obliges the person who wishes me to become surety for him, to
need a surety? Is it really a good cause in which I am called upon to
become surety? I do not remember ever to have met with a case in
which in a plain, and godly, and in all respects Scriptural matter
such a thing occurred. There was generally some sin or other
connected with it. 2. If I become surety, notwithstanding what the
Lord has said to me in His word, am I in such a position that no one
will be injured by my being called upon to fulfill the engagements of
the person for whom I am going to be surety? In most instances this
alone ought to keep one from it. 3. If still I become surety, the
amount of money, for which I become responsible, must be so in my
power, that I am able to produce it whenever it is called for, in
order that the name of the Lord may not be dishonoured. 4. But if
there be the possibility of having to fulfill the engagements of the
person in whose stead I have to stand, is it the will of the Lord,
that I should spend my means in that way? Is it not rather His will
that my means should be spent in another way? 5. How can I get over
the plain word of the Lord, which is to the contrary, even if the
first four points could be satisfactorily settled?

This morning (Jan. 13) I had again not