be not
too sure that all who show an inclination to ridicule you, feel exactly
as they say. They speak with the loudest speaker; speak you boldly,
and they will speak with you. They have very little of definite
opinion themselves, or probably they even feel with you, though they
speak against you. Very likely they have uneasy, unsatisfied
consciences, though they seem to sin so boldly; and are as afraid of
the world as you can be, nay, more so; they join in ridiculing you,
lest others should ridicule them; or they do so in a sort of
self-defence against the reproaches of their own consciences. Numbers
in this bad world talk loudly against religion in order to encourage
each other in sin, because they need encouragement. They are cowards,
and rely on each other for support against their fears. They know they
ought to be other than they are, but are glad to avail themselves of
any thing that looks like argument, to overcome their consciences
withal. And ridicule is a kind of argument--such as it is; and numbers
ridiculing together are a still stronger one--of the same kind. Any
how, there are few indeed who will not feel afterwards, in times of
depression or alarm, that you are right, and they themselves are wrong.
Those who serve God faithfully have a friend of their own, in each
man's bosom, witnessing for them; even in those who treat them ill.
And I suppose no young person has been able, through God's mercy, to
withstand the world's displeasure, but has felt at this time or that,
that this is so, and in a little time will, with all humility, have the
comfort of feeling it while he is withstanding the world.

But now supposing he has not had strength of mind to withstand the
world; but has gone the way of the world. Suppose he has joined the
multitude in saying and doing what he should not. We know the
careless, thoughtless, profane habits which most men live in, making
light of serious subjects, and being ashamed of godliness and virtue;
ashamed of going to church regularly, ashamed of faith, ashamed of
chastity, ashamed of innocence, ashamed of obedience to persons in
authority. Supposing a person has been one of these, and then through
God's grace repents. It often pleases God, in the course of His
Providence, to rouse men to reflection by the occurrences of life. In
such circumstances they certainly will have a severe trial to stand
against the world. Nothing is more painful in the case of such
pers