CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT MAKE RASH SPECULATIONS. Incurring reckless debts is as much a breach of the divine precept as robbery. Every believer should live within his means and not bring disgrace on his Christian faith by contracting debts which he has no means to pay. If he has done so, he should be very humble; he should confess his sin before God, and pray to be enabled to fulfil his obligations. It is not necessary that he should make a public confession, but it is necessary that he should honour the doctrine of God his Saviour. He that is in debt, and is not grieved by it, humbled under it, and striving to extricate himself from it, is a very suspicious character, whatever profession he may make. Our God says, and He speaks to all who profess His name, "Owe no man any thing but love." A Christian's payments should be prompt and punctual; his word should be as firm as a bond, and his promise as sacred as an oath. O may our God bring back His people to primitive simplicity! May they all be slow to promise, quick to perform, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

For Meditation:
Let those who bear the Christian name
Their holy vows fulfil;
Let saints, the followers of the Lamb,
Be men of honour still.
Their Saviour's precepts they obey,
And hasten to the judgment day.