tecting him from danger, and for the Holy Spirit to influence the minds of the brethren in Jerusalem. This he would not have done were such petitions of no avail, vs. 30, 31.
1. The duty of a disinterested and kind regard to others in the exercise of our Christian liberty is one of the leading topics of this, as it is of the preceding chapter, vs. 1 — 13.
2. The desire to please others should be wisely directed, and spring from right motives. We should not please them to their own injury, nor from the wish to secure their favour ; but for their good, that they may be odified, V. 2.
3. The character and conduct of Jesus Christ are at once the most per- fect model of excellence and the most persuasive motive to obedience. The dignity of his person, the greatness of his condescension, the severity of his sufferings, the fervour of his love towards us, all combine to render his example effective in humbling us in view of our own short-comings, and in exciting us to walk even as he walked, vs. 4 — 13.
4. We should constantly resort to the Scriptures for instruction and consolation. They were written for this purpose ; and we have no right to expect these blessings unless we use the means appointed for their attainment. As God, however, by the power of the Holy Ghost, works all good in us, we should rely neither on the excellence of the means nor the vigour and diligence of our own exertions, but on his blessing, which is to be sought by prayer, vs. 4, 5, 13.
5. The dissensions of Christians are dishonourable to God. They must be of one mind, i. e. sincerely and affectionately united, if they would glorify their Father in heaven, vs. 5 — 7.
6. A monitor or instructer should be full of goodness and knowledge. The human heart resists censoriousness, pride, and ill feeling in an admonis.her ; and is thrown into such a state by the exhibition of these evil dispositions, that the truth is little likely to do it any good. As oil poured on water smooths its surface, and renders it transparent ; so does kindness calm the minds of men, and prepares them for the ready entrance of the truth. Besides these qualifications, he who admonishes others should be entitled thus to act. It is not necessary that this title should rest on his official station ; but there should be superiority of some kind, of age, excellence, or knowledge, to give his admonitions due effect. Paul's peculiar modesty, humility, and mildness, should serve as an example to us, vs. 14, 15.
7. We should be careful not to build improperly on another man's foundation. Pastors and teachers must of course preach Christ where he had before been known ; but they should not appropriate to themselves the results of the labours of others, or boast of things which Christ has not wrought by them. The man who reaps the harvest is not always he who sowed the seed. One plants and another waters, but God giveth the