228 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv.
cays. The next head of circumspect walking in such a condition, that no semblance of “coming short” may be given, is, a diligent endeavour to avoid “all appearance of evil,” 1 Thess. v. 22,—every thing that may give occasion unto any to judge that we are faint- ing in our profession. Things that, it may be, are lawful or indif- ferent at another time, things that we can produce probable and pleadable reasons for, yet if, through the circumstances that we are attended with, they may be looked on by persons of integrity, though either weak or prejudiced, to have an eye or show of evil in them, are carefully to be avoided.
Now, there are two parts of our profession that we are to heed, lest we should seem to fail when times of difficulty do attend us. The first is personal holiness, righteousness, and upright universal obedience. The other is the due observance of all the commands, ordinances, and institutions of Christ in the gospel. The apostle Peter joins them together, with respect unto our accurate attend- ance unto them in such seasons, 2 Epist. ii. 11, “Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, év &yious dvaorpopais, nul edoeCefosc,”—‘ in holy conversations ;” that is, in every instance of our converse or walking before God in this world. Herein we meet with many changes, many tempta- tions, many occasions, duties, and trials, in all which there ought a thread of holiness to run through in our spirits and actings. Hence it is expressed by “ holy conversations,’”—which we have rendered by supplying “ all” into the text,—xa) edceCefasg and “ godlinesses.” The word principally respects the godliness that is in religious worship, which constitutes the second part of our profession. And although the worship of God in Christ be one in general, and no other wor- ship are Christians to touch upon, yet because there are many duties to be attended unto in that worship, many ordinances to be observed, and our diligent care is required about each particular instance, he expresseth it in the plural number, “godlinesses” or“ wor- ships;” or, as we, “all godliness.” About both these parts of profes- sion is our utmost endeavour required, that we seem not to fail in them. Men may do so, and yet retain so much integrity in their hearts as may at last give them an entrance, as it were through fire, into the rest of God; but yet manifold evils do ensue upon the ap- pearance of their failings, to the gospel, the church of God, and to their own souls. To assist us, therefore, in our duty in this matter, we may carry along with us the ensuing directions:—
Have an equal respect always to both the parts of profession mentioned, lest failing in one of them we be found at length to fail in the whole. And the danger is great in a neglect hereof. For ex- ample,—it is so, lest whilst we are sedulous about the due and strict observance of the duties of instituted worship, a neglect. or decay
VER. 1, 2. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 229 5 >
should grow upon us as to holiness, moral righteousness, and obe- dience. For,—
(1.) Whilst the mind is deeply engaged and exercised about those duties, either out of a peculiar bent of spirit towards them, or from the opposition that is made unto them, the whole man is often- times so taken up therewith as that it is regardless of personal holi- ness and righteousness. Besides the innumerable instances we have hereof in the Scripture, wherein God chargeth men with their wick- edness, and rejects them for it, whilst they pretended highly to a strict observance of oblations and sacrifices, we have seen it mani- foldly exemplified in the days wherein we live. Whilst men have contended about ordinances and institutions, forms and ways of religion, they have grown careless and regardless as unto personal holy conversation, to their ruin. They have seemed like keepers of a vineyard, but their own vineyard they have not kept. How many have we seen withering away into a dry, sapless frame, under a hot, contending, disputing spirit about ways and differences of worship! Whilst they have been intent on one part of profession, the other of more importance hath been neglected.
(2.) Corrupt nature is apt to compensate in the conscience the neglect of one duty with diligence in another. If men engage into a present duty, a duty as they judge exceeding acceptable with God, and attended with difficulty in the world, they are apt enough to think that they may give themselves a dispensation in some other things; that they need not attend unto universal holiness and obe- dience with that strictness, circumspection, and accuracy, as seems to be required. Yea, this is the ruin of most hypocrites and false professors in the world.
Let it therefore be always our care, especially in difficult seasons, in the first place to secure the first part of profession, by a diligent attendance unto all manner of holiness, in our persons, families, and all our whole conversation in this world. Let faith, love, humility, patience, purity, charity, self-denial, weanedness from the world, readiness to do good to all, forgiving of one another, and our ene- mies, be made bright in us, and shine in such a season, if we would not seem to come short. And this,—