15. But supposing thou hast, by the grace of God, _cast the beam out of thine own eye_, and dost now _clearly see the mote or the beam which is in thy brother’s eye_, yet beware thou dost not receive hurt thyself, by endeavouring to help him. Still _give not that which is holy unto dogs_. Do not lightly account any to be of this number. But if it evidently appear, that they deserve the title, then cast ye not _your pearls before swine_. Beware of that zeal which is not according to knowledge. For this is another great hindrance in their way, who would be _perfect as_ their _heavenly Father is perfect_. They who desire this, cannot but desire that all mankind should partake of the common blessing. And when we ourselves first partake of the heavenly gift, the divine _evidence of things not seen_, we wonder, that all mankind do not see, the things which we see so plainly, and make no doubt at all but we shall open the eyes of all we have any intercourse with. Hence we are for attacking all we meet without delay, and constraining them to see, whether they will or no. And by the ill success of this intemperate zeal, we often suffer in our own souls: to prevent this spending our strength in vain, our Lord adds this needful caution (needful to all, but more especially to those who are now warm in their first love:) _Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine: lest they trample them under foot, and turn again and rent you._
16. _Give not that which is holy unto dogs._ Beware of thinking, that any deserve this appellation, till there is full and incontestable proof, such as you can no longer resist. But when it is clearly and indisputably proved, that they are unholy and wicked men, not only strangers to, but enemies to God, to all righteousness and true holiness: _give not that which is holy_, τὸ ἅγιον, the holy thing, emphatically so called, unto these. The holy, the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, such as were _hid from the ages and generations_ of old, and are now made known to us, only by the revelation of Jesus Christ, and the inspiration of his holy Spirit; are not to be prostituted unto these men, who know not if there be any Holy Ghost. Not indeed that the ambassadors of Christ can refrain, from declaring them in the great congregation, wherein some of these may probably be. We must speak, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. But this is not the case with private Christians. They do not bear that awful character: nor are they under any manner of obligation, to force these great and glorious truths, on them who contradict and blaspheme, who have a rooted enmity against them. Nay, they ought not so to do, but rather to lead them, as they are able to bear. Do not begin a discourse with these, upon remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. But talk with them in their own manner, and upon their own principles. With the rational, honourable, unjust epicure, _reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come_. This is the most probable way to make _Felix tremble_. Reserve higher subjects for men of higher attainments.