1. Seek to maintain a good conscience before God —
[Let your minds be well instructed in the written word, and your lives be regulated by its dictates. To have always a conscience void of offence towards both God and man is no easy matter : but it is worth the utmost labour and vigilance that you can bestow upon it.]
2. Do not however rest too confidently in testi- monies of its approbation —
[It will not always speak the same language that it does when blinded by prejudice or passion. At the time of com- mitting this great evil, the sons of Jacob " were content ;" and they applauded themselves for their forbearance towards their ill-fated brother. But at a subsequent period, how different were their views of the very same action! So will it be with us. We may now approve and applaud our own conduct: but we must not conclude that we shall therefore always do so. We are now too apt to be partial in our own favour ; but at a future period we shall judge righteous judgment, even as God himself will do : and we are no longer certain that our judg- ment of our own state is correct, than when it manifestly accords with the word of God.]
3. Look forward to the future judgment —
[That will certainly be correct : for God knoweth our hearts, and will bring every secret thing into judgment, whether it be good or evil. But oh ! how painful will be the review in that day, if then for the first time we are made sensible of our sins ! What a bitter reflection will it be, ' I did so and so ; and therefore all this is come upon me : I have procured it all unto myself.' On the other hand, how delight- ful will it be to look back, and be able to appeal to God and say, " I have walked before thee with a perfect heart !" True it is, this will afford us no ground for boasting : but, if we walk before God in all good conscience now, we shall have its approving testimony in a dying hour, and the approbation of our God in the day of judgment1.]
a Isai. xxxviii. 3.