This subject will naturally furnish us with some im- portant hints : —
1. Maintain on all occasions a jealousy over your- selves—
[The heart is justly said to be " deceitful above all things:" and " Satan can easily transform himself into an angel of light." Even the Apostles themselves on some occasions " knew not what spirit they were of:" they supposed themselves actuated by pure and holy zeal, when they were influenced by nothing but pride and revenge. It is highly probable that these two tribes took credit to themselves for far more disinterestedness than they possessed ; and that Moses saw more of their real disposition, than they themselves were aware of. This appears from the solemn charge which Moses gave them, even after he had acceded to their proposal. And we are sure that this is frequently the case amongst ourselves : under the idea of a prudential regard for our families and our property, we are very apt to indulge a worldly and selfish spirit ; and to be unconscious of evils which are but too visible to others. Let us remember this : we see it in others ; let us guard against it in ourselves ]
2. Be ready to assign the reasons of your conduct to others —
[It may easily happen that our conduct may appear to others in a more unfavourable light than it ought ; and if they knew our real views, they would form a different judgment respecting it. Now then we should not be angry with them because they express their doubts respecting any particular action ; but should be ready to satisfy their minds, precisely as we would, if they inquired into the grounds of our faith f. The Apostle Peter, when called to an account by all the other Apostles for " going to uncircumcised Gentiles and eating with them," thought it no degradation to assign his reasons to them, but was glad of an opportunity of removing their mis- apprehensions5. Though they seemed to have been somewhat hasty in condemning him, he was not angry with them : he knew the purity of their motives, and felt a pleasure in de- claring to them the designs of God towards the Gentile world. Happy would it be for us, if there were in all of us such a mind as this. But, alas ! the quick sensibility which is manifested by us when any fault is pointed out ; our extreme backward- ness to acknowledge it, and our proneness to condemn our monitors rather than ourselves, render the duty of admonish- ing one another extremely difficult. Let us however cultivate
f 1 Pet. iii. 15. e Acts xi. 2 — 4.