influence ; lest, whilst they think that they are shewing kind- ness to man, they be found in reality fighting against God. Let me remind them, that, whether they succeed or not, their guilt is the same ; they have made the proposal, and for that proposal they shall die : and would to God that the being stoned to death were the worst punishment they shall endure ! but, alas ! it were infinitely " better that a millstone were put about their neck, and that they were cast into the midst of the sea, than that they should offend one of God's little ones : " it were better, I say ; because they would lose only the bodily life : but in turning any one from God, they forfeit their own souls, and expose themselves to everlasting misery in hell. If friends would see what use they should make of their influence, the prophet will tell them ; they should endeavour to draw one another nearer unto God ; and should themselves endeavour to lead the wayc.]
3. The need we have of firmness and steadfast- ness in religion —
[No one can tell what temptations he may have to en- counter, or from what quarter they shall spring, or how specious and powerful they may be. Perhaps the children whom we have fondled with delight, or the wife of our bosom, or the friend that is as our own soul, may be our tempters to decline from God, or the occasions of our yielding to temptation. Perhaps the suggestion may be so specious, that it shall appear to have come from a prophet of the Lord, and to have been confirmed by a sign from heaven d. But our principles of re- ligion should be so fixed, as to be incapable of being moved even by an angel from heaven6 ; and our practice of it should be so determined, that no considerations whatsoever should be able to make us swerve for one moment from the path of duty. The fate of the man of God who listened to the lying prophet, should teach us thisf. Our rule is clear, and we should follow it with- out turning either to the right hand or the leftg.
But it will be asked, How shall I obtain this steadfastness? I answer, Compare the God whom you serve, with all the gods that are his rivals and competitors. This is the consideration by which God himself enforces that which might otherwise have appeared a sanguinary edict : he grounds the severity of his displeasure on the greatness of the mercies he had bestowed upon them h. But what were those mercies in comparison of the blessings he has conferred on you ? Think from what a bondage you are redeemed ; think by what means that redemp- tion has been accomplished for you ; think what an inheritance
c Zech. viii. 21. d ver. 1—5. 2 Cor. xi. 13—15. * Gal. i.8,9. f 1 Kings xiii. 18 — 24. e ver. 4. h ver. 10.