We must use all possible means to get clear views of God's mind and will ; and, having done that, must then act according to our comdctions, omitting nothing that conscience requires, and allowing nothing that conscience condemns. The one en- deavour of our lives must be to " walk in all good conscience before God," and to " keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man."]
3. May we on any account forbear to confess Christ ?
[No : we must shew, before all, our love to the God of Israel, and our communion with his people. In every place where we go, we must erect an altar to our God and Saviour. " If on any account we are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us ; " and, " if we deny him, he wdU deny us." Nevertheless we are not called to throw up our situations in life, because there is some difficulty in filling them aright : we are rather called to approve ourselves to God in those situations, and to fill them to the glory of his name. We must indeed take care that we are not led into any sinful comphances in order to re- tain our honours or emoluments ; but we must avail ourselves of our situations to honour God, and to benefit mankind.]
2 Kangs v. 21, 22. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted doum from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well ? And he said, All is well.
IN the preceding chapter we have seen a similar inquiry made by Gehazi himself; and a similar reply from the Shunamite, who came in quest of Elisha^ The answer as made by her, under her most afflictive circumstances, justly fills us with admiration : but the answer as here given, calls forth our severest indignation. Naaman, when he saw Elisha's servant running after him, was afraid that something was amiss; and therefore asked with great anxiety. Is all well ? The hardened villain, one might have hoped, should have relented at the sight of Naaman's sim- plicity : but that same wicked spirit who put the evil
a 2 Kings iv. 26.
K k2