3. The honour of God and his Gospel —
[The argument which St. Paul uses to enforce on servants the maintenance of a dutiful behaviour towards their unbelieving masters, is, " that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed"." How terrible is the thought that our indiscretions should ever produce such an effect as this ! On the other hand, our blessed Lord bids us to " make our light shine before men, that they who behold our good works may be stirred up to glorify our heavenly Father p." What a stimulus is here ! what a motive to circumspection ! what an incentive to every ihing that is great and holy ! Behever, can you reflect one moment on the thought, that God may be glorified in you, and not determine, like David,
to
' The errors of the Puritans are imputed to those who profess reli- gion in the present day,
*• This is particularly to be noticed in reference to the early jour- nals of Messrs. Whitfield and Wesley ; which, though afterwards condemned by the authors themselves, are to this hour made the sole grounds of estimaiing tlifir character; and no' their character only, but the characters of thousands who were never guilty of any of their extravagancies.
' See Piiil. ii. 15, 16. ^ 1 Pet. ii. 15. ^ 1 Pet. iii. l6.
•" 1 Pet. iii. 1. ' Prov, xii, 26. ^ Mark vi. 20.
' 1 Sam. xviii. 15. "' 1 Cor. xiv. 25. " 1 Tim. i. 15.
" 1 Tim.vi. 1. «' Malt. v. 16.
to " walk wisely Ixfoie Iiiin in a perfect way ?" If nothing but your own welfare and the welfare of your fellow-creatures were at stake, you would watch over your every action, your every dispo- sition : but, wlien you consider, that the honour of God himself is in a measure dependent upon you, methinks, yon should be utterly purposed, that, if it be possible, " God himself shall not find any thing" amiss with you*) ; and that, at all events, your conduct shall be so blameless, " that they who are of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you^ J
Having shewn the importance of this resolution, we will distinctly mark,'
II. The way in which it must be carried into effect — It is scarcely needful to say, that we must have respect to every commandment of God, without partiality or reserve ; for where there is partiality, there is hypocrisy'; and where there is hypocrisy, there is neither " a perfect heart," nor ** a perfect way," nor indeed one spark of true " wisdom." This then must be ever borne in mind, that without an unreserved endeavour to fulfil the whole M'ill of God, the forming of such a resolution must be alto- gether nugatory and delusive. But supposing the resolution to be sincerely formed, then the question will arise, How must a person demean himself so as really to effect his wish ? We answer, he must con- duct himself,
1. With meekness and modesty —
[Nothing is more disgusting than forwardness in a religious character. It is offensive in any ; but most of all in one who professes to feel himself a poor, blind, ignorant, guilty creature, *' less than the least of all saints," yea, rather, " the very chief of sinners." How unseemly is it to see such an one full of con- ceit, obtrusive, talkative, loving pre-eminence, and " thinking himself to be something, when he is nothing' !" Yet how many such professors are there, wherever the Gospel is preached ! On the other hand, how lovely is the character of one that is gentle, modest, unassuming, arrogating nothing to himself, and willing on all occasions to " take the lowest place!" !Suih a person, whilst he himself " is beautified with salvation "," reflects an honour on the Gospel, and " adorns the doctrine of God our
Saviour."
1 Ps. xvii. 3. 'Tit ii. 8. ' Jam. iii. 17.
' Gal. vi. 3. " Ps. cxlix. 4.