ointment on their Master's feet, imagined that their regard for the poor was highly seasonable and praise-worthy. And it is probable that Thomas, too, considered his pertinacity, in re- quiring more substantial proofs of his Lord's resurrection, far preferable to the less cautious credulity of his fellow Apostles.
Thus it is, more or less, with all of us : we need reflection ; we need instruction ; we need to have the film removed from before our eyes : we need a more thorough knowledge of the motives and principles by which we are actuated. Things may be substantially right, yet wrong in the time and manner in which they are carried into effect : or they may be essen- tially wrong, and yet, through the blindness of our minds, appear to us highly commendable. This is particularly the case with many who spend their time in prosecuting offices which do not belong to them, whilst they overlook and neglect the duties which are proper to their calling. We are not to set one table of the Law against the other ; or to trample upon acknowledged duties for the purpose of augmenting what we may fancy to be our religious advantages. Doubtless, where unreasonable men reduce us to the alternative of offending God or man, we must make our stand against the usurped authority, and be content to bear the consequences : but if we were more v/illing to exercise self-denial for the Lord's sake, we should find that the path of duty would in many in- stances be more clear, and that we should on many occasions have less ground for self-reproach.
Let us, then, at the close of every day, review with candour the events in which we have been engaged, and the dispositions we have exercised: and, not content with examining ourselves, let us beg of God to search and try us, and to shew us what- ever there has been in our conduct that was sinful, or erroneous, or defective ; that so we may be hvimbled for the past, and be more observant of our duty for the future.]
Yet must we not so lean to the side of contempla- tion as to become remiss in action —
[We are to " offer," and that with ever-increasing dili- gence, '• the sacrifices of righteousness." We are all " a holy priesthood, who are to offer up spiritual sacrifices, which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Under the Law, there was a great variety of sacrifices ; some for humiliation and others for thanksgiving. But, under the Gospel, every thing becomes a sacrifice, when it is done for God, and pre- sented to him in the name of his dear Son. Doubtless the first offering which we are to present to God is our own heart ''. Without that, no other can come up with acceptance
^ 2 Cor. viii. 5.