" Satan has blinded your eyes," and hardened your hearts, and is " leading you captive at his will." And how long, think you, will you retain your present opinions ? If God Almighty ever have mercy on your soul, your eyes will be opened to see your folly and impiety : but, if this mercy never be vouchsafed to you, not a minute will intervene between your departure hence and a total change of your views. You will then be perfectly like- minded with those whom you now despise : but who can express the regret which you will then feel at the review of your con- duct? But then your regrets will be in vain : your day of grace will have for ever passed away ; and you will for ever reap the bitter fruits of your wickedness ]
2. Those who are afraid of confessing Christ by reason of the contempt which they shall thereby encounter —
[It was not thus that your Saviour dealt with you. He knew to what shame and ignominy he should be exposed for you ; and yet, " for the joy of saving your souls, he endured the cross and despised the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God." The same blessed issue is reserved for you also, if you approve yourselves faithful unto him : " If you deny him, he will deny you : " but, if you sub- mit willingly to " suffer with him, you shall also be glorified together0." Regard not, then, the scoffs of an ungodly world; but " rejoice rather that you are counted worthy to endure them." But, after all, what is it that you are afraid of? an unkind look ? an opprobrious name ? or the finger of scorn ? Truly you have but little pretence to wisdom, if by such things as these you can be deterred from confessing Him who lived and died for you.]
3. Those who by reason of indiscretion " give oc- casion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" —
[It is greatly to be lamented that all who profess godliness do not act so wisely as they ought. There are many who, by the extravagance of their notions, or the absurdity of their deportment, cause religion itself to be reproached, and " the way of truth to be evil spoken of." But I must declare to all such professors, that they incur a fearful responsibility before God; and that for every one who falls over the stumbling-blocks which are thus laid in his way, they must give account in the day of judgment. See to it then, Brethren, that ye " walk in wisdom towards those that are without;" and that instead of giving occasion of offence by any unwise conduct on your part, ye " put to silence the ignorance of foolish men by your well- doing." Never forget that wisdom is identified with religion. It
c Rom. viii. 17. and 2 Tim. ii. 12.