man's estimate of himself and god's contrasted.
Prov. xvi. 2. ^11 the ivays of a man are clean m his own eyes ; hut the Lord iveigheth the sjnrits.
AMONGST the purest joys of a Christian is " the testimony of a good conscience ;" and all the labour that can possibly be bestowed on the attainment of it will be well repaid by the acquisition. But we must not forget, that man is a fallen creature, and that his mind and conscience partake of the defilement which sin has brought upon all the faculties of his soul^. Hence it is necessary to try even the verdict of con- science itself, and not to trust too implicitly to its representations. To " put evil for good, and good for evil ; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter ; darkness for light, and light for darkness ; " is, alas ! but too common, and more especially in forming an estimate of our own character and conduct. So has Solomon informed us in the words which we have just read : from which we shall take occasion to shew,
^ Tit. i. 15.
791.] MAN, AND god's, ESTIMATE OF MAN. 1G3
I. Whence it is that men have such an over-weening confidence respecting the rectitude of their own ways — We can know Httle of mankind, if we do not know that men of every character and every class go for- ward in their respective ways with a considerable measure of self-confidence, and self-approbation ; and, as Solomon elsewhere observes, that " every way of a man is right in his own eyes^." Now whence does this arise ? How is it that all, notwithstanding the vast difference there is in their habits and conduct, yet think themselves right ? We apprehend that it arises from hence :
1. They judge themselves by a wrong standard —
[Every man has a standard of his own, suited to the views and habits of the class among whom he moves. Some allow themselves in a very great latitude, botli of principle and prac- tice ; and never condemn themselves, unless they grossly violate the code that is established amongst their own particular asso- ciates : they are " clean in their own eyes," as long as they keep within the bounds of purity which their own friends prescribe. Others are far more strict, as Paul in his unconverted state was. " As touching the righteousness of the law, he was, in his own estimation, blameless :" so blameless, as to be quite sure of his acceptance before God : " I was alive without the law once." His very zeal, which was so hateful in the sight of God, and so directly pointed against the Lord Jesus Christ himself, furnished him with an occasion for nothing but self- applause. Though he did not altogether lay aside the law of God in forming his estimate, he used it only to confirm his own delusions, limiting its injunctions to the mere letter, instead of entering into its spiritual import. None but the truly en- lightened Christian brings himself fairly to the test of God's holy law: all others have a defective standard; a standard of their own, fitted for their own ways : and this is the first great source of the delusion specified in our text.]
2. They turn their eyes from things that have a doubtful aspect —
[Men, if they suspect that all is not right, are very averse to a strict examination of their case : they content themselves with looking at one side of the question only. Whatever tends to justify their conduct, is dwelt upon with pleasure ; but what- ever tends to cast a shade upon it, is passed over in silence :
♦> Prov. xxi. 2. M 2