Prov. xxix. 25. The fear of man hringeth a snare ; hut tvhoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
OUR blessed Lord, at the very first introduction of his religion into the world, told his followers, that he was not come to send peace on earth, but a sword, and to set at variance with each other the nearest and dearest relatives. We are not however to suppose that this was the proper end of his religion : it was
not the end, but the effect : and it is, and must be, the effect, as long as there shall be a carnal and unre- generate man upon earth. What, then, must be done by the followers of Christ ? Must they draw back, because their carnal friends forbid them to proceed ? or must they put their light under a bushel, lest it should offend the eyes of those who behold it? No: they must dismiss from their minds all fear of men, and be faithful to their God at all events : for " the fear of man bringeth a snare;" which they can only avoid by giving themselves up faithfully to their God.
From the words before us, we learn, I. Our great danger —
The fear of man is far more general than we are at
all aware of —
[ Ungodly men, who, in relation to all other things, set at defiance the whole world, are yet, almost as much as others, in bondage, in reference to religion. They can set at nought all religion, without any fear at all : but, to shew respect for it, and especially a desire to become acquainted with it, they dare not. They see that there are persons whose ministry would prove instructive ; but they fear to avail themselves of such a ministry, lest a suspicion should attach to them as leaning towards a religious life, and as inclined to sentiments which are generally decried. And, as for cultivating an ac- quaintance with one of strict piety, however much they may wish, they dare not do it, lest they incur ridicule from their ungodly companions.
Persoyis who begin to feel any concern ahout their souls are immediately beset with this evil principle. They are conscious that the change which is taking place in them will, of necessity, offend tlieir former companions ; and therefore they desire to conceal their feelings, and to avoid the rupture which they fore- see. Hence they make many compliances contrary to the convic- tions of their own conscience ; and expose themselves to many temptations, which their better judgment would have taught them to avoid. So common is this bondage, that scarcely one, at the earlier period of his conversion, is free from it. What- ever be men's rank in life, they are still in subjection to their fellows : yea, the higher their station, the greater, for the most part, is their cowardice.
Nor are established believers free from this thraldom. They do indeed disregard the world ; but they are as much enslaved by the maxims and habits of their associates in the church, as ever they were by the world around them. They dare not