2. Watchfulness against our besetting sins — [Every situation of life has its peculiar temptations. Youth
or age, liealth or sickness, riches or poverty have their respec- tive snares. It is our wisdom to stand on our guard against the difficulties to which we are more immediately exposed"; and rather to seek for grace that we may approve ourselves to God in the station to which he has called us, than to desire a change of circumstances, which will change indeed, but not remove, our trials.]
3. Solicitude for spiritual advancement —
[It was sin, and sin only, that Agur feared : and doubtless sin is the greatest of all evils. Let the same mind then be in us that was in him. Whether we have poverty or riches, or
k Matt. xix. 23—26. i Exod. xxii. 7 — 12. and 1 Kings viii. 31. ni Phil, iv, 11, 12. "2 Sam. xxii. 24.
whether we be equally removed from both, let us endeavour to improve in spirituality and holiness. Then will the wisdom of God, in appointing such a variety of states, be made manifest : and the collective virtues of the different classes will then shine with combined lustre, and, like the rays of the sun, display the glory of Him from whom they sprang.]
Prov. XXX. 12. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their jilthiness.
MEN of themselves are very backward to form an unfavourable estimate of their own character. Hence arises the necessity of accurate discrimination and undaunted fidelity in ministers, whose office is to " separate the precious from the vile/' and to give to every one his portion in due season. The Scriptures draw a broad line of distinction between the righteous and the wicked ; and this^ not in their actions only, but in their dispositions and habits ; by which the different characters may be as clearly discerned as by their outward conduct. The generation of self- deceivers is very numerous : multitudes there are who stand high in their own estimation, whilst in God's eyes they are as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Amongst these we must number,
I. The decent formalist —
He is " pure in his own eyes" —
[He is punctual in the observance of outward duties, both civil and religious. He ^vill attend constantly at the house of God, and even at the table of the Lord : he will also establish worship in his family : and in respect of his dealings with men, he will be all that is amiable and lovely : he will be honest, sober, just, temperate, benevolent : as far as the letter of the law goes, he may be blameless.
In such a state, what wonder is it if he be pure in his own eyes ? He understands not the spirituality of the law, and can judge of himself only by the defective standard of heathen morality. By the world he is admired, and Ixeld up as a pattern of all excellence : and seeing that he stands high in the esteem of others, he almost of necessity entertains a higli opinion of himself.]