wish to see us much occupied ; they would rather that we should put our light under a bushel. But no inspired writer would ever caution us against excess in such things as these. St. Paul makes the pro^^er distinction between the regard which we should shew to carnal and to spiritual objects : " Be not drunk with wine, toherehi is excess ; but he filled with the Spirit;" because therein is no possibility of excess^.]
2. To what the caution does extend —
[^w intemperate zeal appears to be the principal thing against which the text is levelled. Too high a conceit of our own wisdom, a hasty persuasion that we are right, and an in- discreet method of fulfilling what we suppose to be our duty, may be found in persons who really mean well. Two apostles, from zeal for their Master, would have called fire from heaven to consume a village that had refused him admission™; and a third defended his Master with a sword, to the endangering of his own life, and to the dishonour of the cause he had espoused". Thus do many at this day contend for the truth in private in an unbecoming spirit, and go forth to propagate it iti 2)ublic to the neglect of their proper duty, and the injury of the Christian cause". A hlind superstition may also be fitly comprehended in the caution. This obtained in a very great degree among the judaizing Christians ; and still prevails over a great part of the Christian world ; would to God we could except even Protestants themselves from the charge ! How often do we see a most rigorous regard paid to rites that are of human invention, whilst the true spirit and temper of Chris- tianity is sadly neglected ! Alas ! what fiery and fatal con- tentions have arisen from this source ! There is a needless scrupulosity also which ought to be avoided. What schisms has this occasioned in the Church, when, on account of one or two things, in which they could not agree, men have rent the seamless robe of Christ into a thousand pieces ! What injury have men done to their bodies by penances of man's device ! What trouble and perplexity have they also brought upon their souls by rash vows, and foolish impositions ! Such was the spirit against which St. Paul guarded the Christians at ColosseP. And Solomon's caution against the same will be useful in every age and place. A self-justifying dep>endence on our own works is nearly allied to the foregoing evils, and is thought by some to be the more immediate object of Solo- mon's censure. But if we allow it not the first place, we may very properly mention it as another mistaken method of dis- playing our righteousness. Every person is prone to it ; and
' Eph. v. 18. m Lukeix. 54. " John xviii. 10.
» 1 Cor. vii. 20. p Col. ii. 18—23.