wild iiicoiisiderate regard for religion. We ought to exercise a sound judgment in all things. " I, Wisdom," says Solomon, " dwell with Prudence*." There is certainly much room for discretion in the performance of our duty even towards God himself. We may so reprove a fault as to harden those whom we endeavour to reclaim, and, by casting pearls before swine, may cause them to turn again and rend us". We may exer- cise our Christian liberty so as to cast a stumbling-block before others, and destroy the souls whose salvation we ought to seek to the uttermost^. Many tilings may be " lawful which are not expedient." We should therefore consult times, persons, places, things >■ ; and " walk in wisdom toward them that are without." Our determination should be, " I will behave my- self wisely in a perfect way^." And our prayer should be, " O give me understanding in the way of godliness. In every part of our conduct we should be circumspect, that being " blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, we may shine among them as lights in the world." Thus should we unite "the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove^." And in so doing we shall both adorn our holy profession, and " put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."]
3. Be righteous enough —
[There is more danger of defect than of excess in this pur- suit. Indeed whereinsoever you are truly righteous it is not possible to be righteous overmuch. We are to " walk as Christ himself walked," and to " be perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. Have you attained much 1 be thankful for it ; but go forward. If you were as holy as St. Paul him- self, you must " not think you have already attained, or are already perfect, but, like him, you must forget the things that are behind, and reach forward unto that which is before, and press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The higher you are in grace, the richer will you be in glory. Begin then, all of you, to " run the race that is set before you." The prize is worth all your care. Lose it not for want of due exertion. But " laying aside every weight, and the sin that doth most easily beset you, run with patience your appointed course, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith:" and let your constant motto be, '^This one thing I do ''." Endeavour, every step you take, to walk in the fear of God. This is the advice of Solomon himself"^: nor can there be any better preservative against extremes than this.
t Prov. viii. 12. ^ Matt. vii. 6. ''I Cor. viii. 11.
y Eccl. viii. 5. ^ Ps. ci. 2. ^ Matt. x. 16.
b Phil. iii. 13. <= ver. 18.