to the Lord, and with " compassion to those who are yet ignorant and out of the way" In particular, if a bro- ther be drawn aside into any crooked path, be careful to " restore him in a spirit of meekness ; considering yourselves,
lest you also be tempted0" In truth, you must never
forget how liable you yourselves are to be drawn aside " by the cunning craftiness of men," or by " the wiles of Satan," or by the power of your indwelling corruptions'1. To this you are exposed, even " after you have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; and your last end may actually become worse than your beginning6." And should you thus "depart from your righteousness, your righteousness wherein you have lived will no more be remembered ; but in the sin which you commit you will dief." Of this you are most solemnly warned by the Prophet David : "As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of ini- quity: but peace shall be upon Israel g." Be much therefore in prayer to God, to " hold up your goings in his paths, that your footsteps slip not." And never imagine, for a moment, that you are beyond the danger of falling : " but let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." In order to this, take diligent heed to your ways ; and be careful to " maintain a conscience void of offence towards both God and man." And "despise not little things;" for they will open the way for greater. In a word, let it be your constant endeavour to " be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining among them as lights in the world h." Then shall you possess the peace of God, which passeth all understanding ; and I also shall " re- joice, in that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain1."]
c Gal. vi. 1. Heb. xii. 12, 13. d 2 Pet. ii. 18.
e 2 Pet. ii. 20. f Ezek. xxxiii. 18. s Ps. cxxv. 5.
h Phil. ii. 15. j Phil. ii. 16.