which every one feels himself at liberty to hunt. What the Gibeonites experienced, when they made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel, is a striking emblem of what must be expected by all who submit to Jesus, and associate
themselves with his people0 And does it not require
courage to endure this ? Verily, there are many who
would find it easier to walk up to the mouth of a cannon, than to brave the contempt and obloquy to which a profession of religion would expose them.]
2. To practise it —
[Let a person be solicited by his friends to unite with them in courses which he disapproves ; let him be ridiculed as indulging needless scrupulosity and preciseness, or perhaps as hypocritically pretending to more sanctity than his neighbours ; will he find it easier to be steadfast in his obedience to God, dissembling no truth, omitting no duty, conforming to nothing dubious or sinful ? Will he need no courage to stem the torrent, to disregard the appearances of singularity, and to maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and man ? ]
3. To recommend and enforce it —
[The Gospel enjoins us, not only to " have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to reprove them." Now we know what have been the consequences of such faithfulness in all ages ; " I hate Micaiah, because he doth not speak good concerning me, but evil :" " The world hateth me, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil d." And is it a light matter to encounter the hatred of our friends, and relatives, yea, and of the whole world ? When we foresee these consequences, are we in no danger of withholding the admonitions and instructions which we ought to give ? Are we in no danger of " putting our light under a bushel," when we know what offence will be taken at us, if we suffer it to shine forth? Are we under no temptation to indulge that " fear of man which bringeth a snare ?"]
If we cannot recommend, or practise, or even pro- fess, religion, without valour, we can have no doubt about,
II. The duty of exercising it —
It is a duty we owe,
1. To God—
[God has not told us to obey his commandments only as far as the world will approve, but to " follow him fully," and to love and serve him with our whole hearts. Will he then be
e Josh. x. 3, 4. d John vii. 7.