boldly all that God had commanded, lest he should, in just indignation for their cowardice, confound them before their people n. We must expect to meet with opposition : for who, amongst the Prophets or Apostles, ever escaped it? Even our blessed Lord himself, with all his wisdom and grace, was an object of hatred to an ungodly world : and we must expect, that " they who hate the light" will hate us who set it before them0. But, however we be menaced, our answer to every opponent must be, " Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye ; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heardp." And, if we be called to seal the truth with our blood, we must regard it rather as an honour than a shame q, and rather as a ground of congratulation than a subject of condolence1.]
This injunction is further enforced by,
II. An unanswerable appeal to the whole world — Here is an appeal,
1. To our judgment —
[Every one knows what a light and worthless thing " chaff is, in comparison of wheat." And is not the applica- tion of this image to the subject before us both clear and obvious ? Of what use were the assertions of the false pro- phets? They only deceived the people to their ruin. Look, on the other hand, at the labours of Moses, of David, of Elijah, of Paul : who can estimate the value of their services ? So it is, in a measure, with every minister of Christ, who truly and faithfully discharges the high office committed to him. He feeds many, he nourishes many, comforts many, yea, and " saves many souls from death s." God declares, that this effect should have followed the ministrations of former pro- phets, if they had been truly upright : " If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings1." And though there doubtless is a great difference between the labours of different men in point of real efficiency, even whilst substantially they preach the same truths, yet the labours of those who bring forth a mixed and mutilated Gospel are not to be compared with those of a faith- ful servant of Christ, who " preaches the truth in love," and exemplifies it in his life and conversation.]
2. To our experience —
n Jer. i. 8, 17. and Ezek. ii. 6, 7. ° John iii. 19, 20.
p Acts iv. 19, 20. i Acts v. 41. . r Phil. ii. 17, 18.
s 1 Tim. iv. 16. and Jam. v. 20. l ver. 22.