and apprehensions, it will be found to contain the richest consolation. In this view, we observe, God will do us no hurt in respect of,
1. Our intellect —
[When we begin in earnest to be religious, our friends are ready to suppose that we are, or shall soon be, beside ourselves f: nor can we altogether wonder at their judgment, when we con- sider how great the change is, (like a river turning back to its source,) and how unable they are to account for it. But they may spare themselves their fears ; for God gives his people, not a spirit of delusion, but " of a sound mindg." The prodigal's return to his father's house was the first proof of sanity, not of insanity : nor has any person a spark of true wisdom in him, till he begin to fear the Lordh. In conversion, a man is made to form a correct judgment respecting his most important concerns ; and not only to view things in the same light that God views them, but to act agreeably to those views. As well therefore might the man whose eyes Jesus had opened be said to have suffered injury in his organs of vision, as a person thus enlightened in his judgment be said to have suffered in his intellect1.]
2. Our friends —
[We are taught to expect, that, on our becoming decided followers of Christ, " our greatest foes will be those of our own household11:" and experience accords with the declarations of Scripture on this head. But are we therefore injured in this respect ? Our Lord has told us, and experience accords with that also, that if we lose any friends for his sake, he will repay us in kind, as it were, an hundred-fold1. A merchant who should part with his goods to such an advantage as this, would surely not be thought to have sustained any loss. But besides this recompence in the present world, God himself will be our friend, both now and for ever. And would not this amply repay the loss of all earthly friends ?]
3. Our reputation —
[Though the whole of our conduct be visibly improved, yet shall we, on turning to God, be loaded with opprobrium
f See Mark iii. 21. Acts xxvi. 24. 2 Cor. v. 13.
s 2 Tim. i. 7. h Ps. cxi. 10.
1 That people who are insane, may fix their thoughts upon reli- gion, or that a person may become distracted by misapprehensions of religion, is confessed : but if religion would drive a man mad, the more religious he was, the more likely to be mad. Who does not shudder at the consequences that would result from that opinion ?
k Matt. x. 35, 36. » Mark x. 29, 30.