our observations. Were we to enter at large Into the character of a " double-mmded man," we should have a vast field before us, sufficient to occupy our attention through many discourses : but by adhering simply to the view proposed to us in the text, we shall best consult the scope of the Apostle's argument, and the edification of your minds.
** The double-minded man" then is one, 1 . Whose reliance on God is not simple — [There is in every man a proneness to self-dependence : and in matters of ordinary occurrence, no man, except the truly pious, will look higher than to himself for wisdom to guide him, or for strength to succour him. Even when ob- stacles arise which call for the intervention of a superior power^ he will cry unto his God for help : but he will not " pray in faith," because he still " leans to his own understanding," and is unable to " commit his way entirely to the Lord." As there were in the days of old those who " swore by Jehovah and by Malcham too%" and those who "feared the Lord and yet served other gods" at the same time^ so the double- minded man will rely on the Lord, but will rely on himself also ; and make God and himself successively or conjointly the objects of his hope, as the variations of his mind, or the ur- gency of his necessities, may seem to require.
We must however distinguish between a prudent use of means, and a divided ground of hope : for confidence in God is on no account to supersede the use of prudent means. Jacob acted wisely in his endeavours to pacify his brother's wrath, sending presents by many successive messengers, and dividing his family, so that, if some were slain by Esau, others might escape. These precautions sprang not from any want of faith hi God, but from a determination to leave nothing undone on his part which might contribute to the desired end. His con- fidence was not at all in the means he used, but in God, who, he hoped, would accomplish by them the purposes of his grace ^ But where means are so used as to become a joint ground of confidence to those who use them, there is the evil complained of in the text. Such was the character of the Jews who went down to Egypt for help against their enemies. God had told them, that " in returning and rest they should be saved ; that in quietness and confidence should be their strength ; and that their strength was to sit still." But not able to rely on God alone, they went down to Egypt for help, and thereby provoked God to give them up to utter destruc- tion.
•Zeph.i. 5. '' 2 Kin. xvll, 33, 41,
' Gen. xxxii. 13—23. & Xxxiii. 1—3.