1. With meekness and fear —
[There is, not unfrequently, found amongst the profes- sors of religion a very unhallowed boldness and forwardness in declaring their sentiments. This is extremely indecorous, and odious in the eyes both of God and man. Though, as far as respects the truth itself, we shoidd have no hesitation in declaring it, yet we should be much on our guard against any thing harsh or acrimonious in our manner of declaring it. Suavity and kindness become us on all occasions, and espe- cially when speaking on the things of God. We must speak the truth indeed, whether it be palatable or not : but we must " speak the truth in love," and " instruct in meekness them that oppose themselves, if God peradventure may give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, that so they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, by whom they have been taken captive at his will'*." A Christian on such occasions must bear in mind how much the honour of God is involved in his conduct ; and how much, humanly speaking, the salvation of others may depend on him. By an indiscreet mode of vindicating the truth, he may shut the ears, and harden the hearts of many ; and so embitter their minds, as to make them determined haters and despisers of vital godliness : but by a meek, modest, affectionate, and prudent statement, he may remove their px*ejudices, and lead them to
a candid "• 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26.