[If we will at all events conclude ourselves right, there is no hope of our being ever undeceived. We must be willing to suspect ourselves, and to listen to the counsel of our friends. Even Peter needed correction from his brother Paul1 ; and the duty of " teaching and admonishing one another111," necessarily implies a readiness to receive, as well as to impart, fraternal admonition. And if we cultivate this disposition, we shall often be preserved from evils into which we might have rushed, and have reason to adore our God for the advice we have received".]
6. Let us pray constantly to God to search and try us —
[Our treacherous hearts can put such glosses on our con- duct as to deceive both ourselves and others : but they cannot deceive God. " He searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins:" he " weigheth the spirits;" and discerns with infallible certainty the smallest mixtures of evil, and the minutest deviations from his holy law. And, as he beholds, so he can discover to us, the secret workings of our own corruptions. If he shine into our hearts, we shall be astonished to see the delusions which we have held fast perhaps for many years, and of which our dearest friends could never convince us ! Let us then pray to him to search and try the very ground of our hearts0; and he will not only make our senses more acute to discern good and evilp, but will keep our feet in the way of his commandments'1.]
1 Gal. ii. 11. m Col. iii. 16. n 1 Sam. xxv. 32, 33.
0 Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. p Heb. v. 14. i 1 Sam. ii. 9.