is this, that the generality of the world would rather be seen in public with a known rake or infidel, than with a man eminent
for piety and godly zeal
Behold then, I say, the human heart in general, and your own in particular; and whilst you justly wonder at the impiety of the Jews, learn no less to wonder at, and deplore, your own.]
2. How dangerous an evil is indecision !
[Had Pilate determined to execute justice without regard to consequences, he had never crucified the Lord of glory: but when he listened to the fear of man, and sought to please the Jews, he made a snare for his own feet : he encouraged the importunity which he should have silenced at first, and sacrificed his conscience to a desire of popularity. Unhappy man ! what guilt did he contract, and what misery did he treasure up for himself by his want of resolutions !
Thus it is also amongst us. We hear Christ and his religion vilified, and are afraid to defend them. We see wickedness practised, and are afraid to testify against it. To avoid the ridicule or displeasure of others, we are led into compliances which our conscience disapproves. In short, we are carried oftentimes from one sin to another, through a want of firmness to withstand the tide of fashion and custom. But, brethren, we shall have reason to deplore timidity infinitely more than any consequences which an adherence to duty can ever entail upon us. We all see what Pilate should have done. He should have said, ' I am a judge, and I must decide according to law.' Thus should we say: ' I am a Christian, and I must act according to the Gospel: that is my directory; and nothing shall tempt me to depart from it: as for clamour, I regard it not : applause or censure are alike indifferent to me : if God call me to perform a duty, and all the world combine to make me swerve from it, my answer to them is, " Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye:" if I seek to please men, I cannot be the servant of Jesus Christ.' I mean not that you are to be thus rigid in matters of indifference : but in matters of plain duty, you must " resist unto blood," and embrace death rather than make shipwreck of a good conscience11.]
s Acts iii. 13—15. and iv. 27. with Ps. ii. 2, 9.
h If a third reflection be wanted, it may stand thus : 3. How reasonable is it that we should submit to sufferings for Christ's sake ! and then, after representing his submission here manifested, such pas- sages as 1 Pet. ii. 19 — 24. and iv. 12 — 16. maybe cited to shew, that in suffering for him (provided it be " wrongfully,") we have reason to rejoice, and to account it our highest honour. But this subject occurs elsewhere.
1584.] Christ's counsel to the lamenting women. 137