bosoms, and have need to be on our guard against its malignant influence.]
2. A foolish principle —
[What can the applause of man do for us ? it is a mere breath of air, that vanishes in a moment : but the approba- tion of God is of incalculable importance, since according to that will our eternal state be fixed. To many, the choice of Moses would appear unwise : to refuse the first honours of the Egyptian court, and participate rather in the afflictions of the oppressed Israelites ! to " esteem the reproach of Christ as riches, yea as greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt* !" this might be regarded as folly by the ignorant Egyptians ; but to us who know how to appreciate such conduct, it appears an act of consummate wisdom. Look at the rulers of whom we are speaking: suppose that all the consequences which they dreaded had come upon them ; what would the anathemas of men have been, in comparison of God's displeasure ? and what an expulsion from the synagogue, in comparison of a rejection from heaven ? If the whole world cannot compensate for the loss of a soul, surely they must be fools indeed who barter away their souls for the breath of man's applause.]
3. A fatal principle —
[God himself has told us, that it is absolutely incom- patible with saving faith ; " How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh of God only1?" And we may appeal to all, whether it does not chill every devout affection, and impede the exercise of every Christian grace ? What its ultimate effect will be, our blessed Lord has warned us ; "If we confess him, he will confess us; but if we are ashamed of him and deny him, he also will be ashamed of us, and deny us, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with his holy angels"1."]
Address —
1. The secret and timid disciples — [We do not put you all upon a level; for even where the outward conduct is the same, the inward principle may be widely different. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were not so open in their acknowledgment of Christ as they should have been n ; but, when a necessity occurred for making known their sentiments, they rose to the occasion, and avowed their attachment to him more boldly than the Apostles themselves. We mean not to express any approbation of their previous
k Heb. xi. 24—26. 3 John v. 44. Gal. i. 10.
a> Mark viii. 38. » John iii. 2. and xix. 38.