any one, Thou fool ;" but rather to " turn the left cheek to any one that smites them on the right," and to " forgive him not only seven times, but seventy times seven."
They are not unlike a mariner that is ordered to cruize in a given latitude. There is no visible object in the ocean to which he directs his way ; but he consults his chart, and his compass, and the heavenly bodies, and then makes his obser- vations with all the accuracy that he can. The spot is not so defined, but that a difference of opinion may exist respecting its precise situation : but a skilful mariner will not be far wrong ; or, if for a moment he be driven by a storm from the place he should occupy, he will be sensible of his departure, and will make every effort to return to his post again as soon as possible. Thus it is with all that truly love Christ : they have in their hands the means of ascertaining the way that they should walk in : and they use those means with diligence, knowing that any considerable and habitual departure from it will be an impeachment of the sincerity of their love. The commandments indeed, especially in circumstances of expe- diency, are not always so defined, but that there may be room for difference of opinion respecting the precise line of conduct prescribed by them : but, in relation to the spirit in which we should act, they leave nothing doubtful ; they are as clear as the light at noon-day : so that, though a difference of opinion may exist, it never can be such as to occasion any great departure from the path of duty : and as a man, who, being ordered to cruise in a northern latitude, should go to the southern hemisphere, and then maintain that he was in his proper place, would be justly deemed unworthy of any credit as a mariner ; so the man who justifies himself in the indulgence of any evil tempers, is unworthy of the name of a Christian : a proud Christian, a passionate Christian, a covetous Christian, a lewd Christian, is as much a contra- diction in terms, as an infidel, an idolatrous, or a murderous Christian.]
This is the criterion whereby every man must be judged : and though there are imperfections even in the best, yet this on the whole is the true, the mani- fest, and the uniform character of all who really love Christ : all others, whatever they may be, only de- ceive their own souls rt.
Our Lord having thus accurately drawn the cha- racter of his people, shews us, II. What to expect, if we do truly love him —
d 1 John v. 3. and 1 Cor. vii. 19.