fearful he is of subjecting himself to public observation and reproach. In St. Paul's day it was thus. He appealed to the whole Church of Corinth : " Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called11." And so it is in every age : let a man possess any distinction in society, and, instead of being em- boldened by it to act according to his conscience, he is intimi- dated and restrained, and scarcely dares, even in private, to associate with one who is an avowed follower of Christ. In vain is it said that " the fearful shall not inherit the kingdom of God1;" and that, " if we deny Christ, he also will deny usk." So great is the power of a vain ungodly world, that we will please them rather than God ; and, for fear of their censure, expose ourselves to the wrath of an offended God.]
2. The power of truth in opposition to the world — [The seed, which had been sown in Nicodemus's heart, " grew up, he knew not how1;" and, in an hour when, accord- ing to all human calculations, we should have least expected it to shew itself, it sprang up, and brought forth fruit, to the honour of our blessed Lord. The Lord Jesus was now dead upon the cross ; and to pay him any honour was at the peril of a person's life. Yet then, when Christ's own Disciples had forsaken him, Nicodemus, with " Joseph, who also had been a disciple, but secretly for fear of the Jewsm," " went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus," in order that they might inter it with such a measure of honour and respect as the present circumstances would admit of. The boldness of this petition is particularly noticed by St. Mark": but truth, if allowed to have its proper influence, will embolden any man, and make him to disregard even life itself, if duty call for the surrender of it0. On this occasion the force of truth appears particularly conspicuous, when it animated two such timid persons to so perilous an adventure, to which they had not been called, and which they might have declined without the slightest imputa- tion on their character. Let but truth erect its throne within the heart, and every adverse power it will utterly subdue p.]
What, then, is my advice in relation to this matter ?
1. Let us not covet the distinctions of this life — [There is an idea prevalent amongst men, that the higher we rise in society, the greater will be our influence, especially if we stand well with the world, as not being " righteous over- much." Now, 1 will grant that persons of this description
h 1 Cor. i. 26. I Rev. xxi. 8. k 2 Tim. ii. 12.
1 Mark iv. 27. '" ver. 38. » Mark xv. 43.
0 Acts xx. 24. P John viii. 32.