of." In acting according to circumstances, we must take care not to be influenced by unhallowed principles, or to carry our concessions to too great an extent. It will sometimes happen, that the path of duty is extremely difficult to find, and that even good men may differ in their judgment respecting it: but in such cases it will be well, after consulting the most aged and experienced of the Lord's people, to commit the matter to the Lord, and to do that which we judge will be most accept- able in his sight : and, if we have the testimony of our con- sciences, that we are willing to be bound or die for him, we need not fear but that God will guide us aright, or, at least, so guide us, that we shall not greatly err.]
2. As far as you can consistently with a good con- science, consult in your conduct the welfare of those around you —
[That inconsiderate conduct which has no regard to the feelings of others, is common indeed, but highly culpable. We may, by imprudence, cast a stumbling-block before others, when, by a more wise and temperate conduct, we might remove it out of their way. In all such cases, however we may think to please God by our zeal, we grievously offend him by our want of love. Happy would it be if this matter were better understood by young people of every description. Many thousands of persons might be won by a conciliatory conduct, who are repelled and disgusted by the injudicious sallies of intemperate zeal. Children, servants, yea, all of you who are under authority, remember, that if you have souls, so have your parents, and masters, and governors, souls also : and though you are not to concede one Christian principle for any man, or to act in any thing contrary to a known duty, yet you ought, to a certain degree, to " become all things to all men," and to " seek, not your own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."]
3. Guard against rash and uncharitable judging — [If the conduct of Paul, when acting by the advice of
James and of all the elders at Jerusalem, has been misunder- stood, the conduct of holy men at this time may be misunder- stood also ; and we may be condemning them for things which God most highly approves. It is impossible for us to judge aright, unless we put ourselves into the precise situation of those whose conduct we are contemplating: nay, more, we should also know the exact motives by which they were actuated. But these things are known perfectly to God alone ; to whom alone the office of judging belongs. " Who art thou that judgest another? To his own Master he standeth or falleth." If you do not see the exact propriety of a brother's