Nothing is more desirable than to have our minds well regulated in reference to the concerns of religion ; since by error in judgment, and indiscretion in con- duct, we may do incalculable injury to others, and subject ourselves also to many calamities. We should make it our daily study to be,
1. " Wise unto that which is good" —
[It requires no little wisdom to discern in some cases what is good ; for good and evil, though totally opposed to each other in matters that are clear and obvious, are sometimes so diversified in their shapes, and so doubtful in their appear- ances, that they may easily be mistaken for each other. Peter's concern for the welfare of his Master, had the appearance of friendship, whilst in reality it was a preferring of his Master's present welfare to the eternal welfare of the whole world ; and in that view was reproved by our Lord as a demoniacal sug- gestion6. There is not any error, either in doctrine or in practice, which may not assume the semblance of truth : and to divest it of all its false colourings, requires much calm and dispassionate investigation.
In addition to the close affinity which there may be between points that are essentially different, and the consequent danger of mistaking their true qualities, there is within ourselves a propensity to lean rather to the side of error by reason of the corruption of our own hearts. There is in our fallen nature a bias towards evil, so that, however fairly we may promise in the outset, we cannot go far without feeling a drawing on one side or other from the straight line of perfect rectitude : either passion or interest is apt to creep in, and to give an undue inclination to our judgment : under their influence we take but a partial view of things, or see them in a distorted shape : in a word, we want " a single eye, which alone can cause the body to be full of light."
But a still further source of error is, that our fellow-creatures are almost universally on the side of error, and, by the coun- tenance which they afford it, render it extremely difficult to be discovered. The spirit of the world is altogether contrary to the Spirit which is of God, so that our minds are blinded by it, and we cannot discern clearly what is of God, and what is noth. Besides, " there are many vain-talkers and deceivers1,' who " lie in wait on purpose to deceive k," and who actually do " by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple1," even so far as to " subvert whole houses'11." Against
g Matt. xvi. 22, 23.
i' 1 Cor. ii. 12.
j Tit. i. 10
k Eph. iv. 14.
1 ver. 18.
'" Tit. i. 1 1