must be expected therefore, that some diversity of sentiment will remain in reference to religion, as well as on every other subject under heaven. Aware of this, we should form our judgment with diffidence, especially on those points where men of piety have differed from each other. We should consider our- selves as liable to err, no less than others. To imagine that we are in possession of all truth, and to take for granted that all who differ from us must of necessity be wrong, is not consistent with Christian modesty. Of course, if we embrace an opinion, we must of necessity do it, under the idea that the sentiment is just ; but, knowing how weak and fallible we are, we should think it possible that those who differ from us may be right ; or, at all events, that the truth may be partly on their side as well as on ours. But even where we feel greater confidence as to the rectitude of our judgment, we should feel no hostility to those who differ from us ; they have the same right to exercise their judgment as we; and we should no more be offended with them for not viewing things in the same light as we, than for their not resembling us in the stature of their body or the features of their countenance. By this observation we do not mean to express an approbation of indifference respecting religious sentiments ; for there are sentiments that should be dearer to us than life itself: but it is in- tolerance which we disapprove ; it is a readiness to condemn others on account of their religious opinions, and to load them with all manner of obloquy. This, I say, is what we deprecate ; and too much reason there is to deprecate it ; since the indulgence of this hateful disposition is the common error of all parties. To be fully persuaded in our own minds, after a long course of diligent inquiry, is well ; but to brand per- sons with opprobrious names, because they see not with our eyes ; and to misrepresent their sentiments, putting into their mouths statements which they never make, and loading their real statements with consequences which they disavow and abhor, is a mode of proceeding which tends only to generate
1973. l APPEAL TO MEN OF WISDOM AND CANDOUR. 237
endless contentions, and to destroy that love which is the sum and substance of all true religion. The liberty which we use ourselves, we should concede to others ; and if we think others have adopted erro- neous sentiments, we should endeavour to set them right ; but we should do it, not with railing accusa- tions, but in kindness and a spirit of love.
But the third rule which we mentioned as deserv- ing our attention, is above all things necessary to be observed : We must implore of God the enlightejiing and sanctifying influences of his Spirit, that zve may be preserved from eri^or, and be guided into all truth. — We are all by nature blind to the things of God : there is a veil upon our hearts, precisely as there was in the apostolic age, and still continues to be upon the hearts of the Jews. '' The natural man," says St. Paul, " receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually dis- cerned." Even the discourses of our blessed Lord and Saviour, notwithstanding his confirmation of them by miracles unnumbered, could not convince those who did not choose to be convinced : nor were the Apostles themselves so enhghtened by his in- structions during the whole time of his ministry upon earth, but that they needed after his resurrection the influences of his Spirit to '* open their understand- ings, that they might understand the Scriptures." The same influence zve need : we must have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation given to us, to dis- cover to us the things of the Spirit ; and, unless " God shine into our hearts, to give us the hght of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," we shall continue in darkness to our dying hour. Of this blindness we should be aware ; for, if we are not sensible of our need of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, we shall never seek his influences, nor ever be qualified to form a correct judgment of the things which are revealed to us. Even Timothy, long after he had ministered the Gospel with great success, needed not only the