[The words, " prove your own selves," are not a mere repetition : they are intended to mark more particularly the care and accuracy with which the investigation should be made. The Apostle refers to the trying of metals, in order to find what measure of alloy or dross may be in them. Not to men- tion the care exercised by the refiner, we all know what care is taken in reference to gold, even when there are but a few pieces of golden coin to be received. We subject it to the closest inspection ;* we mark its colour, its sound, and, if there be any doubt, its size and weight, that we may not be deceived by counterfeits under the appearance of standard coin. Shall we then take so much pains about things of little value, and neglect the soul which is of more value than ten thousand worlds? Should not rather our care increase in proportion to the loss which we may possibly sustain? This then is the manner in which we should inquire into the concerns of our souls, and more especially into that on which beyond all others the welfare of our souls depends.]
To impress the more deeply on our minds this duty, the Apostle suggests,
II. The importance of discharging it with all dili- gence— We ought to know our own selves —
[Each other we cannot know ; seeing that both the best and the worst of every man is hid from human observation, and can be appreciated only by Him who searcheth the heart. But with " ourselves" we may be, and ought to be, acquainted. God has given to us an understanding, that we may know the quality of our actions ; a memory, that we may trace them to their proper source ; and a conscience, that we may pass sentence on ourselves according to our true character. Igno- rance of ourselves is the worst of all ignorance : we may be ignorant of every thing else, and yet come to God in Christ Jesus with acceptance : but if we are ignorant of ourselves, we must of necessity be unhumbled and impenitent, and conse- quently objects of God's utter abhorrence. The very manner in which the Apostle asks the question, " Know ye not yovir own selves ? " shews, that self-ignorance is a just ground for self-reproach.]
Whatever we may think of ourselves, " if Christ be not in us, we are reprobates" —
[The term " reprobates" conveys a much harsher idea than is contained in the original. The Apostle, having bidden us prove our own selves as metals are tried and proved, tells us that, if in the issue we be found without Christ, we shall be regarded by our God as base metal, or as dross: we shall
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