go together, we should follow the world : but where they separate, we should let all men see " whose we are, and whom we serve."]
Now, in this subject we may see,
1. Matter for serious inquiry —
[" Do I yet please men?" This has been the habit of us all in former times : for the unconverted man has no higher principle of action than this. But, if we have been truly converted unto God, we have given ourselves up to another Master, even Christ ; and to serve and please him is our chief, our only, aim. We must have no will, no way, but his. For him must we both live and die.
Well do I know, that our change, in this respect, is often imputed to us for evil ; and that we are deemed weak, con- ceited, and fanatical, because we presume to judge for ourselves in this particular. But where eternity is at stake, how can we do otherwise ? We must approve ourselves to God, and to our own conscience. In no other way can we have peace : in no other way can we ever attain to glory.
And I cannot but say, that in what the world demand at our hands, they are very unreasonable. For they will not mete to us what they expect us to measure to them. They will not be persuaded by tis to do the smallest thing for God, and for their own souls. If, to please us, they read a book which we put into their hands, or attend upon a ministry which we have recommended, they think they make mighty concessions; though, in the daily habit of their minds, they are as much addicted to the world as others : but there are no bounds to the concessions which they require of us : nor are they ever satisfied, till they have drawn us into the same vortex with themselves. I must therefore recommend extreme caution in carrying into effect the very advice which I myself have given. For though to please all men is a legitimate and becoming object of pursuit, if you have attained it you will have great reason to suspect yourselves : for you will have attained what neither our Lord nor his Apostles ever did, or ever could. If " all men speak well of you," you may be per- fectly assured that you have been unfaithful to your God, and that nothing but a woe attends you c.]
2. Matter for unceasing consolation —
[It is extremely painful to have our friends and relations displeased with us, as they assuredly will be, if we give up ourselves unreservedly to the Lord. Our blessed Lord has told us, that, though this was not the end of his coming, it is,
c Luke vi. 2G.