liberty in a way that should give offence to a weak brother, he would not eat flesh so long as the world should standc."
View him on another occasion, towards the close of his life. Being at Jerusalem, where there were " many thousands of Jews zealous of the law, he was advised by James, and all the elders of the Church, to join with four other persons in performing the vows of Nazariteship, according to the law of Moses ; in order to shew, that, notwithstanding he had maintained the liberty of the Gentiles to disregard the Mosaic ritual, he was no enemy to it, so far as respected the Jews, who could not yet see that it was abolished. Had he been of a self-willed and a pertinacious mind, he might have urged reasons in plenty, which, in appearance at least, might justify his opposition to this advice. But he had no wish, no will, no way of his own, if, by renouncing it, he might do good, and benefit his fellow-creatures; and therefore " the very next day he commenced the work of purification in the temple, according to the law of Moses f." (There are, indeed, those who condemn him for this act of conformity. But, as they set up their own judgment against St. James, and all the saints and elders of Jerusalem, I leave them without further remark.)
Now we see, in these instances, how condescending he was to the views and wishes of others ; and what that spirit was which he exercised, as contrasted with the unamiable and unchristian spirit of his opponents.]
2. When the object in dispute is purely temporal and carnal —
[Some will contend about the veriest trifles, wherein their own interest is concerned: and will even glory in their firmness and pertinacity. But this spirit is in direct opposition to the mind of Christ, who says, " If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also: and whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain g." Let us see how St. Paul acted in reference to such matters. He had a right to be supported by the Church to which he ministered. God's law had actually so appointed, that " they should not muzzle the ox that trod out the corn." But there were, in the Church, some teachers whose main object was to advance their own interests, and who would not fail to cite him as sanctioning, by his example, their selfish habits. He therefore determined to wave altogether his own rights ; and to work night and day for his own support, rather than to afford them such a sanction as they desired h. We
e 1 Cor. viii. 13. f Acts xxi. 20—26. s Matt. v. 40, 41.
11 ICov.ix. 4— 15. 2Cor.xi.9,12. lThess.ii.9. 2Thess.iii.8, 9.