2. That no consideration under heaven should lead us to compromise the truth of God —
[Peter doubtless excused himself in his own mind from an idea that his dissimulation was, in existing circumstances, expedient. But expediency, though worthy to be attended to by every true Christian, and in many instances a proper rule for his conduct, has no place, except in things that are other- wise indifferent. It can never warrant us to neglect a known duty, or to commit the smallest sin: for, if it could, Daniel and the Hebrew Youths might have avoided the snares that were laid for their feet. Nothing can warrant dissimulation. What we believe to be true, we must uphold and vindicate : and what we believe to be right we must do. Neither a de- sire to please, nor a fear of displeasing, must cause us to swerve an hair's breadth from the path of duty. We must obey the dictates of our own conscience, and " be faithful unto death, if ever we would receive a crown of life." We cannot indeed expect that we shall never err, seeing that infallibility pertains not to our fallen nature, nor is the lot of any of the sons of men : but if we err, it must not be through fear or through favour, but simply through the weakness incident to man in his present fallen state ; and we must be especially careful that the error be not in any thing of funda- mental importance. We may in our superstructure " build hay, or wood, or stubble," and yet ourselves be ultimately "saved, though it be so as by fire:" but, if we err in the foundation, we involve ourselves in inevitable and everlasting ruin1. Let us look to it therefore that we " hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints." Let nothing be suffered for one moment to move us from it. Let us bear in mind, that " other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." On that let us build, even on that alone, not uniting any thing with it, or attempting to strengthen it by any addition of our own. Let us guard against any ap- proximation to this fatal error. Many there are, who, whilst they would abhor the thought of uniting their own merits with the merits of Christ, will yet, through a false notion of humi- lity, not venture to trust in Christ, unless they can see some measure of worthiness in themselves. But this is in reality, whatever it may be thought, a repetition of Peter's sin ; and will sooner or later meet with a severe reprehension from our God. We must go to Christ guilty, that we may be forgiven ; naked, that we may be clothed ; polluted, that we may be sanctified : and, when we are most empty in ourselves, then shall we receive most out of his fulness. We must " know nothing but Christ and him crucified." and be contented to be nothing, that he may be " all in all."]
' 1 Cor. iii. 10—15. VOL. XVII. e