convince any man that was not blinded by prejudice, and carried away by his own impetuous passions'1. Besides, he might have gone to the fountain head, and inquired of Jesus himself, what grounds there were for believing him to be the Messiah. Above all, he lived when the Gospel was preached in all its purity, and attested from heaven by miracles without number. Why then did he not set himself to inquire more candidly ? Why did he not, like the Beraeans, search the Scriptures, to see if things were as the Apostles declared them to ber? But this would not agree with his infuriated zeal : he hated the light, and therefore sought to the uttermost to extinguish it. How different was the conduct of Nathanael ! He participated in the prejudices of his countrymen ; and hastily concluded that " no good thing could come out of Galilee." But when he was desired to "come and see" for himself, he availed himself of the opportunity to form his judgment on surer grounds ; and, on the very first demonstration which our Lord gave of his Messiahship, he believed in Jesus ; and thereby evidenced his right to that title which our Lord had given him, " an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile5."
There is one thing more implied in sincerity, namely, a determination to serve God without any regard to consequences. Our duty to God is para- mount to every other consideration. When we know what he requires of us, we are not to be diverted from it by any losses or any sufferings. Who does not see the insincerity of those who believed in Christ, but were afraid to confess him1; and of that amiable youth who turned back from Christ rather than part with his possessions11? If we be truly upright in heart, we shall say as St. Paul when he was solicited to shun the trials and afflictions which, as the Spirit testified, awaited him in every city ; " I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus x." And if
i Luke xvi. 31.
r Acts xvii. 11.
s John i. 45—49.
1 John xii. 42, 43.
« Markx. 21, 22.
gg2
x Acts xxi. 13.