on the ministration of God's word, on purpose that we may have our sentiments and conduct more en- tirely conformed to the will of God ? And finally, do we disregard the scoffs of an ungodly world, and determine to sacrifice even life itself, rather than violate the dictates of our conscience ? This is sin- cerity, this is truth. Doubtless there are infirmities in the best of men ; and consequently there will be occasional deviations from the path of duty : but if we be sincere, we shall not allow any sin whatever: we shall endeavour to be " pure as God is pure, and perfect as God is perfect." O that there were in all of us such a heart as this !
2. Let us be on our guard against those devices, whereby Satan would weaken our sincerity, or rob us of the comfort of it —
Satan will put forth all his wiles, and exert all his power, to loosen this girdle. He well knows, that, if he succeed in this point, all the rest will be easy : but that till this be effected, we are invulnerable. He will therefore try on all occasions to get advan- tage against us. He will cover his endeavours with the most specious pretexts, and present his tempta- tions in the most alluring shapes. But let us watch against him : let not the example of an Apostle, or the preaching of an angelr, lead us to renounce one single truth, or to transgress one single precept. If we be not continually on our guard, that " serpent will beguile us :" yea, in spite of all our watchfulness will he deceive us, if we be not preserved by God himself. Let us therefore " watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation."
But, if Satan cannot entice us to lay aside our girdle, he will endeavour to deprive us of the com- fort of it. He will take occasion from our remaining infirmities to make us think ourselves hypocrites : and thus he will seek to effect that through de- spondency, which he could not effect through any other temptations. Let it then be our daily care so
r Gal. i. 8, 9.