quish for it cur own righteousness : for though self-righteous- ness cleaves closer to us than to any thing else, a just view of the Gospel will dispel it all, as a morning cloud ; and we shall be ready to seek our all in Christ; making him, and him alone, " our wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and re- demption.]
From hence, then, we may easily see, II. What firmness it should produce in our conduct —
The Apostle " was set for the defence of the Gospel," in the midst of greater difficulties and trials than ever were encountered by mortal man3. And a similar firmness should we manifest,
1. In our adherence to it —
[It is, indeed, "our very life b ;" and should occupy our whole souls. It should be to our souls what our souls are to our bodies : it should live, and move, and act in every part. Our every act, and word, and thought, should be directed by it ; and we should be as tenacious of it as of life itself. It is justly said, "Skin for skin ; yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life0 :" and in this light we should view the Gospel: in comparison of it, every thing in the whole universe should be considered as of no account : and, if all the world endeavour to wrest it from us, we should be ready to lay down our life in its defence ; well knowing, that " whoso will save his life, shall lose it ; but that whosoever will lose it for the Gospel's sake, the same shall save itd."]
2. In our profession of it —
[There were, in the Apostle's days, some who "preached Christ of envy and strife ;" and who affected an union in sen- timent with him, only with a view to subvert his power. And such preachers exist at this day ; adopting and proclaiming the Gospel itself, for the purpose of diminishing the influence of those whose principles are more pure, whose aims are more exalted, whose lives are more heavenly. Indeed, there is scarcely any thing more common, than for the people of the world to point out to their friends men as patterns of sound doctrine and of correct conduct, with no better view than to draw away from more zealous ministers their followers and adherents. But we should be alike on our guard against pre- tended friends and avowed enemies. I mean not to say that we should not listen to counsel of any kind : for certainly we ought to suspect our own judgment, and to lend a willing ear
a 2 Cor. xi. 23—28. b Deut. xxxii. 47.
c Job ii. 4. (1 Matt. xvi. 25.