How then are we to guard against such deceivers ? I answer, By having our minds fully intent on practical and vital godli- ness. We shall see in a moment, that by suffering our minds to be turned into the channel of controversy, we shall lose much of that heavenliness of mind, that sweetness of temper, that expansion of love, and that singleness of eye, which are the brightest ornaments of our religion, and indispensably neces- sary to our true happiness. And what shall we gain to com- pensate for this loss? Nothing but a conceit of our own superior wisdom, and an uncharitable contempt or hatred of all who differ from us. This is the point which the Apostle labours so strenuously to impress upon our minds. " Refuse," says he, " all such exercises; for they are of little profit: but exercise thyself unto godliness," the profit of which can never be duly estimated. Keep habitually upon your minds a sense of the value of true godliness, and you will have no disposition for controversies, nor any satisfaction in the company of those who would obtrude their noxious sentiments upon you. You will act rather in conformity with the apostolic injunction, " From such withdraw thyself"."]
2. As sustaining the mind under all the trials and difficulties that we may have to cope with —
[To this the Apostle refers, in the words following my text. Exercise yourselves, says he, in this, which will be so profitable to your souls; " for" from my own experience I can declare, what support you will find from such conduct, in all the trials that you may be called to endure : " for there- fore we both labour (gladly), and suffer reproach (cheerfully), because" we are upheld by a consciousness that we are living entirely upon God, and for God0. That the lovers of subtle questions and curious disputations have a zeal, we acknow- ledge ; and that they will often make sacrifices in defence of their tenets, we acknowledge: but in self-denying labours, and patient sufferings for the honour of God and the welfare of mankind, their exertions are paralysed. Their minds become contracted; and they are altogether occupied in maintaining their peculiar notions, and in gaining proselytes to their own party. Not so the persons who steadily labour for the attain- ment of vital godliness. They have their hearts more and more enlarged with love both to God and man. They feel so rich a recompence sweetly and continually flowing into their souls, that they only regret they cannot do a thousand times more for God, and that they should ever experience any thing but unqualified delight in what they suffer for him?. They
" 1 Tim. vi. 5. ° ver. 10.
p 2 Cor. xii. 10. " We take pleasure" &c. VOL. XVIII. L L