" he will bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day."]
3. We should however be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy —
[As our conduct may be misrepresented by others, so may it also be misjudged by ourselves. Self-love is very apt to blind us, and to make us form a favourable opinion of our- selves, when we are in reality widely deviating from the path of duty. How little did the Apostles imagine that they were actuated by a sinful principle, when they would have called fire from heaven to consume a Samaritan village ! They gave themselves credit for a holy zeal, whilst they were altogether under the influence of pride and revenge. And what our blessed Lord said to them, is but too applicable on many occasions to ourselves, " Ye know not what spirit ye are of." We should bear in mind that we are partial judges in every thing that relates to ourselves ; and that excessive confidence of our own innocence is replete with clanger, not only as preventing a careful self-examination, but as creating in us an unhallowed boldness before God: for " not he that com- mendeth himself shall be ultimately approved, but he whom the Lord commendethu." The Apostle Paul himself, though he was unconscious of any thing amiss within him, would not venture too confidently to assert his innocence ; but com- mended himself to the judgment of the heart-searching God: " I know nothing by myself," says he ; " yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lordx." Thus we also should cultivate within ourselves a holy fear, lest some hidden " evils, which went not before to judgment, should follow after," and " find us out," when they can neither be rectified nor forgiven. There is " a fire that shall try our every work :" and that only shall be approved which stands the test of that day y.]
4. We should act to God in all that we do —
[It is in vain to act to man, or to seek the applause of man: for his judgment, whether favourable or unfavourable, will not affect our future state: the judgment of the whole world will not influence our Judge: he will "judge righteous judgment ;" and either acquit or condemn, according as we are found conformed to him in holiness, or destitute of his blessed image. Man's rule of duty is so defective, that we shall greatly err, if we satisfy ourselves with that : yea, it is in the most essential matters so erroneous, that " if we seek to please men, we cannot be the servants of Jesus Christ2." Our great
11 2 Cor. x. 18. x 1 Cor. iv. 4.
y 1 Cor. iii. 13—15. z Gal. i. 10.