object must be, to approve ourselves to God ; and then we need not be much concerned whether our actions be followed by an " evil or good report" from the partial judges that are around us. I mean not by this that we should be inattentive to the opinions of men, or that we should disregard their censures: for, as far as we possibly can, " we should provide things honest in the sight of all men:" but it is God's word only that we should take as the rule of our conduct, and him alone whom we should strive to please : and, if men be not satisfied with us for serving God according to his written word, we must be content to suffer obloquy from them, and deter- mine to " obey God rather than man." However we may be "judged according to men in the flesh," we need fear nothing, if " we live according to God in the spirit3-." We shall " enjoy the testimony of a good conscience," as Hezekiah didb, " and have confidence before God now, and not be ashamed before him at his coming0."]
a 1 Pet. iv. 6. b 2 Cor. i. 12. 2 Kings xx. 3.
c 1 John ii. 28. and iii. 19—21.
1 Tim. vi. 3. The doctrine which is according to godliness.
THE objections which men urge against the doc- trines of the Gospel, originate for the most part in their aversion to its precepts. The restraint which it imposes on their actions is irksome to them. They wish to follow the impulse of their passions, or the dictates of self-interest : and when they are checked in their progress, they complain, that the path marked out for them is too strait, and the yoke which we would put upon them is too heavy.
St. Paul is giving directions for the conduct of masters and servants towards each other : but, how- ever " wholesome his words" were, he foresaw that some would "not consent to" them, notwithstanding they were " the words of Christ himself," and in per- fect unison with the Gospel, which was, in that, as well as in every other respect, " a doctrine according to godliness." He then proceeds to animadvert upon such characters, and to shew, that their dislike to the