be satisfied with any thing less. I call upon you, therefore, to embrace the truth, and to walk worthy of it : and, instead of censuring the infirmities of the weak, be yourselves examples to them in every thing that becometh the Gospel of Christ.]
2. Those who desire to serve the Lord — [Your very desires, if not duly regulated, may lead you astray. You may imagine that your duty to your God and Saviour supersede your duties to men ; but it does no such thing. The duties of the second table are as binding as those of the first : only they must, to a certain degree, be subordinated to them. I say, to a certain degree ; for if there be only a positive institution, the duty of love will super- sede that : but, where the commands are of a moral and religious nature, there God must be obeyed, and not man. You must endeavour to make all your duties harmonize : for, most assuredly, there is no real contradiction between them ; and in endeavouring to fulfil them all, you must not forget that declaration of Solomon, " I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence." Prudence is not that contemptible virtue which many people imagine : it calls into action much thought, and care, and self-denial, and love ; and it tends, in a very high degree, to recommend the Gospel. On the exercise of it much of God's honour depends : for imprudence will cause his ways to be evil spoken of, and " his very name to be blasphemed." On the exercise of this, too, the eternal welfare of multitudes depends. No one knows how many might be " won by the good conversation of God's people, who never will be won by the word." Let this be kept in mind: you will at least cut off occasion from those who seek occasion against you ; and put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; — and, who can tell ? you may peradventure, by the light which shines from you, constrain many to " confess, that God is with you of a truth," and lead them "to glorify God in the day of visitation ^" Guard, then, against extremes of every kind ; and say with David, " I will walk wisely before thee, in a perfect way*^." Guard against extremes in austerity; extremes in fear; ex- tremes in confidence ; extremes in boldness and forwardness. There is a season for every grace, and a limit to the exercise of every grace. Your faith must be tempered with fear ; your boldness, with modesty ; your zeal, with love : you must have a spirit of " power, and of love, and of a sound mind." You must not so tremble, as to forget that you have cause to rejoice; nor so rejoice, as to forget that you have cause to tremble : you must combine the two, and " rejoice with trembling." In this way you will attain sobriety of mind, and " adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."]
e 1 Pet. ii. 12. ' Ps. ci. 2.