really evil, though the Apostles themselves thought it to be good : and therefore they brought on themselves a just rebuke. In Peter's requiring the Gentiles to submit to the Jewish law, there was downright " dissimulation ;" such as betrayed Bar- nabas also into the very same fault. Here was weakness ; here was the sad effect of human corruption : and, accordingly, it was reproved with a severity proportioned to the offence. In Paul and Barnabas too, there was a blameworthy conten- tion, issuing in their final separation. The error of Peter and Barnabas proceeded from an undue compliance ; and that of Paul and Barnabas from an undue pertinacity , both in senti- ment and determination. But, as such things have been in the Church, even amongst the Apostles themselves ; so must they be expected to arise, whilst human nature is so weak, and so many difficulties beset our way ]
2. By a slip of his tongue — [" If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." The fact is, that every corruption of the heart finds its first and readiest gratification through the tongue. If pride or vanity inflate the mind, it will discover itself, not only in the look and ges- ture, but through some appropriate language of the lips. If levity have put a man off his guard, it will betray itself by some unadvised expressions, some " jestings " (facetious terms of double import), which may excite a smile at the moment, but are quite offensive to God. Need I say how anger will vent itself, or how uncharitableness will indulge its malignant propensities? But so it is with every unhallowed feeling of the soul : and he is the most perfect man who puts the most complete restraint upon his tongue, and suffers it not to utter any thing which God will not approve.]
Whilst good men have so much occasion to mourn, let us consider,
II. What they have more especially to attend to, in order to counteract the evil of their hearts —
Amongst the many things which might be men- tioned, I will recommend,
1. Humiliation — [Who has not found, by sad experience, the truth of the Apostle's assertion, that " in many things we all offend ?" Who then has not reason to lie low both before God and man ? If Paul complained of " the law in his members warring against the law of his mind," much more may we ; and with him cry out, " O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?"