their infidelity, much more does woe attach to that man who commits the offences, and casts a stumbhng-block in the way of others, to the destruction of their souls as well as of his own'i. In proportion therefore as any deviation from the path of duty in us may prove injurious to God's honour and the interests of his Gospel, we are bound to " walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise"^ ;" that all who behold our light may be led rather to approve of our principles, and to glorify our God^]
If our obligation to approve ourselves " more ex- cellent than our neighbours" has been established', let us,
II. Inquire what we do more than others —
What do we more,
1 . For our own souls ?
[The world, alas ! evince but little concern for their own souls. A formal round of duties is all that they judge neces- sary : and if they are observant of the outward decencies of religion, such as frequenting the House of God, attending upon the Lord's table, maintaining family prayer, and repeating some form of devotion twice a day in their closets, they think they have done all that is required of them, and are ready to say, *' What lack I more^?" But all this may be only " a form of godliness, without the power ^," and a service wholly unac- ceptable to the heart-searching God^.
" What then do ye more than this ? " Are all of you doing even as much ? Are not even these forms neglected by too many? But supposing you to be observant of these, what do ye more ? Alas ! the generality would be utterly at a loss to answer this question. But the true Christian shall answer it, even though he be only at present as *' a babe in Christ." Do you ask me. What I do more ? (he may say,) I search out my sins yet daily, in order to humble myself before God on account of them. I mourn over all that I have seen amiss in my whole conduct through life. I sigh, I groan, I weep, I smite upon my breast from day to day, crying, " God be merciful to me a sinner !" I flee to the Lord Jesus Christ for refuye : I renounce utterly all other ground of hope: I trust altogether in his atoning sacrifice, as expiating my guilt, and reconciling me to my offended God. I set my face towards Zion : and, though I travel not so expeditiously as I could wish, I make it my daily labour to advance ; and I make no account of any difh- culties, if only I may get forward in my heavenly way. The
1 Matt, xviii. 7. ' Eph. v. 15. « Matt. v. 16.
t Prov. xii. 26. « Matt. xix. 20. ^ 2 Tun. ill. 5.
y Matt. XV. 7 — 9.