2. To those who are walking in the narrow way —
[You, no doubt, are blamed for your singularity. But "it is a small matter to be judged of man's judgment." To be reproached for righteousness' sake is no new thing. Nor have you any reason to repine if it be your lot. You have rather reason to rejoice and leap for joy ^. Remember, however, that you are not to affect needless singularities, and call them religion. If you bring persecution upon yourselves by such means, you bear your own cross, and not the cross of Christ. That alone which will be pleasing to God is, the following of his commandments. In that you cannot be too exact or reso- lute. But in indifferent matters it is desirable rather to manifest a meek and yielding disposition'. Yet compliance may easily be carried too far. And, on the whole, it is expedient always to lean to the safer side. You are in continual danger of being turned out of the good path. Nor can you ever be safe except while you are looking to God for his direction and help'^.]
h Matt. V. 10—12. 1 Pet. iv. 12—14. * 1 Cor. ix. 19—23.
I' Ps. cxix. 117.
Matt. vii. 15 — 20. Beivare of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, hut inioardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them hy their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or.figs of thistles ? Even so every good tree hringeth forth good fruit ; hut a corrupt tree hringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot hring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree hring forth good fruit. Every tree that hringeth not forth good fruit is hewn dotvn and cast into the fire. Wherefore hy their fruits ye shall know them.
THE greater part of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount was intended to counteract the errors of the Pharisees, and the false glosses by which they had obscured the law of Moses. But, in the words before us, our Lord seems to have intended to counteract the general influence of the Pharisees. They were in high repute for sanctity among the people, even whilst they were filled with all manner of malignant passions. They pretended to have a high regard for religion ; but they were, in fact, the bitterest enemies of all vital godliness. It was of great importance that