except we find it concerning the law of his God." With this view, therefore, we should avoid all needless singularities ; we should cultivate a meek and courteous spirit ; we should be especially attentive to all the duties of our calling, and should labour to " please all men for their good, to edification." In short, our determination through grace should be like that of the Psalmist, " I will walk wisely before thee in a perfect way." We must however avoid every thing that savours of artifice and contrivance. There is an immense difference between carnal wisdom and that which is truly spiritual: there is a frankness and godly sincerity in the Christian's character which abhors all deceit and cunning- St. Paul distinguishes them in that advice of his, " I would have you wise unto that which is good, but simple concerning evil'^:" and in his own example he observed that distinction with undeviating, unremitting care^.]
To assist you in the execution of these arduous duties, we subjoin a few directions :
1. Do not expect too much from man —
[You have been enabled perhaps to be " blameless and harmless, as sons of God, in the midst of a crooked and per- verse nation :" but do not therefore expect that the world will become your friends : if they " are at peace with you," it is as much as the Scripture authorizes you to hope for under the most favourable circumstances : the wolf must change its nature, before it can perfectly accord with the sheep. If wisdom and piety could have disarmed the world, Christ had never suffered. " To do well and to suffer for it," is all that you are to expect from man.]
2. Do not be grieved at the evil treatment that you meet with —
[If you sufifer for righteousness' sake, you are rather to rejoice : it is a great honour conferred upon you, a testimony from God in your favour, a means of glorifying him before men, and of augmenting your own glory in a future world. Be not then cast down by your afflictions, but rather glorify God on this behalf.]
3. Guard against the risings of your own spirit —
[If others are wolves, you are still to be as sheep, meek and patient, even like Him who was " led as a sheep to the slaughter, and, as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth," " In your patience then possess ye your souls;" and "let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing."]
•^ Rom. xvi. 19. uKe^aiovQ, the same word as in the text. ^ 2 Cor. i. 12. "Not with fleshlv wisdom."