they might be preserved pure from by fits and starts; he exhibits a every tincture of dissimulation and melancholy and affecting sight to hypocrisy. And what believer will every truly pious mind. But to refuse to adopt this prayer for him- this too common character we may self, and for all, whose growth in contrast the professor of the gospel, grace he especially desires? And who maintains a consistent conduct who does not see, even among pro- in all places and companies, under fessors, whom it would be very the habitual impression of this wrong wholly to condemn, many thought, "Thou, God, seest me;" grievous mixtures of insincerity, who" is in the fear of the Lord all real or apparent, the effect of igno- the day long;" who conducts his rance, warm passions, strong attach- most ordinary concerns on the highments or prejudices, inattention, a est principles; who aims to fulfil timid incapacity of giving a direct the duties of every relation" heartirefusal, or the habit of exciting ex-ly, as to the Lord, and not unto pectations by kind language and men;" who seeks to have every ambiguous expressions, without any employment, possession, and comreal intention of answering them? fort" sanctified by the word of God

But the original word signifies and prayer;" who serves his Master unmixed, or purified from every in heaven, when engaged in his thing that is debasing, like honey shop, in manual labour as a servant, when thoroughly separated from the and even in taking needful recreawax. It has, therefore, been thought tion; and endeavours to observe that the apostle referred to the the apostle's direction," Whether simplicity of the consistent Chris-ye eat, or whether ye drink, or tian, as contrasted with the conduct whatsoever ye do, do all to the of such as attempt to serve God glory of God." Religion constiand Mammon; and endeavour to tutes such a man's business, inteunite the interests, pursuits, and rest, and pleasure; and by assigning pleasures of the world with those to every thing its proper place, proof religion, in defiance of our Lord's portioning his attention to every most solemn declaration, that it is object according to its value and impossible. When a man appears importance, and arranging his secudevout in the place of worship, on lar concerns in due subordination the Lord's day, or in pious com- and subserviency to the one thing pany; but acts like a mere worldly needful, he renders every part of man in other circles, and on other his conduct an act of cheerful obeoccasions; when his religion falls dience to the God of his salvation. almost wholly under human obser- It is probable, that no mere man vation, and neither enters his closet, completely answers this descripnor influences his conduct in his tion; but it certainly comprises the family, his dealings, or the use he substance of various scriptural exmakes of his time and talents; hortations, and accords to the comwhen he loves to dispute about the mands and example of our blessed truth, but manifests no improve-Lord. — Growth in grace must, ment of disposition from his attach- therefore, especially consist in a ment to it; when he makes one, continual approximation to this state almost as regularly at the places of of mind and tenor of conduct; and diversion or dissipation, as at those the disparity between our actual of public worship; or when he is attainments and this proficiency in religious with reserves, and only religion should increase our earnest

ness in pressing forward to the or declining professor, is apt to mark, for the prize of our high call- take vast encouragement from the ing of God in Christ Jesus. good opinion of reputable profes

V. The apostle next adds, "that sors, or eminent ministers: and it ye may be without offence till the may seriously be apprehended, that day of Christ;" and we may from many rest their confidence entirely this clause deduce another particu- on such testimonies, and finally delar, connected with the believer's ceive themselves; because they growth in grace. The day of Christ, deem it needless to regard the when he shall come to judgment, warnings of Scripture, or the remonshould be continually kept in view strances of their own consciences, by all his disciples; and the Scrip- and refuse to "examine themselves ture constantly calls our attention whether they are in the faith," after to it. Without any inquiry into having been approved by the discithe times and seasons, which the ples and ministers of Christ. Lord hath been pleased to conceal, A man may stumble, however, we may certainly know that" the who is not finally cast down. Judas Judge is at the door;" death will alone fatally apostatized; but all speedily transmit each of us to the the apostles were offended, when tribunal of God, and if we be pre- their Lord was delivered into the served without offence till death, hands of sinful men. Many prowe shall be also till the day of fessors have stumbled, and fallen Christ. into grievous crimes, causing others

The word translated offence de- to stumble also: and yet they have notes any thing laid in a man's path, been renewed unto repentance, and over which he may stumble and finally saved. Whatever wise and fall. Numbers" stumble at the holy reasons the Lord may have, in word, being disobedient," and openly his unsearchable counsels, for perreject the gospel; some make a mitting such things; his law, "of temporary profession, but "by and loving our neighbour as ourselves," by they are offended, and in time of is our rule of duty: and the betemptation fall away;" and others liever, who understands and feels prove an offence to their neighbours, the genuine tendency of his prinby a conduct inconsistent with their ciples, would, however assured of avowed principles. Should we sup- his own salvation, be ready to leave pose that St. Paul meant to intimate the world with groans and tears, to the Philippians, that they would on reflecting that his misconduct do well to distrust themselves, had emboldened the enemies of the though he had expressed a strong Lord to blaspheme; hardened some confidence respecting them, it might in impenitency; deceived others in suggest an useful instruction; for an empty profession; exposed the the Christian who most grows in gospel to profane ridicule and regrace will be least disposed to rely proach, and overwhelmed the friends on the favourable opinion of his of truth with grief and discouragebrethren; knowing that they cannot ment.

discern the secrets of his heart; Our path through life is interconscious of many inward evils that spersed with stumblingblocks, which none suspect; and aware that bro-Satan hath placed there, by means therly love induces candour in judg-of infidels, hypocrites, apostates, ing others, and severity only towards deceivers, and inconsistent profesourselves. But the new convert, sors. It behoves us, therefore, "to

watch and be sober;" yet, unless that he may be preserved "without the Lord keep us, we shall watch offence until the day of Christ." in vain so that while we walk On the contrary, when professors circumspectly and cautiously, we deem it a mark of proficiency, that should pray without ceasing, "Hold they are freed from all concern thou me up, and I shall be safe;" about these things; when they and, while we carefully avoid every really grow more lax in their conoccasion of stumbling, we ought to duct, and regardless what impres→ use every precaution not to throw sions it may make on others; it is any stumblingblocks in the way of evident that they are declining in our brethren. For this must be grace, if not wholly destitute of the consequence, if we imbibe, divine life, whatever opinion they countenance, or propagate erroneous may form of themselves. The primiopinions; if we be drawn into any tive churches were troubled with glaring indiscretion or inconsist-persons of this description, who ency; if we yield to temptation in deemed it a proof of their knowan unguarded hour; and even, if ledge, and a part of their liberty, to we do not carefully "avoid every disregard expediency or propriety appearance of evil." in using their privileges; and to Nothing surely can be more de- please themselves, whatever might sirable to an heir of salvation, than be the consequence. Thus they to pass the time of his sojourning became an offence to their weak in humble fear and circumspection; brethren, not walking charitably tothat he may bring no reproach on wards them. The apostle, therethe gospel while he lives, and leave fore, exhorted them to "follow those a testimony to the excellency of his things which make for peace, and character, in the consciences of his by which one may edify another:" survivors. Thus a man finally rati- he declared, that "if meat made fies every thing he hath said and his brother offend, he would eat no done to recommend the cause of flesh while the world stood, lest he Christ, during the whole course of should make his brother to offend:" his profession: "by well-doing, he and he added, " Be ye followers of puts to silence the ignorance of me, even as I am of Christ." But foolish men;""being dead he yet who can doubt that Paul was more speaketh," and the recollection of advanced in grace than the Chrishis holy conversation perpetuates tians to whom he wrote? He was and stamps a value on his princi- far more conformed to the mind ples; when he can no longer en- that was in Christ, delivered from deavour to disseminate them. In carnal self-love, inspired with zeal proportion to the degree of our for the glory of God, filled with genuine love to the Lord and his love to his brethren, and desirous cause, the desire of thus living and of the salvation of sinners, than dying must gain strength; and the they were. Hence we may indisconsistent Christian, in his delibe- putably conclude, that growth in rate judgment, would prefer death grace consists greatly in an increaswith credit, to the most prosperous ing circumspection respecting our life, connected with becoming a conduct, that we may avoid every disgrace to the gospel. This habi- cause of offence laid in our way, tual disposition will render him and not prove an occasion of stummore vigilant and circumspect, and bling to others. And as our Lord especially more fervent in prayer, has declared that

it is better for

desty, and benevolence, mortifies the desire of victory and applause, and inspires zeal for the honour of God and the salvation of souls. It is, therefore, evident, that this is one important part of growth in grace, though it be seldom duly valued and inculcated.

a man that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depths of the sea, than that he should offend one of the little ones who believe in him,"-how greatly ought we to dread such misconduct, " as may prejudice numbers against the truth, and prove an occasion of their eter- VI. The apostle concludes with nal ruin?" It is to be feared that these words, "That ye may be few of us are wholly guiltless in filled with the fruits of righteousthis respect; and probably we shall ness, which are by Jesus Christ, to find, on accurate self-examination, the praise and glory of God:" and more cause for deep humiliation this evidently comprises another than we suspect. particular of great importance in But it would exceed the bounds this inquiry. The care, expense, assigned to this treatise, should the and labour of planting, grafting, subject of offences be considered in pruning, and tending the tree, have a manner suitable to its importance: respect to the fruit expected from especially as another occasion will it; without which no man would offer of resuming it. Yet, before be satisfied with its stately growth, we proceed further, it may be proper redundant foliage, or beautiful blosto call the reader's attention to that soms. The whole plan of redempsource of scandals, which our Lord tion, the humiliation and sufferings hath especially selected, namely, of the divine Saviour, the inspiration discords and contentions among his of the Holy Scriptures, the preached disciples. Matt. xviii. Bitter con- gospel, and the instituted orditroversies among professors of the nances, are entirely designed to rengospel; mutual accusations, if not der men fruitful in good works; invectives, and slanders; appeals and if this end be not answered in to the world in print of one party those who profess the gospel, the against another; and many other whole as to them has hitherto been effects of pride, selfishness, and re- ineffectual. "What could I have sentment, too common at this day, done more to my vineyard that I are not only deviations from the have not done in it? wherefore, rules our Lord hath prescribed in when I looked that it should bring this case, but diametrically oppo- forth grapes, brought it forth wild site to them; and constitute of grapes." Even the work of the fences of the most pernicious and Holy Spirit, in regenerating, illulamentable kind. But growth in minating, convincing, and comfortgrace proportionably destroys the ing the soul, is entirely subservient root of this bitterness, and renders to the Lord's design of rendering men cautious not to disgrace the it holy and fruitful: nor is any common cause, by an eagerness to knowledge, experience, faith, joy, vindicate their own characters, se- or confidence, genuine, which is cure their own interests, or expose not connected with fruitfulness, or the crimes of their opponents. It productive of it. Every tree that renders them averse to controversy bringeth not forth good fruit is when it can be avoided; and when hewn down and cast into the fire." constrained to contend for the truth, it dictates candour, meekness, mo

Whatever part of a believer's conduct tends to make known the

glorious perfections and works of truth, and constancy, cheerfulness, God, and to promote the credit of and meekness in suffering for it; the gospel, the conversion of sin-we have the general outlines of ners, and the peace or purity of the Christian fruitfulness.

church; whatever may diminish The good ground "brought forth the sum total of ignorance, error, fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and vice, and misery in the world, or some a hundred fold." All beincrease that of true knowledge, lievers are in some measure fruitful, wisdom, holiness, and felicity; in when their principles have had time short, whatever does real good to to produce the proper effect: but mankind, in their temporal or spi- the apostle prayed for his beloved ritual concerns, is good fruit: all people, "that they might be filled else should be counted but as leaves with the fruits of righteousness." and blossoms. An upright, faithful, He earnestly desired, that they blameless, benevolent, peaceable, might produce all the fruits of the forgiving, pure, and holy conversa- Spirit, Gal. v. 22, 23, in a degree tion; a cheerful, thankful, resigned, fully adequate to their abilities and and patient spirit; a reverential opportunities; that none of their and stated attendance on the ordi- talents might be buried or misemnances of public and family wor-ployed, nor any thing neglected, or ship; a conscientious regard to the left unattempted, by which they will of God, in our dealings with might glorify God and do good to men, and in our behaviour towards men. We cannot think ourselves all who are in any way related to perfect in this life, without being us, even when they neglect their justly chargeable with pride; nor reciprocal duties; and an habitual can we neglect to pray for perfecmoderation, in all the pursuits, in- tion and follow after it, without terests, and pleasures of life, have criminal negligence and toleration a manifest tendency thus to adorn of sin in our hearts and lives. our profession and benefit mankind. Professors of the gospel too often To these we may add a faithful resemble those trees, which must improvement of the talents com- be very carefully examined, before mitted to our stewardship; what-it can be determined, whether they ever measure of authority, influence, bear any fruit or no. But the aposabilities, learning, or riches, may tle could not be satisfied with such be assigned to us by our common ambiguous characters; he wished Master; for with such talents we to see his people, like such fruit may do proportionable good; pro- trees as attract the notice and advided we be influenced by evan-miration of every traveller, while at gelical principles, avail ourselves of one glance he sees all the branches advantages and opportunities, and loaded with the valuable produce. ask wisdom of God to direct us in It must then be manifest that the our endeavours. All those liberal increase of fruitfulness is one essenacts of piety and charity, which tial branch of the believer's growth Christians perform with that portion in grace; nay, indeed, that all the of their time, attention, or property, other particulars are principally imwhich others waste or abuse, are portant because of their subserfruits of righteousness, acceptable viency to this grand object. This to God through Jesus Christ. And might be more copiously proved and when we connect with these things illustrated, but it seems too obvious a holy boldness in professing the to require it. Our Lord declares,