them, and, perhaps, openly revile and slander. Or, can you "bless God, even the Father, and curse men, who are made after the similitude of God?" For hear the affectionate expostulation of the apostle, "I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntiche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord."† And, in order to that, hear him again. Look not every man on his own things, but

every man also on the

things of others." Insisting upon your own rights, proving the injurious conduct of your neighbour, showing how ill he has behaved to you, and how much better you have behaved yourselves, this is not the way to make up quarrels. Judge yourselves. See whether ye might not have made, and ought not now to make, more allowances. Inquire what the matter in dispute is worth, whether it is worth a straw in comparison with peace, and the honour of the Gospel? Whether, indeed, the dispute really is about this straw after all? Whether, indeed, it be not the usual controversy, whether of us twain shall be greatest, and then, if that be the object, who is greatest? The one, I trow, in most cases, who yields first. He that "ruleth his spirit," for that is divine grace; not he that has gained his point, for that may be mere hu

* See James iii. 9.

‡ Phil. ii. 4.

Phil. iv. 2.

man obstinacy and selfishness. "Overcome evil with good."*"Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye;"† "and add to your faith brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity ;" and then "the word of Christ may dwell in you richly in all wisdom;" then " ye may teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord;"§ then ye may say each of you to his neighbour, "O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify his name together." || Then ye may strengthen one another's hands in God, and in prayer bear one another's burdens. Then ye may grow up together into one spiritual temple, and "adorn the doctrine" of your God and Saviour in all things. Then the Scripture shall be fulfilled, "I will walk in you and dwell in you,"— and sacraments, and sabbaths, and religious ordinances shall all be blessed to you; and “the Lord whom ye seek shall come into his temple" in your hearts, and no adversary of your salvation shall abide the day of his coming, nor any evil lust

*Rom. xii. 21. + Col. iii. 12, 13. § Col. iii. 16.

2 Peter i. 5—7.

|| Psalm xxxiv. 3.

exalt itself when he appeareth, for "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and purge you as gold and silver, that ye shall offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.* And as through the Spirit ye bring right dispositions to his house, what ye do there, through his blessing upon it, shall increase them. Your graces shall all be strengthened. And having lived together in imperfect love, and with imperfect views of God on earth, ye shall live together, it may be humbly hoped, in perfect love in heaven, and see Him face to face.

* Malachi iii. 1, 2.

362

SERMON XVII.

MEN'S APPETITE FOR FALSE DOCTRINE.

ISAIAH XXX. 10, 11.

"Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."

"From all

THAT is a wise prayer of our church, false doctrine, good Lord, deliver us.' For erroneous principles can hardly fail to lead to evil practice; and "if the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness!" It is, besides, a most necessary prayer for such as we are, to offer up; for indeed we are fond of false

* See Matt. vi. 23.

doctrine; predisposed to be misled by it when presented to us, and to prefer it to uncompromising truth. To this effect is God's testimony concerning Israel: "Now go, write it before them in a table," he says, "and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." And then comes a de

claration of the consequences: "Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant."

That we ourselves may not come into a like condemnation, it may be useful to consider two things.

I. First, men's appetite for false doctrine.

II. Secondly, the evil which must come upon them if their appetite shall be indulged. On these heads I purpose to discourse, and to ground upon them a few words of exhortation.