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343
CIMRISSYAN
MOhALIT
Y,
VIZ.
[SERM.
XX.
greater
offence
to
the gentile christians, and
be
likely
to
do
more
hurt
than
good,
he
withstood
Peter
to the
face,
for
his sinful
compliance
with
the
uncharitable
Jews:
He
reproved
him for dissembling,
and
chid him
because
he
walked
not
uprightly,
according
to
the
truth of
the
gospel,
and
would
not give place
to
him
by
subjection;
Sao,
not
for
an hour, Gal.
ii.
5,
11, 14,
&c.
There are
some seasons
therefore
when
we.
may
in-
dulge an
innocent
compliance
with
our
company in
things
lawful; in
order
to do
credit to the
gospel
of
Christ, and make our
profession
appear
lovely
and ho-
nourable
in
the
eyes
of
all
:
But there are other seasons
when circumstances are
so
placed,
that
we
may
not in-
dulge the same compliances, lest
our
liberty
be
construed
to an
evil
purpose, and
we
bring more scandal than ho-
nour
to
our
profession
by it.
I
grant
there are
some difficulties
attending particular
cases
in the
christian
life,
and it
is
hard to
know some-
times how
far
we
may
go.
It
is
no easy
matter
to
tread
in the
apostle's steps,
to
become
all
things
to
all men,
and yet be
true
to Christ.
In
the general,
let
this be
our
great
rule, to
act
always
with
honest
zeal
for
the
glory
of God,
and
see
that
we
please
him in
the
first
place
;
and then
as
far
as
possible
to please all
men,
not
seeking
our
own
profit,
but
the
profit
of
many,
that
they
may
be
saved,
1
Cor.
x.
31,
32, 33.
And
if
while
we.
endeavour
to
be
true
to God,
we
should
happen
to
be
less
complaisant to
men,
we
shall
certainly
find
favour
at
the throne
of
God, and
then
we
ought
not
to be over
solicitous
whether
men
be
pleased, or
no.
Thus
1
have
finished
the first general head,
which was
to
shew
the
extent
and latitude
of
this
virtue, or what
is
included
in
the nature
of
this
truth,
which the
apostle
recommends
to christians.
It
contains
in
it
veracity
or
sincerity, faithfulness
and constancy:
And
a
lovely
cha-
racter
it
is
indeed,
when
it
shines
in
its full glory.
But it
is
now
time to enquire,
which
of
us
can
say,
This
character
belongs
to
me
?
Am
I
this
true,
this
sincere, this faithful, this
constant
christian
?
Am
I
always
careful
that
my
words
are
conformable
to
my
heart,
and express the
honest
sense
of
my
soul
?
Do
I
speak nothing
but
what
I
believe to be
true, and set
a
continual guard upon
the
door of
my
lips,
lest they
utter.