When some of the early Christians were not contented to wait the coming of the fore-named obligation, but sought martyrdom of their own accord, although our Lord enjoined them when persecuted in one city to flee into another, the Church interposed, and set a mark of public censure upon such rash exposures of the lives of faithful men. Will you say, then, that St. Paul put forward words of counsel for which he acknowledged that, in advising what was best for those days of peril, he had no commandment? He did so; but as he had received no commandment, so did he impose none. He left his converts free to follow his advice according to their own discretion: he laid no bond upon them, no vow, no snare, no scruple; for, indeed, he was the steady foe to things unbidden. And what, then, are the general and never changing precepts which no flight of zeal can surpass? We have already taken one such comprehensive rule from our Lord’s lips; but to enlarge a little on a theme so seasonable at all times, we may remark, that the word of precept requires us to weigh and esteem things according to their real worth; to seek the kingdom of God first, and his righteousness; to prize that pearl of price above all other things; to take readily, as St. Paul showed in his example, what God giveth, with a thankful and becoming use of the welcome gift, but with a just sense that what may be bitter and distasteful, if such be the cup, will serve for good to those who love God; we are thus enjoined to be content with such things as we have, to keep under and to combat every evil inclination, for there lies the place and proper exercise of self-denial; it will prove unfit and injurious when pressed beyond its uses. It was the aim of the apostle to set free to all things lawful and becoming, but not to be brought under the power of any; which shows at once the misery and inconvenience of an iron chain, whether forged by others, and imposed upon us in their names, or adopted by our own devices. He who will set up better rules than these, must not expect his word to be taken for them; he must prove them by the known declaration of the will of God, or by sufficient reasons, tried by the sure word of the _commandment_.