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1. This is a godly fear, and "blessed is he" which "standeth in fear," not of God's mercy, but of his own frailty (Proverbs 28:14), as Job did (Job 9:28). We must have confidence towards God, but diffidence towards ourselves; for God will be true to us if we be true to Him. This fear is not contrary to faith, but cannot stand without it.

2. The apostle warneth us that we are all in a house ready to fall, all in a ship ready to sink, and all in a body ready to sin. Who can say what he will do when he is tried? "Take heed" is a good staff to stay upon, and so often a man sins as he casts it from him; all go astray.

3. Who would have said that the chosen people should become the cursedest upon the earth? Who would have thought that Noah, when he builded the ark, because he believed in God, would have given the first example of sins to his own sons? Who would have thought that David, when he was persecuted for his godliness in the desert, would have murdered Uriah, when the blessings of God did call him to thankfulness? Who would have thought that Solomon, the wisest man, would have taken more concubines unto him than any heathen the world? "How are the mighty overthrown!" Like Peter, which said he would never forsake Christ, and forsook Him first. These strong oaks lie in the dust, that they which think they. stand may take heed lest they fall. Can I look upon these ruins without compassion, or remember them without fear? Who am I that I should stand like a shrub, when these cedars are blown down to the ground? They which are charged like Hazael (2 Kings 8:13) blush to hear thus of themselves, and would have scorned sometime at him which should once have said. when they were zealous and studious preachers, that the time would come when they should be time-servers, lovers of the world, and persecutors. What Shall we do then when we hear of other men's thoughts? Not talk as we do, but beware by them, and think, Am I better than he? am I stronger than Samson? wiser than Solomon? firmer than Peter, if God should leave me to myself? There is no salt but may lose his saltness, no wine but may lose his strength, no flower but may lose his scent, no light but may be eclipsed, no beauty but may be stained, no fruit but may be blasted, nor soul but may be corrupted.

4. So earnestly must we call upon our souls, that we be not weary of well-doing; for happier are the children that never began, than Judas, whose end was worse than his beginning.

(H. Smith.)

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KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

WEB: Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.