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We may be guilty of this —

1. By making external things, not religion, the ground of our respect and affection. "Knowing after the flesh" (2 Corinthians 5:16) is to esteem any one out of secular and outward advantages. Says : "We must not judge of faith by persons, but of persons by faith."

2. When we do not carry out the measure and proportion of affection according to the measures and proportions of grace, and pitch our respects there where we find the ground of love most eminent (Psalm 16:3).

3. When we can easily make greatness a cover for baseness, and excuse sin by honour, whereas that is the aggravation; the advantage of greatness makes sin the more notable.

4. When we yield religious respects, give testimonies to men for advantage, and, under pretence of religion, servilely addict ourselves to men for base ends (Jude 1:16).

5. When Church administrations are not carried on with an indifferent and even hand to rich and poor, either by way of exhortation or censure.

6. When we despise the truths of God because of the persons that bring them to us. Matheo Langi, Archbishop of Saltzburg, told every one that the reformation of the. mass was needful, the liberty of meats convenient, and to be disburthened of so many commands of men just; but that a poor monk (meaning Luther) should reform all was not to be endured. So in Christ's time the question was common, "Do any of the rulers believe in Him?" Thus you see we are apt to despise excellent things, because of the despicableness of the instrument. The same words have a different acceptation, because of the different esteem and value of the persons engaged in them. Erasmus observed that what was accounted orthodox in the fathers, was condemned as heretical in Luther.

(T. Manton.)

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KJV: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

WEB: My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.