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soon see that, however man may can direct his steps."

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Once more:-It is God alone that can uphold us in the discharge of such duties. Recall to mind all that has been set forth under the images to which my text refers; and then say, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Who can support the soul, so as that neither the world with all its temptations, nor the flesh with all its corruptions, nor the devil with all his wiles, shall be able to divert it from the path of duty, or to obstruct its progress in the heavenly life-who can do this but God alone? I say then, look to God to give you these high attainments, and to "fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness." Limit not either his power or his grace; but open your mouth wide, and he will fill it."

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I conclude with repeating the injunction in my text: "Consider what I say; and the Lord will give you understanding in all things."]

MMCCXLVI.

PAUL'S LOVE TO THE ELECT EXEMPlified.

2 Tim. ii. 10. I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

THE labours of faithful ministers are, for the most part, but ill requited by a wicked and ungrateful world. But, in the midst of all the opposition they meet with, they have the consolation to know, that all efforts to stop the progress of the Gospel shall be in vain. This was St. Paul's comfort, when imprisoned at Rome for the word's sake, that, however he might be bound, the word was not; and therefore" he submitted the more cheerfully to his troubles, being assured, that his endeavours to save the souls of his fellow-creatures would be crowned with success.

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This subject leads us to consider,

I. St. Paul's love to the elect

Notwithstanding the word "elect" has passed into a term of reproach, there most assuredly is an elect people, "a remnant according to the election of

grace," whom "God has chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth."

Towards these St. Paul felt a peculiar regard

[He loved all, even his very enemies, and would gladly have submitted to the heaviest afflictions for their sake. But his love to the elect was both more exalted in its nature, and more abundant in its degree. He considered them as the special objects of God's love; as children of the same heavenly parent; as members of the same mystical body; and as fellow-heirs of the same glory. Hence they were all engraven on his very heart: and hence he exhorts us, while we do good unto all men, to do it more especially unto the household of faith d.]

For their sake he willingly endured every trouble that could come upon him

[No man ever endured so much as he in his Master's cause. This we may see from the long catalogue of his troubles which he himself has left us. But, says he, "None of these things move mef:" "I rejoice in my sufferings for the elect's sakes" "most gladly will I spend and be spent for them, though the more abundantly I love them, the less I be loved":" I am so "affectionately desirous of them, that I am willing to impart to them, not the Gospel only, but my own soul also, because they are dear unto mei:" " yea, if I be offered (and my blood be poured out as a libation) upon the sacrifice and service of their faith, I joy and rejoice with them all, and desire them also to joy and rejoice with mek;" for, so far am I from looking forward to it with fear, or accounting it an occasion of grief, that I esteem it a blessed subject of mutual congratulations.]

How amiable and praiseworthy was this heavenly disposition!

[Certainly the love of Christ in dying for us, infinitely exceeds all that ever was manifested by any human being. But, next to Christ, St. Paul seems to have most abounded

in love to man. He was indeed a very bright resemblance

of his Divine Master. And what a world would this be, if all were actuated by the same spirit and temper! Even those who cultivate least of this spirit themselves, must confess, that

a Rom. xi. 5.
d Gal. vi. 10.

g Col. i. 24.
k Phil. ii. 17.

b 2 Thess. ii. 13.
e 2 Cor. xi. 23-28.
h 2 Cor. xii. 15.

c Rom. ix. 1—3. f Acts xx. 24.

i 1 Thess. ii. 8.

the universal prevalence of it would make a very heaven upon earth.]

But the Apostle's regard to the elect was not a mere carnal affection, as we shall see, if we consider, II. The end he aimed at on their behalf

The happiness provided for the elect, is exceeding great and glorious

[For them is reserved " salvation," even salvation from sin and Satan, death and hell. It is, moreover, a salvation "with glory;" not a mere exemption from punishment, but an unspeakable felicity in the immediate vision and fruition of their God. Nor is it ever to come to an end: its duration will continue as long as the soul itself shall exist. To crown the whole, it is a salvation in Christ Jesus, not merely as it is purchased by his blood (though that will infinitely enhance its value) but as it is treasured up in him, and shall be enjoyed in and through him, as the one medium of its communication for ever and ever.]

That they might obtain this, was the great object of his desires, the one scope of his labours

[He had no doubt at all respecting his own salvation'. But could he be content to go to heaven alone? No; he would gladly have drawn all he could along with him. It was for this end that he became all things to all men": and to this he looked forward as his joy, his hope, his crown of rejoicing. There was not one weak, but he sympathized with him; not one turned aside, but he burned with an ardent desire to restore him. To such a degree was his soul bound up in the welfare of the elect, that he could say, "Now I live, if ye stand fast in the Lord:" nor did any thing appear too great for him either to do, or suffer, provided he might be instrumental in accomplishing this blessed endo.]

INFER

1. What reason have most professors of religion to be ashamed of their attainments!

[Beyond a doubt, the Apostle's spirit ought to be the spirit of all Christians'. But how little of it is seen in the Christian Church! How many are there who are ready to "bite and devour one another," instead of being willing to lay down their lives for each other! And how little self-denial is

1 2 Cor. v. 1.

n 1 Cor. ix. 22.

9 1 Thess. iii. 7-9.

m So the church. Cant. i. 4.

。 1 Thess. ii. 19.

r 1 John iii. 16.

P 2 Cor. xi. 29.

there even in the best of us! How little will we do, or suffer, either for the temporal or spiritual welfare of our brethren! Let us blush at our want of love; and labour henceforth to benefit the bodies, and more especially to save the souls, of all around us.]

2. How infatuated are they who have no concern for their own souls!

[Wherefore was Paul so earnest for the salvation of others, but because he knew somewhat of the value of a soul? He knew its happiness, if saved; and its misery, if lost. Shall another then be more concerned for us, than we for ourselves? Shall another be ready to do and suffer all things for us, and we be unwilling to do or suffer any thing for our own good? Let us remember, that no present gratifications can compensate for the loss of salvation; and that eternal glory will infinitely over-balance all that can be endured in the pursuit of it.]

3. How must they be blinded by the devil, who oppose the salvation of their fellow-creatures!

[There are too many who scoff at piety, and endeavour, by ridicule or persuasion, to turn men from the practice of it. Alas! what an awful contrast do their characters form with that of the Apostle! Let such consider the warning given. them by our Lord, that it were better for them to have a millstone hanged about their neck, and to be cast into the sea, than they should offend one of his little ones.]

s Luke xvii. 2.

MMCCXLVII.

THE EQUITY OF GOD'S PROCEDURE.

2 Tim. ii. 11–14. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance.

STRANGE as it may seem, it is no uncommon thing for men to arraign the equity of God, and to accuse him of undue severity in the execution of his judgments. The Jewish people of old complained, The ways of the Lord are not equal:" and God, for his own honour's sake, was constrained to vindicate his character in this respect; which he did in

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an open appeal to their judgment, and a candid exposition of the modes of his procedure. "O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?" If a man have sinned and repent, I forgive him but if he turn back to his former wickedness, I make no account of his temporary reformation, but visit all his iniquities upon his head. Is this unequal? Is it not consonant with strict justice?' In like manner St. Paul declares, in the passage before us, that God will act towards men as they act towards him; requiting with good his faithful servants, and marking the disobedient as objects of his displeasure. And that he may the more deeply impress this truth upon our minds, he introduces it with assuring us, that "it is a faithful saying."

From his words we shall be led to consider,

I. The rule of God's procedure in reference to our future destinies

The whole Scripture declares that he will deal with men according to their works; that "to those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; but that to them that are contentious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there shall be indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, even upon every soul of man that doeth evil". To this effect we are here told how God will deal, 1. With the godly

[It is here supposed that the godly will" die with Christ, and suffer with him." And it is true, that all his faithful followers are "crucified with him," and "dead with him." As he died for sin, so they, in conformity to him, and by virtue derived from him, die to sin: they no longer suffer it to act without controul, as once they did, but they "mortify it in all their members," and "crucify the flesh with its affections and lustsd." In acting thus, they of necessity condemn the "world around them, who are lying in wickedness," and ordering their course agreeably to the will of Satan, who worketh in them,

a Ezek. xxxiii. 17-20. d Gal. v. 24.

b Rom. ii. 7-9.
e 1 John v. 19.

e Gal. ii. 20.

f Eph. ii. 2.

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