Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

bear to avenge their own cause, namely, that vengeance will one day be executed on their enemies by himself, and that too in a more equitable and more effectual manner than it could be by an arm of flesh-Nor will he punish only the positive evils that may be inflicted on them; he will mark also an inattention to their wants, and treat as despisers of himself, those, who did not actively administer to their necessities-]

INFER

1. How low are our conceptions of God's love to man! [How little are any of us able to realize the idea in the text! how little can we comprehend the heights and depths of such unsearchable love!-Still is he dealing with us as with his people of old-Yet we, like little infants, are almost unconscious of our Father's love-But O that every heart might "praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!"-]

2. How tender ought to be our concern for God!

[In general we think but little of his honour in the world -But shall he be so mindful of us, and we be forgetful of him? Shall he be so concerned for our welfare, and we be indifferent about his glory-Shall not sin, the accursed thing which he hates, be a source of pain and anguish to our minds? Could we pierce the eye of an earthly parent, and be unconcerned about it?-O let us feel our obligations to God, and labour to requite his kindness by a suitable deportmentAnd, while we intreat him to keep us as the apple of his eye,e let us keep his "law as the apple of our eye," and, "whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, do all to his glory"s-]

3. How strong a motive have we to beneficence!

[If God be so sensible of any injuries we receive, surely he cannot be regardless of any benefits conferred upon us; if he avenge the one, surely he will also reward the otherNor is this an uncertain deduction of human reason: he himself tells us, that at the last day every kindness that was shewn to us shall be recorded as shewn to himself, and a suitable recompense be awarded for it; nor shall even a cup of

[blocks in formation]

c Deut. xxxii. 9—12. and Isai. Ixiii. 9.

d See the conduct of Moses, Exod. xxxii. 11-13. and of Joshua,

e Ps. xvii. 8.

E 1 Cor. x. 31.

f Prov. vii. 2.

h Matt. xxv. 34, 35.

[Josh. vii. 9.

cold water given to one of his disciples lose its reward' Shall not then this thought stimulate us to acts of beneficence? Can I, in administering to the poor, relieve my GOD? Can I assist him, who, as my great High Priest, is so tenderly touched with the feeling of all my infirmities? O let no opportunity then be lost; nor let me ever think much of any thing that I can do for such a tender Friend, such an adorable Benefactor!-]

i Matt. x. 42.

Heb. iv. 15.

DXXXVII. THE REWARD OF HOLINESS.

Rev. iii. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

THERE will doubtless be a wide difference between the states of different men in the eternal world: eternal happiness or misery being awarded to them according to their conduct in this present life. This agrees with the whole tenor of scripture; and is particularly declared, in the words before us, for the comfort of the godly in the church of Sardis. In our Lord's address to them we may observe

I. His testimony respecting them

It is no easy matter to keep our garments clean in the midst of a defiling world

[Sin is that, which fixes the foulest stain upon the soul, and to which we are exposed every moment of our lives. There is no situation, whether of health or sickness, of affluence or poverty, which does not bring with it some peculiar temptations: nor any object, which, through the influence of Satan, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, may not become a snare to us. Surely we may almost as well hope to walk in a miry place, and in the midst of a bustling crowd, without soiling the purest garment, as to sojourn for any time in such a world as this without contracting defilement to our souls.]

Yet are there some in every place, who, amidst abounding iniquities, are enabled to keep themselves pure

fThe church of Sardis had greatly declined in spirituality

and vital godliness. Many had "a name to live," but the greater part were either still "dead" in trespasses and sins, or had relapsed into a state of extreme deadness and formality. But the heart-searching God, beheld a few amongst them, who maintained the life and power of religion in their souls; and who, if they could not avoid every spot of sin, yet, on the whole, kept their garments free from any great or habitual pollution. The state of the church at this time very much resembles that of Sardis; little but the name and profession of Christianity is to be seen: But, we trust, there are a few, respecting whom God can testify, that they act up to the spirit of their profession, and, in spite of all the terrors of persecution, or the allurements of sense, preserve, on the whole, a conscience void of offence towards God and man.]

That such are distinguished objects of God's favour will appear from

II. His promise to them

God will not suffer his faithful people to go unrewarded. He here assures us, that

There is not only a certain connexion, but a peculiar correspondence between the exercise of religion, and its reward

[The "walking with Christ in white" garments may refer either to the priestly garments which were worn, when they ministered before the Lord, or, rather, to those with which conquerors were adorned in the day of their triumph. This latter idea seems most appropriate to the context and is confirmed by the representation given us of the church triumphant. But in either view the correspondence is clear, and the illustration beautiful. Have the saints purified themselves in order that they may serve God acceptably on earth? They shall be made holy as God himself is holy, that they may be fit to serve him in his temple above. Have they, under the Captain of their salvation, subdued their spiritual enemies; they shall "walk with him in white," partaking of his triumphs, while they reap the fruits of their own.]

In some sense, the exercise of religion is also the ground of its reward

[Doubtless, the meritorious ground of salvation must be found in Christ alone. It is not possible for us to merit a reward at the hands of God; because, "if we had done all that was commanded us, we should be only unprofitable servants." But the solemnities of the day of judgment being intended for the displaying of the perfect equity of the Judge,

a Ver. 5.
VOL. V.

b Rev. vii. 9, 10.
Hh

• Rom. ii. 5.

he has told us, that, he will then declare our conscientious discharge of our duty, or our neglect of it, to be the ground and reason of his sentence. By this means it will be manifest to all, that there is a suitableness between every man's doom, and his own proper character. They who are adjudged to happiness will appear "meet" for the inheritance of the saints in light;" and they, who are consigned over to misery, will appear to have "fitted themselves for the destruction" that comes upon them.]

INFER

1. What need have we to guard against self-deception! [They who professed Christianity at Sardis, most probably thought themselves to be Christians indeed: their having dared to avow themselves followers of Christ in that persecuting age, would seem to them a sufficient reason for concluding themselves interested in his salvation. Rut God saw, and testified, that, amongst them all, there were but few, whose hearts were upright, or whose conduct warranted them to expect his favour. What then shall we say respecting the generality of Christians in this day, when all are educated in the faith of Christ; Are not-many, very many, "dead while they have a name to live?" And, in proof of it, Are they not continually defiling their garments with allowed sin? No doubt they are. Let us then beware lest we be satisfied with the profession of Christianity; and let us look to it, that we bear the image of Christ, and walk as he walked.]

2. What encouragement have we to be circumspect in our conduct!

[We cannot indeed keep our garments clean, if we do not maintain a constant watchfulness and dependence upon God. But what greater incentive to diligence can we desire, than that contained in this promise? Can we contemplate the reward, and grudge the labour necessary to secure it? Can we behold the honour which God himself puts upon our poor attainments, and not exert ourselves to the utmost to increase them? May we possess a meetness for all the glory of heaven, yea, can we obtain from the very lips of our Judge an acknowledgment that "we are worthy," and shall we not take heed to our ways, and "keep ourselves unspotted from the world?" Let us then "make our garments whitein the blood of the Lamb;" and labour diligently to preserve them so, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God."]

Matt. xxv. 34-46.
Rom. . 22.

e Col. i. 12.
2 Cor. vii. 1.

DXXXVIII. ALL NEEDFUL SUPPLIES THROUGH

CHRIST.

Phil. iv. 19. My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

AS it is a pleasing reflection to a generous man, that the object whom he relieves will have his condition meliorated, so is it a most delightful thought to a grateful mind, that there is One both able and engaged to recompense our benefactors-Were it not for this consideration, the reluctance, which many feel to be burthensome to their friends, would scarce suffer them to accept the most necdful assistances: but this hope both enhances the value, and gives zest to the enjoyment, of every kindness we receive-Such was the apostle's expe. rience, when his necessities had been relieved by the Philippian church: he would have been well content to have wanted their present, as far as it related to his own comfort; but, as it was profitable to the donors them. selves, he "desired fruit that might abound to their ac count"-Having declared on what grounds he was so well pleased with their gifts, he assured them, that God would be mindful of all their wants, and abundantly supply them in the hour of need

To enter fully into the scope of his words we should enquire

I. When are we authorized to call God our God?

It is not every claim that presumptuous sinners take upon them to advance, that will be found authorized in the holy scriptures; for our Lord himself assured many that Satan was their father, at the very time that they called themselves the children of God"-But we may justly consider God as standing in this relation to us

1. When we are born again of his Spirit

[While we continue in our natural state, we are enemies to God, and God is an enemy to us-But when we are begotten by the word and Spirit of God, we are privileged to consider ourselves as his children, and to cry to him, Abba, Father

Phil. iv. 17. b John viii. 41, 44. • John i. 12. Gal. iv. 6.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »