1. The consideration that God has extended to us, who were not his people, all the privileges and blessings of his children, should be a con- stant subject of gratitude, vs. 25, 26.
2. If only a remnant of the Jewish church, God's own people, were saved, how careful and solicitous should all professors of religion be, that their faith and hope be well founded, vs. 27 — 29.
3. Let no man think error in doctrine a slight practical evil. No road to perdition has ever been more thronged than that of false doctrine. Error is a shield over the conscience, and a bandage over the eyes, vs. 30, 31.
4. No form of error is more destructive than that which leads to self- dependence ; either reliance on our own powers, or on our own merit, V. 32.
5. To criminate God, and excuse ourselves, is always an evidence of ignorance and depravity, v. 32.
6. Christ declared those blessed who were not offended at him. If our hearts are right in the sight of God, Jesus Christ is to us at once the object of supreme affection, and the sole ground of confidence, v. 33.
7. The gospel produced at first the same effects as those we now wit- ness. It had the same obstacles to surmount ; and it was received or rejected by the same cla'sses of men then as now. Its history, therefore, is replete with practical instruction.