of Man be ashamed when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angek."
There are many ways of being ashamed of Christ. We are guilty of it whenever we are afraid of letting men know that we love His doctrines, His precepts, His people, and His ordinances. We are guilty of it when- ever we allow the fear of man to prevail over us, and to keep us back from letting others see that we are decided Christians. Whenever we act in this way, we are denying our Master, and committing a great sin.
The wickedness of being ashamed of Christ is very great. It is a proof of unbelief. It shows that we care more for the praise of man whom we can see, than that of God whom we cannot see. — It is a proof of ingratitude. It shows that we fear con- fessing Him before man who was not ashamed to die for us upon the cross. Wretched indeed are they who give way to this sin. Here, in this world, they are always mise- rable. A bad conscience rdbs them of peace. In the world to come they can look for no comfort. In the day of judgment they must expect to be disowned by Christ to all eternity, if they will not confess Christ for a few years upon earth.
Let us resolve never to be ashamed of Christ. Of sin and worldliness we may well be ashamed. Of Christ and His cause we have no right to be ashamed at all. Bold- ness in Christ's service always brings its own reward. The boldest Christian is always the happiest man.
Notes. Luke IX. 23—27.
23. — [ WiU come.] The word " will " here, and in the expression in the following verse, " will save/' must he interpreted as, *' wills