were those of Abram in comparison of Lot's ! Give to Lot all the joy of successful covetousriess, and conceive him to be filled with exultation at the portion he had gained, and at his prospects of increasing opulence : suppose, on the other hand, Abram im- pressed with thankfulness to God for having enabled him to sacrifice his own interests rather than contend about them, and for having disposed his mind to generosity and love : which of these two had the more solid happiness ? No man who has any just notions of happiness, can entertain a doubt. What then we admire in another, let us cultivate in ourselves : and what we cannot but acknowledge to be highly virtuous and laudable, let us labour to attain, let us endeavour to preserve in constant exercise. " Let us be kindly affectioned one to another in bro- therly love, in honour preferring one another'." Let us " look not on our own things only, but rather and principally on the things of others k." Thus "walking in the steps of our father Abraham," we shall approve ourselves his children ; yea, we shall resemble that greatest of all patterns, the Lord Jesus Christ, who " came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many1." And as Abram was imme- diately visited by God, and refreshed with more assured pro- spects of the promised landm, so shall every one who denies himself for God, be recompensed with present consolations, and eternal joys11.]
1 Rom. xii. 10. * Phil. ii. 4, 5. ' Matt.xx.2G— 28.
m ver. 14 — 17. n Luke xiv. 14.