in our own strength : (if we do, we shall surely fail :) but we must exert ourselves notwithstanding : and the very circum- stance of its being " God alone who can work in us either to will or do," is our incentive and encouragement to " work out our own salvation with fear and trembling"." If we cannot work without God, neither will God work without us. We must "give all diligence to make our calling and election surex." We must " keep ourselves in the love of Gody :" we must " stir up (like the stirring of a fire) the gift of God that is in usz :" we must from time to time " be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain in us, that are ready to diea." In a word, we must be " keeping up the fire on the altar, and never suffer it to go out."
This, indeed, was the office of the priests under the Law ; and so it is under the Gospel : and this is, indeed, the very end at which we aim in all our ministrations. We never kindled a fire in any of your hearts ; nor ever could : that was God's work alone. But we would bring the word, and lay it on the altar of your hearts ; and endeavour to fan the flame ; that so the fire may burn more pure and ardent, and every offering which you present before God may go up with acceptance before him. But let me say, that, under the Christian dispen- sation, ye all are " a royal priesthood:" there is now no differ- ence between Jew and Greek, or between male and female : ye therefore must from morning to evening, and from evening to morning, be bringing fresh fuel to the fire ; by reading, by meditation, by prayer, by conversation, by an attendance on social and public ordinances, by visiting the sick, and by what- ever may have a tendency to quicken and augment the life of God in your souls. The sacred fire must either languish or increase : it never can continue long in the same state. See to it, then, that you " grow in grace," and " look to yourselves that ye lose not the things that ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward V]
3. That every sacrifice which we offer in God's
appointed way shall surely be accepted of him —
[There is the fire : see it blazing on the altar. Wherefore is it thus kept up ? kept up, too, by God's express command ? Wherefore ? that ye may know assuredly that God is there, ready to accept your every offering. You think, perhaps, that you have no offering worthy of his acceptance. But do you not know, that he who was not able to bring a kid, or a lamb, or even two young pigeons, might bring a small measure of fine flour ; and that that should be burnt upon the altar for him,
» Phil. ii. 12, 13. x 2 Pet. i. 10. J Jude, ver. 21.
z 2 Tim.i. 6. See the Greek. a Rev. iii. 2. * 2 John 8.