4. Our love to Christ —
[Notwithstanding in ourselves we are so corrupt, in Christ we are accepted, and beloved of the Lord. Washed in his blood, and clothed in his righteousness, we are presented unto the Father " without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing ; yea, holy, and without blemish." O! how " precious" ought this Saviour to be to all our souls ! How continually should we go to him, and plunge beneath " the fountain of his blood, which was opened for sin and for uncleanness," and which is able to *' cleanse us from all sin!" How should we delight ourselves in him, and " cleave to him," and " glory in him," and devote ourselves to him ! Yes, Brethren, this is the tribute which we owe to our blessed Lord. We must " not continue in sin, that grace may abound," but turn from sin because grace has abounded; and, " because He has bought us with the in- estimable price of his own blood, we should strive to glorify him with our bodies and our spirits, which are his p."]
P 1 Cor. vi. 20.
Prov. xxi. 25. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his
hands refuse to labour.
IT is the duty of a minister to " comfort the Lord's people," and on no account to " make the heart of the righteous sad." Our blessed Lord " brake not the bruised reed, nor quenched the smoking flax :" and in this respect all who minister in his name must follow his example, never " despising the day of small things," but " carrying the lambs in their bo- som, and gently leading them that are with young." But there are occasions whereon they " must change their voice, especially when they stand in doubt of any," or judge it necessary to give a salutary warning to their flocks. Now there is an error against which I would wish aflectionately to guard you, and that is, the laying of an undue stress upon good desires with- out pressing forward for the attainment of the object desired. To this line of instruction I am led by the passage before us ; from which I will take occasion,
L To shew you the influence of good desires.