Seeing, then, that God esteems his people so highly, we may perceive,
II. The interest which we also, from this considera- tion, should take in their welfare —
They should undoubtedly be dear to us. We should take a lively interest in,
1. The Church at large —
[We are taught, in our daily prayers, to make this a leading petition, " Thy kingdom come." And we should not only desire it, but labour to promote it to the utmost of our power. We should labour in it for the world's sake. Who would not wish that the wretched bond-slaves of Satan should be rescued from his dominion, and be brought into the liberty of God's dear children ? It matters not whether they belong to the civilized or uncivilized world ; for with God " there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Bar- barian, Scythian, bond, nor free ; but Christ is all, and in allr." The meanest Hottentot, who is brought to the knowledge of Christ, is made a jewel in the Redeemer's crown, and is not a whit less dear to him than the greatest monarch upon earth. And should we account any labour too great, if peradventure we may be instruments in God's hands to " pluck brands out of the burning," and to form them as pillars for the temple of our God ; or to wrest jewels from Satan's crown, and polish them for the crown of our Redeemer ? I say, the man who pants not to help forward such offices of love as these, has yet to learn wherein true love consists.
And should we not engage in this work for our Redeemers sake ? Has he left his throne in glory for us, and submitted to death, even the accursed death upon the cross, for us ? and shall we feel no zeal for his glory ? Shall we be indifferent, whether he ever " see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied?" The prospect of bringing many sons to glory was " the joy set before him, for which he endured the cross and despised the shame, till he sat down at the right hand of the throne of Gods." And shall we be indifferent, whether he ever attain that joy? Even the honour of having "men as our own joy and crown of rejoicing" in the latter day1, might well be a sufficient stimulus to our exertion in their behalf: but, to gather them as jewels for the Redeemer's crown, jewels in whom he shall be glorified to all eternity, should be regarded by us as the most honourable office that can be sustained, the most delightful work in which it is possible to be engaged.]
r Col. iii. 11. ■ Heb. xii. 2. * 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20.