his advice, he is glad to lead the way*, and to profit others by his example, as well as by his precepts.
This will be an universally prevalent disposition in the latter dayu; and it will assuredly prevail, wherever the grace of God is received in truth.]
2. A zealous attachment to his people — [A person truly converted to God can no longer associate with those who would turn him from the paths of righteous- ness^ He seeks rather those who will aid him in his journey heaven-ward. He sees that God is with his people, " comfort- ing them with his presencey," and " blessing them with all spiritual blessings2." He therefore desires to cast in his lot with them3; he "takes the Lord's people, as it were, by the skirt, saying, I will go with you ;" and, with Moses, accounts it better to renounce all the vanities of the world, and to " suffer affliction with the Lord's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season15." In this choice, he is not insti- gated by fear, as the heathen were in the days of Esther0, but from a firm persuasion that God is with his Church, and that there is no solid happiness to be enjoyed but in connexion with itd.]
This subject affords ample matter,
1. For reproof —
[With all our profession of Christianity, the generality never once in all their lives have manifested such a disposition as is described above. We frequently say to each other, ' Let us go to this or that amusement;' but never, "Let us go speedily and seek the Lord." On the contrary, though fre- quently and earnestly exhorted by the ministers of God, we cannot even be persuaded to seek the Lord for ourselves. What resemblance then is there between such persons, and the Christians of the latter day ? Let us know that to call ourselves Christians, while we are wholly destitute of Christian principles and Christian habits, is a fond and fatal delusion.]
2. For encouragement —
[God is with his church at this time, as well as in the days of old6 : and his people can testify, that it is well with those who seek his facef. Behold, then, we say to all, as Moses to his father-in-law, "We are journeying unto the place of
t " / will go also." u Mic. iv. 1, 2. x 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15. y John xiv. 21, 22. * Eph. i. 3.
a Ps. xvi. 3. Isai. xliv. 5. with Acts ii. 41. *> Heb. xi. 24 — 26.
« Esth. viii. 17. cl 1 Cor. xiv. 25. e Matt, xxviii. 20.
f Eccl. viii. 12. with 2 Chron. xxvi. 5.