balance, yea, as lighter than vanity itself. However import- ant the concerns of this world may seem, they are but for a moment: whereas the objects gf the Christian's hope are everlasting. Nor are the sufferings of this present world, how formidable soever in themselves, regarded by him as worthy of any consideration, in comparison of the glory which he sees revealed before his eyes, and which he ex- pects shortly to inherit '^. Here is the great secret of all his movements. Even in this life a man will exercise much la- bour and self-denial, in order to obtain some great advantage : What then will not a man both do and suffer, who has all the glory of heaven in view, and an assured prospect of attaining it, if only he " hold on his way," and " be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel ? "]
Such being the Christian's hope, let us inquire, II. What is his duty in relation to it?
The principle which operates so forcibly on the Christian's mind cannot be fully appreciated by one who is a stranger to it in his own soul : yet may it, by a judicious statement, be brought so far within the view of an unenlightened mind, as to carry convic- tion with it to the heart and conscience: and every one who professes it should be ready to afford to an inquirer all possible satisfaction respecting it: he should " be ready to give to every one a reason of the hope that is in him :"
1 . With frankness and fidelity —
[It is here supposed that an inquiry is made respecting it : for otherwise it is by no means expedient that a Christian be bringing forward his own personal experience, and making that the subject of conversation. To do this is hateful. St. Paul, when forced by the accusations of his enemies to vindi- cate himself, and to declare the experience of his soul, again and again, with indignation as it were against himself, says, " I speak as a fool." And, where it is done without neces- sity, it is as strong a proof of a vain and weak mind as can well be conceived. But where a man asks us a reason of the hope that is in us, we should readily and cheerfully give him jan answer. We should not be ashamed of our principles. We should never doubt whether they will bear us out, provided they be perspicuously and justly stated. We should candidly state, That we are sinners, deserving of God's wrath and indignation : that God has sent liis only- begotten son to die for us : that through his precious blood
we ' Rom. vlii. 18.
1181.] THE christian's REASON Ol' HIS HOPE. 129
we hope and believe that we have obtained the forgiveness of all ovn* sins. We should then state our con\action, that sin- ners redeemed with so inestimable a price are bound to con- secrate themselves to him, and, above all things, to seek the glory of his great name. We should further avow our full persuasion, that in the day of judgment we shall all be dealt with according to our works ; that those who have suffered any thing to stand in competition with their duty to Christ, will assuredly be cast out as wicked and unprofitable servants ; but that they who have loved, and served, and honoured him with their whole hearts, shall be applauded by him as good and faithful servants, and enter for ever into the joy of their Lord. We may then appeal to the most prejudiced mind, and ask, Whether, with such views and principles, it be not our bounden duty to act as we do ?
This kind of statement should be made "readily,'^ to all with- out exception, who desire to hear it, and are ready to attend to it. Whether they be more or less candid in their inquiries, we should account it a valuable opportunity to set before them the leading tiiiths of Christianity; and we should avail our- selves of it, v,^ith a view at least to silence their objections, and, if it may please God, to convert and save their souls.]