a candid examination of their own state before God. Hence then he should speak " with fear," even as the apostle Paul himself did at Corinth, where, as he himself tells us, '' he was among them in weakness and fear and much trembling ^" By thus combining meekness with fidelity, and fear with zeal, he may hope that he shall be the means of silencing opposers, and of winning many who would never have attended to the written or preached word ^.]
I would yet further enforce the exhortation in our text, with such ADVICE as naturally arises out of it : Let it be the daily labour of your lives to be such as our text requires :
1 . Be intelligent Christians —
[You ought to be able to " give to every inquirer a reason of the hope that is in you." It is a disgrace to a Christian not to possess such a measure of divine knowledge, as shall qualify him for this. It is not necessary that every Christian should be a disputant, and be able to enter into theological controversies: but every man should be able to answer this question, " Why are you a Christian?" Alas ! The generality of Christians, so called, can assign no better reason for being a Christian, than a Turk can for being a Mahometan. But to all such I must say, You have yet to learn what a Scriptural hope is ; and have only " the hope of an hypocrite, which will be swept away like a spider's web." I beseech you all then to study the Scriptures with all diligence ; and to pray unto God, that you may be made wise by them unto everlasting salvation.]
2. Be stedfast Christians —
[You must expect that your faith and patience will be tried : but you must not give way to fear, or be diverted from your duty by any consideration whatever. There should be in you such an hope, as, like an anchor of the soul, shall keep you stedfast amidst all the storms and tem])ests with which you may be assailed ^. By means of this divine princijjle you should be realizing all the glories of the eternal world ; in the view of which, all earthly glories will sink into insignifi- cance, and all earthly trials appear " light and momentary \" Survey ihen the inheritance to which you are begotten : take Pisgali views of the Promised Land : and then you shall be enabled to say respecting every thing that may occur, " None of these things move me ; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may but finish my course with joy."]
3. Be humble Christians —
[Humility *lCor. ii. 3. ' 1 Pet, iii. 1,2. ^Heb. vi. Jg. '^ 2 Cor. i\M7, 18.