[Humility is the root and summit of Christian perfection. If men see you offended and irritated by the unkind usage •which you experience, they will say, " Wherein are their principles superior to ours ; or their conduct better than ours? They pretend to possess a hope that lifts up their sovds in an extraordinary degree : but wherein does it shew itself? and what do they more than others? It is no uncommon thing for persons professing godliness to feel towards their revilers and persecutors the very same contempt and hatred which their persecutors manifest towards them. But this is a proof, that, whatever they may profess of love to Christ, they have never attained " the mind that was in Christ." If you would be Christians indeed, you must resemble Him " who was lecl like a lamb to the slaughter, and M'as dumb before his perse- cutors, even as a sheep before its shearers is dumb," and who in the very agonies of crucifixion prayed for his murderers. So must you : you must " shew all meekness towards all men,'* and be more fearful of dishonouring God, or of casting a stumbling-block before your enemies, by any thing hasty or ill-advised, than of suffering all that the most bitter persecu- tors can inflict upon you. Thus " letting patience have its perfect work, you will be perfect and entire, wanting nothing'."]
' James i.4.
1 Pet. iv. 3. The time past of our Vfe may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.
THE end of all God's dispensations towards bis people is to promote their advancement in righteous- ness and true holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ him- self " was made perfect through sufferings ;" and the afflictions which his people suffer, from whatsoever quarter they arise, are intended " for their profit, to make them partakers of God's holiness." The Lord's people are "ordained to suffer," in conformity to their Divine Master : and their great concern should be, not so much to get rid of their trials, as to make a due improvement of them, by " ceasing from sin," and living more entirely to God, and for God. To this purpose the Apostle speaks in the verses before
my