welfare of men's souls ! If they think of God in the quality of a Governor and Judge, they are not conscious of any defect, tliough they scarce ever raise their minds to him as their adorable Benefactoi* : and, if they occasionally promote the comfort of men's bodies, they seem to themselves excused for not attending to their souls. But, Beloved, let us not be con- tented to live in so low a region, or to exercise so little grace : but let our love to God and man bear some affinity and pro- portion to the love that God has shewn to us.]
2. For encouragement —
[What is there that we may not expect at the hands of such a God ? We may go to him for ourselves ; we may go to him for others : we may ask of him all manner of grace : the weakest may obtain strength ; and the most wavering may obtain establishment in the Divine life. Let us know the pri- vilege of prayer. Let vis, especially under our afflictions, be- take ourselves to a throne of Grace : and if, while we are praying to him, our trials increase'', let us not be discouraged : only let us tarry his leisure ; and our sorrows shall ere long be turned to joy, and oar prayers to praise'.]
^ This was the case with the Israelites, Exod. v. 5 — ig. with xii. 33.
* Eph. ill. 20.
Peter's salutation to the saints.
2 Pet. i. 1 , 2. Simoii Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith ivith us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ : grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
IN reading the Epistles of the different Apostles, whether written to particular Churches, or to the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, we can- not but be struck with the benevolence which they breathe in every part, and especially in the salutations with which they begin, and the benedictions with which they close. In the words which we have now read, which, as in the former epistle, are addressed to the whole Church scattered through the Roman Empire, we may notice two things, — An inscription, — and A salutation : to both of which we will now turn your attention.
I. The