AMPLIFIES them all, in order to testify what delight he feels in noticing and applauding every thing that is good.
Religion consists not in mere speculative notions, but in active and self-denying exertions. But if any will " labour" for God, he must expect also to suffer for him. There will be enough to try the " patience" of every one that will faith- fully discharge his duties to God and man. The more he labours, the more occasion will he have for patience to bear the envy of false brethren, and the malice of an ungodly world. But when we both act and suffer " without fainting," then will our blessed Lord be glad to testify his acceptance of us and his delight in us.
In our endeavours to establish truth and piety, it will be necessary to watch the devices of our subtle adversary, and to counteract the plots whereby he endeavours to maintain his empire in the world. There were in the primitive Churches, and are at this time. Teachers who profess to enlighten the world by their superior knowledge, which, they say, Christ himself has imparted to them, and commissioned them to dif- fuse. But such high pretenders, when " tried" by the standard of God's word, will often be found " false apostles, and de- ceitful workers^," yea, little better than the lewd, idolatrous *' Nicolaitans." Yes, there are Antinomian heresies now, no less than in the Apostolic age ; and, while we pity those who propagate them, we must expose their principles and abhor their practice. Mark the spirit of these men : mark the ends which they propose to themselves : mark the effects of their doctrines on tlieir followers : and it will soon appear " whose they are, and whom they serve." This zeal may be called bigotry; but it is such bigotry as the Apostles practised*^, and our Lord approves •*.
In amplifying the fore-mentioned virtues, our Lord spe- cifies that which constituted their chief excellence, namely, that in them the people had respect to the honour of " his name." Had they been actuated by a self-righteous, a vain- glorious, or a party, spirit, they had received no such com- mendations from him : their works would have been consi- dei'cd by him as of no value. But, seeing that they had a regard to his honour and glory, the very meanest of their services, even " the giving of a cup of cold water," was highly pleasing in his sight.]
II. Ills complaint —
[The
*• 2 Cor. xi. 13.
* 1 John iv. ]. & 2 John 10. Tit. iii. 10. 1 Cor. v. 2—5.
* See the pecuhar manner in which ver. 6. is introduced in the text, after the subject bad been fully stated in ver. 2.