Let not, however, this fidelity be thought too much : for,
III. Its
• Numb. xxxi. l6. with Rev. xix. 15. ^ Lev. xix. 17.
• Eph. V. 11. <> Heb. xii. 15.
• 1 Cor. V. 6, 7, i:j. Tit. iti. 10. ^ Rev. xviii. 4.
III. Its reward will far overbalance any conflicts that may be necessary to maintain it —
[The call to special attention that occurs in every epistle, stands invariably in immediate connexion with the promise : and for what reason is this, but to shew us that our Lord desires the willing obedience of a child, rather than the reluctant services of a slave ?
The reward of victory is of course confined to the victo- rious : but oh ! how great it is ! The " hidden manna," which is promised as the evei'lasting food of our souls, was typified by that on which the Israelites subsisted in the Wilderness ; or rather, by that which was treasured up in a golden vessel, and deposited by the ark^. The " white stone" that shall be given us, alludes to that which in courts of judicature was put into the hands of those who were acquitted, while a black one was given to the condemned ; and consequently it denotes that full assurance of acquittal which we shall have at the judgment-seat of Christ. But what is the " new name that shall be written on this stone ?" Is it not the " name of sons and of daughters ;" a name, the import and felicity of which cannot be conceived by any but those who possess it? Behold then the reward promised to the victorious saint ! he shall live on " angel's food " in the very presence of his God ; and shall have such an enjoyment of his high privileges as no words can express, no imagination can conceive.
And now put this in opposition to any conflicts which we may be called to sustain in this our warfare : are reproaches any thing ? Are losses, imprisonment, and death any thing, when placed in a scale against these high privileges, these eternal blessings? Surely such a promise as this should swallow up every inferior consideration, and we should be ready to brave death in its most tremendous forms, in hopes of securing the possession of all this blessedness and glory.]
Application —
[Let us not, through cowardice, betray the cause of Christ, or, through false notions of candour, relax the disci- pline that is thus solemnly enjoined. Let us rather look unto the end, which will so richly recompense our toils ; and, if crowned with martyrdom for our fidelity, let us consider it as a ground, not of sorrow and complaint, but of joy and thanks- giving''.]
«Heb. ix. 4. ^Phil. ii. 17, IS.