Together with these admonitions to backsliders, our Lord suggests,
II. Encouragement to the stedfast —
There are some stedfast even amongst the most degen te Churches —
[There were " a few even in Sardis who had not defiled their garments," though walking in the midst of manifold temptations, and exposed to the influence of such bad ex- amples. In this place also we would hope there are " a few," who, knowing the defiling, yea, the damning nature, of sin, flee from it as from the face of a serpent. We do not indeed imagine that they can walk in such a corrupt world as this, and never contract a spot, for " in many things we all offend ;'* but from wilful, deliberate, and habitual sin they are delivered ; nor can aU the examples of hypocritical professors, any more than the scoflts of an ungodly world, induce them to violate the laws of God. Perhaps they may not have so great " a name'' in the Church as some who are insincere ; (for true piety, though it cannot be concealed, is unobtrusive and retired ;) but they are circumspect in their conduct, and watchfid over every mo- tion of their hearts. Happ}% happy few, who are enabled to maintain this heavenly course !]
These shall be distinguished with peculiar honour and felicity in this ivofid —
[White garments were worn in processions as emblems of joy and triumph : and they were also the appropriate habits of the priests, whose superior sanctity they were intended to denote. In reference to one or other of these customs, or perhaps to both, our Lord promises that his faithful people *' shall walk with him in white." At all events we cannot but remark the striking coincidences between the work and the reward : they " kept their garments undefiled," and " they shall walk with him in white." They devoted themselves to Christ ; and they shall " walk with him :" they loved holiness ; and they shall be made holy in heart and life. They sought the destruction of their spiritual enemies ; and they shall enjoy a triumph over them. They shall be thus rewarded, because " they are worthy." Not that they have in themselves any thing which ynerits this reward, or foi'ms a ground whereon they can claim it as their due : but they have n mccfness for this reward, and therefore they shall possess it; and the more meetness they have for the enjoy- ment of spiritual and eternal blessings, the more abundant measure shall be imparted to them.
This promise principally indeed refers to the eternal state, and declares the felicity of those who shall be stedfast unto
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