1. The deceived —
[Many even in the Philadelphian Church " said, that
they
* Perhaps this is the meaning of those words, " which cometh down out of heaven from my God ;" and the allusion is to 1 Chron^ xxviii, 12, 19.
they were Jews ; and were not ; but did lie :" let not any of you then, my Brethren, be hasty in persuading yourselves that you are true Christians. There is a very essential dif- ference between a hope founded on the word of God, and a confidence arising from ignorance and self-conceit: yet it often, happens that they who have the least ground for con- fidence are most pertinacious in maintaining it. But inquire whether you are keej)ing the word of Christ as well in prac- tice as profession? Are you really making the holy Scrip- tures the standard by which you try your every sentiment, your every action? Christ " knows your works," and will judge you by them. Your confidence may impose on men, but it cannot deceive your Lord: and, as sure as he is " the Holy One, and the True," he will judge according to truth, and pass his decision according to righteousness ; and if he once open to you the gates of hell, none can shut them to prevent your descent into it, or open them again to recal you from it. Come then and " bow yourselves before the Church's feet:" confess that the humble and despised fol- lowers of Jesus are the true and only favourites of heaven: unite yourselves to them in an open profession of the Gospel: let nothing tempt you to deny the name of your Lord: but " follow him faithfully in the regeneration, that ye may be partakers of his throne " for evermore.]
1. The discouraged — [As some tliink they are strong when they really have no strength at all, so others arie ready to suppose themselves wholly destitvite of grace, while God himself testifies respect- ing them that " they have a little strength." But God has never said that he would deliver us from all conflicts here below, or make our arm so strong that we should feel no difficulty in our warfare. This he has assured us of, that " as our day is, so shall our strength be^" Let us not then deny what he has already done for us, or doubt what he has engaged to do. If we have no strength at all, whence is it that we have maintained our profession hitherto? And, if we find it difficult to persevere, let the difficulties of our warfare make us cry more earnestly to him, that he may *' strengthen us with all might by his Spirit in our inward man." He says to us, "Behold, I come quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Here he acknowledges our danger, and guards us against it : but at the same time he intimates, that he is coming quickly both to aid our exertions, and to reward our fidelity. Fight on then, and, " though faint, yet pursue" your enemies, till you have destroyed them utterly. " The grace of Christ
should " Deut. xxxiii. 25.