eye of God himself. Were they bl'iTid P Come, says he, to me for that "eye-salve," even for the unction of my Holy Spirit, who shall enlighten your mind, and enable you to '* see the wondrous things of my law." It is true, he bids them " buy " tiiese things of him : and it may be asked, How shall one that is so poor bui/ what exceeds the whole world in vafue ? We answer, with the Prophet, " They must buy it trithot/t ninnry\ and r Uliuut pr'ict^." They must present no- thing to Christ but their sins ; and receive his mercies as a free unmerited gift.
This counsel is equally proper for us all: indeed there is no man in the universe but must follow it, if ever he would be happy in a future world. We must look unto Christ, and unto him alone. We must go to him, not for some blessings only, but for all. We must buy them on hU terms, and not on our own. And it is only by following this advice, that we can ever be rescued from the miseries we feel, or the judg- ments we deserve.]
He next urges them to be zealous in repenting and turning to their God —
[His reproof might seem to them an earnest of his wrath: but he assures them, that he gave it rather as a token of his love: "As many as I love," says he, " I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent :" by which he intiuiatc?, that his reproofs and menaces were to be improved as incitements to those very things which they most of all needed : they were lukt^H'finn, and he desired to make them "zealous;" they were full of self-conceit, and he wanted to make them " penitent." And, in truth, there must be this thorough change in all of us, before we can attain the salvation of our souls. We must not regard what the world will say; but must be "zealous" and active as the servants of our God. Nor must we regard the suggestions of our own pride and vanity ; but must walk humbly before God in the daily exercise of " penitence," and contrition.]
To impress this on our minds, let us consider,
HI. The encouraging considerations with which his counsel is enforced —
Wonderful is the grace of our Redeemer displayed in this epistle. Notwithstanding the exceeding sin- fulness of their state, he promises to theLaodiceans,
1. That an attention to his voice shall introduce them into the most intimate enjoyment of his pre- sence— >
[He
••Isai.lv. 1.