Infer —
1. How reasonable are the terms on which Christ proposes to acknowledge us as his disciples !
1 John xiv. 21.
k Compare John xiv. 23. with Isai. lviii. 9. and lxv. 24.
1 Eph. i. 22. m Rom. viii. 28.
[He requires that all who would be his disciples should apparently cast off all regard for their nearest friends and rela- tives". I say apparently; for nothing is really farther from his intentions, than to encourage, either by this declaration, or by that in the text, any disrespect to our parents: on the contrary, we are commanded to honour our parents ; and are told by the Apostle, that " that is the first commandment with promise." But when our love or obedience to earthly parents stands in competition with our obedience to Christ, then we must resemble Levi; in commendation of whom it is said, " He said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children0." And shall this appear harsh or unreasonable? See what Jesus has done for us: He knew not his mother and his brethren in comparison of his believing and obedient people : and shall we prefer our earthly relatives to him ? If he has so loved us, who are altogether polluted, and deserve nothing but evil at his hands, how much more should we so love him, who is altogether lovely, and deserves infinitely more love at our hands than eternity will be sufficient to express!]
2. What encouragement have we to comply with these terms !
[In complying with the terms which Christ has proposed, and adhering to him in opposition to the will of earthly friends, we may possibly incur their displeasure, and feel to the utter- most of their power the effects of their resentment : they may frown upon us, disown us, disinherit us. But (t when father and mother forsake us, the Lord will take us up." His express promise is, that for one father, mother, brother, sister, house, or estate we lose for his sake, we shall even in this life receive a hundred fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, houses, and estates?. Does any one ask, How shall this be accomplished? We might answer, that it is abundantly verified in the regard shewn to us by the Lord's people : but, independent of that, we say, the Lord Jesus will give himself to us, and be to us more than ten thousand relatives, or ten thousand worlds. Let any one say, whether the love of Christ, the grace of Christ, and the glory of Christ, do not compensate a hundred-fold for all the creature-love, and all the temporal advantages, that we can lose for him? Let the determination then of Joshua be ours; that whatever course others may follow, and whatever obstacles they may lay in our way, " we, with God's help, will serve the Lord."]
n Luke xiv. 26.
0 Deut. xxxiii. 9. with Exod. xxxii. 26—28.
P Mark x. 29, 30.