who can destroy both body and soul in hell ! " Does not such conduct render them contemptible, and justly subject them to the sentence with which they are threatened ?
What desperate wicked?iess too is it to he ashamed of him who is the Only-beloved of the Father, and the object of in- cessant adoration to all the hosts of heaven ! What horrible impiety, to pour contempt on him who left his glory for them ; who for their sakes " hid not his face from shame and spitting;" yea, " who, for the joy of saving their souls alive, endured the cross and despised the shame," and " became obedient unto death, even the accursed death of the cross!" Let them only contemplate his kindness towards them, and then consider whether the punishment of their ingratitude exceed the quality of their offence.]
Infer —
1. How necessary is courage to those who embrace
the Gospel !
[It is not possible to be faithful unto Christ, and at the same time escape the censures of the worlde. And our only alternative is, to " be faithful unto death," or to relinquish all hope of his favour. The fearful and unbelieving will take their portion together in the lake of fire and brimstone1. O beg of God to endue your souls with courage, that you may " set your faces like a flint" against the whole ungodly world, and maintain your steadfastness even to the end.]
2. How desirable is it to be looking forward to the
future judgment !
[If we attend only to the concerns of this life, we shall be anxious to preserve our reputation in the world. But if we consider how soon an unerring judgment will be passed upon us, we shall not regard the calumnies that are circulated re- specting us, or the contempt that is poured upon us. This was St. Paul's experiences; and similar considerations will produce similar benefit to our souls.]
3. How important is it to have just views of Christ !
[The more enlarged our apprehension is of his excel- lency and glory, the more shall we be emboldened to confess him before men. St. Paul endured more for him than any other Disciple ever did : yet neither reproach nor suffering could move him. And whence was it that he was thus im- moveable? He himself tells us; " I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have believed h." Thus let us get a full
e John xv. 18—20. * 2 Tim. ii. 12. Rev. xxi. 8.
e 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4. h 2 Tim. i. 12.