Who that contemplates these tremendous consequences, must not determine with God's help to watch and pray through the whole remainder of his days? ]
Our Lord's concluding admonition, " What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch," will lead us to address some different descriptions of persons :
1. The old —
[Is so much of your time gone, and will you not improve the remainder ? ]
2. The young —
[What security have you against death, that you should delay so necessary a work ? ]
3. The afflicted—
[God sends you afflictions on purpose to awaken you from your slumbers, and to stir you up to heavenly pursuits : What an aggravation will it be of your guilt, if these dispensations pass away unimproved !]
4. The backslidden —
[What an awful thing is it, that, instead of having advanced in the Divine life, you have lost in a good measure the life which you once had ! Attend to God's admonition to the Church of Sardis, lest he execute upon you the judgment that he threatened to inflict on themb J
5. The more steadfast Christian —
[Experience proves that the exhortation to " watch " is not less necessary for you than for others. How many who are on the whole pious, grieve, by their unwatchfulness, their Divine Master ! Be on your guard against such a slothful way of seeking him as his Bride was found guilty ofc ; nor think to justify your sloth by such frivolous excuses as were urged by herd. If you act like her, like her you will reap the bitter fruits in the hidings of his facee. To you then no less than to others I would say, " Sleep not as do others, but watch and be soberf."]
b Rev. iii. 2, 3. c Cant. iii. 1. d Cant. v. 2, 3.
e Cant. iii. 1—4. and v. 2—6. f 1 Thess. v. 6—8.