we may more advance his glory in the world. On no other terms will he receive us : if we be not willing to " lose father and mother, and houses and lands, yea, and our own lives also for his sake, we cannot be his disciples." O that his power might now go forth amongst you, as it did in the case before us ; and that all your " souls may be subdued to the obedience of faith!"]
2. How great is the benefit of obeying the Gospel
call !
[Matthew in appearance was degraded and impoverished ; but he was made an eminent servant of Christ, and a blessed instrument of diffusing the knowledge of him through the whole world. (Of all the Evangelists, not one marks so fully the Messiahship of Jesus, and the accomplishment of prophecy in him, as he.) And what is his condition now ? Has he not far better treasures than ever he possessed on earth? Know ye then, that you also may appear to suffer loss by devoting yourselves to Christ ; but if you have the honour of being his servants, his friends, his heirs ; if he acknowledge you as mem- bers of his own body, yea, as his spouse, who shall participate all his glory, and have the everlasting fruition of his love; you have made a good exchange. Rejoice then in your high privileges ; and be thankful to Him, by whose almighty power alone you have been made willing to accept them ; and let your whole lives be henceforth consecrated, as Matthew's was, to his service : so shall you in your place be his witnesses to all around you; and ere long be joined to that blessed society, where every loss shall be compensated with a proportionable weight of glory.]