Address —
1. Those who are looking for acceptance through their own works —
[How manifestly is your spirit contrary to that which the Gospel recommends ! You are endeavouring to establish a righteousness of your own: you not only think to compensate for your sins, but to have a degree of merit sufficient to pur- chase heaven. Perhaps you profess only to rely on your works in part ; but in whatever degree you expect them to weigh, you so far make God your debtor. Hear, I pray you, the voice of Christ in the text. Renounce from henceforth all self-righteousness, and self-dependence, and learn to say with the great Apostle, " I count all things but dung for the knowledge of Christ d."]
2. Those, who, professing to trust in Christ, are indulging self-complacency —
[It is inexpressibly difficult to maintain a truly humble spirit. Pride will rise in spite of our better judgment, and often operate when we are least aware of it. Our love of man's applause too often appears even under the garb of humility. Let us guard against self-deceit. God sees through the veil of our hypocrisy, and will leave us to feel the sad effects of our corruption: he has warned us plainly of our danger e. " Let him therefore who thinketh that he stands, take heed lest he fall f :" let him " not be high-minded, but fearg."]
3. Those who are dejected because of their unpro- fitableness—
[It is well to be humbled under a sense of our infirmities; but the feeling of them is an effect of divine grace. Our con- trition therefore should be tempered with thankfulness. Let us not forget that such a state of mind is approved of God. Instead of desponding, let us cleave more steadfastly to Christ1'. The viler we are in our own eyes, the more precious let him be to us. Thus will he increase, as we decrease' ; and we ourselves shall be exalted in proportion to our self-abasement's Let us in the meantime do all that we can to serve him. If we cannot profit him by fulfilling his commands, we may please him. Let that be our constant ambition1. Then, though we have no claim upon him for a reward, he will requite our services; nor shall the smallest attempt to honour him be overlooked"1.]
d Phil. iii. 8, 9. e prov. xvi. 18. f 1 Cor. x. 12.
* Rom. xi. 20. »> Acts xi. 23. i John iii. 30.
k Matt, xxiii. 12. '2 Cor. v. 9. tjHXorifiovfieOa. m Eph. vi. 8.