so much as their ruin, and desiring nothing so much as to have them partakers of his glory ! Well might the Apostle call this, a " love that passeth knowledge ?."]
To improve this subject, let us reflect,
1. How earnest we should be in seeking know- ledge—
[Some might be ready to conclude that, if ignorance is an extenuation of guilt, it were safer and better to continue ignorant. But let us not mistake ; it is not wilful ignorance that is to be considered in this view, but that ignorance which is unavoidable, or, at least, unintentional. Besides, ignorance is sure to keep us from Christ, and consequently to bring us into condemnation : and it will be a poor consolation to a damned soul that its guilt was not of the most aggravated kind. There is no way of escaping condemnation but by believing in Christ ; and we cannot believe in him unless we know him : therefore we must seek divine instruction as the only means of everlasting salvation. This is the declaration of God himself2: the Lord grant that we may ponder it in our minds, and be regulated by it in our lives !]
2. What encouragement we have to pray for
mercy —
[Never were more atrocious sinners on the face on the earth that those for whom Christ prayed : nor was any prayer ever more signally answered than that he offered for them : for no less than three thousand of those very people were for- given in an instant, and adopted into the family of God. It was in answer to that prayer that the very blood which they had profanely desired " to be upon themselves and upon their children a" in a way of judgment, came upon them in a way of mercy, and cleansed them from the guilt of shedding it. Who then amongst us need despair of mercy ? If Christ inter- ceded so for persons in the very act of crucifying the Lord of glory, will he not intercede for mourning penitents ? If he obtained mercy for those who rejected him, will he not much more for those who " desire to be found in him? " Let us not despond, but carry all our iniquities to him, that they may be cleansed by his atoning blood, and be forgiven through his prevailing intercession.]
3. What obligation lies upon us to forgive one
another —
[The generality, when injured, are ready to search out every possible aggravation, in order to lower their adversary
y Eph. iii. 10. 7 John xvii. .3. a Matt, xxvii. 25.
1587.] OUR lord's answer to the thief. 149
in the estimation of others, and to justify their own resentment against him. But how differently did Jesus act! Yet "he suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps V Let us then cultivate a forgiving spirit, yea, even towards those whose malice is most inveterate, and whose con- duct towards us is most injurious. It was thus that Paulc and Stephen d trod in their Master's steps: and thus must we, if we would find mercy at his hands in the day of judgment e. The express command of Jesus to every one of us is, " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and per- secute youf." And indeed, if we do not exercise this dispo- sition, we cannot repeat the Lord's Prayer without praying for our own damnation g. " Let us therefore be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven ush.]
b 1 Pet. ii. 21. c 1 Cor. iv. 12, 13. d Acts vii. 60.
e Matt, xviii. 35. f Matt. v. 44. s Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15.
h Eph. iv. 32.