1. Let us get that love to Christ, which was the governing principle in their hearts —
[Without a supreme love to Christ, it is in vain to hope that we shall attain to any eminence in the divine life, or indeed to any real experience of it, We shall never be willing to endure much for him, much less be able to glory in suffer- ings and shame for his sake, if our hearts do not burn with love towards him from a sense of what he has done and suffered for us. This therefore is the first thing we are con- cerned to seek after: let us get the knowledge of Christ as our crucified, risen, and exalted Redeemer, and, under the constraining influence of his love, let us devote ourselves entirely to his service.]
2. Let us, like them, be steadfast in our obedience to the will of Christ —
[We shall find many things both from within and from without that will endanger our fidelity to Christ. But nothing must be suffered to divert us from the path of duty. We owe allegiance indeed to our governors in all things lawful ; but if their commands be opposite to those of God, there can be no doubt whom we are to regard in preference, and to whose authority we must yield obedience. We must therefore arm ourselves equally against the allurements of inward temptation, and the terrors of outward persecution ; and have it as an esta- blished principle in our hearts, that nothing is, on any account, to interfere with our duty to God.]
3. Let us, instead of dreading the cross, account it an honour to suffer for our Lord —
[Sooner or later we must have a cross to bear, if we will be followers of Christ. We may be screened. for a time; but " all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecu- tion." Nor should any be ashamed of the cross ; but rather, as Moses and all the saints of old, accounted the reproach of Christ to be their honour, and loss for Christ their gaina, so should tve rejoice and leap for joy, if we be counted worthy to endure any thing for our blessed Lordb. To suffer for him is represented as a special favour conferred on us by God for Christ's sake ; a favour equal, if not superior, to the gift of salvation itself0. In this light then let us view the cross; and we shall take it up with cheerfulness, and bear it with unshaken constancy.]
4. Let us very especially take heed to our spirit when we are under persecution —
a Hel). xi. 26. and x. 34. b Matt. v. 10 — 12. 1 Pet. iv. 12— 1G. ' Phil. i. 29.