Above all, see what he is doing for his believing people ; how he watches over them for good, supplies their every want, carries on his good work in their souls, and makes them more than conquerors over all their enemies !
Think of these things ; and then say, Whether such love should not constrain you to live to him, and, if need be, to surrender up your life for him ?]
Verily, if we feel no weight in such considerations as these, we can have no interest in Christ ; for it is certain,
II. That the true Christian has learned duly to appre- ciate his worth —
We say not that every Christian has the attain- ments of the Apostle Paul : but every one resembles him in this, that he entertains worthy thoughts of Christ,
1. In the convictions of his mind —
[Merely nominal Christians are content to compliment Christ with the name of Saviour : but the true believer has a practical sense of his excellency : he views Christ as the one foundation of all his hopes: he sees that nothing but his atoning blood could ever have obtained reconciliation for him
with his offended God Except as redeemed by the
blood of Christ, the believer has no more hope than the fallen angels : he is convinced that with them he must take his portion to all eternity, if he be not interested in that great Sacrifice which was made for the sins of the whole world.
As bought with the precious blood of Christ, the believer sees that he is the Lord's property, and that to devote himself wholly to him is not only an acceptable, but a highly " rea- sonable, service." In the deliberate conviction of his mind "he thus judges, that if one died for all, then should all live, not unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them and rose again." And this we say is the universal sentiment of all true Christians : for the Apostle says, " None of us (of us Christians) liveth to himself, and no man dieth unto himself; but whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord ; so that, whether living or dying, we are the Lord's."]
2. In the purposes of his heart —
[This is not a speculative sentiment in the believer's mind, but a rooted principle, that operates in the whole of his beha- viour. In his eyes, Christ " is exalted, and extolled, and is very high." No words can express how " precious He is to him." Hence he gladly gives himself up to Christ ; and seeks to have, not his actions only, but his very " thoughts also, brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." As for the opposition of an ungodly world, he cares not for it : whatever crosses lie in his way, he takes them up ; and " rejoices that he is counted worthy to bear them" for his Redeemer's sake. If he be called to sacrifice friends, or interests, or liberty, or even life itself, he draws not back : he has counted the cost, and is ready to pay it ; desirous only that " Christ may be mag- nified in his body, whether by life or death." Like Moses, he " esteems the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt ;" and, like Paul, " counts all things but dung, that he may win Christ." In a word, he is " ready, not to be bound only, but also to die, at any time and in any manner, for his name's sake."]
Address —
1. Those whose views of Christ arc imperfect —
1804.] Paul's readiness to suffer for christ. 535
[Doubtless there is no man that knows him fully, or can " search him out unto perfection." The Apostles themselves " knew him but in part," and " saw him only as through a glass, darkly :" but the generality of Christians behold " no form or comeliness in him" at all, or at least not such as to stir up in their hearts any ardent " desire after him." Now in our text we have a criterion whereby to judge of our views of Christ : do we find our hearts so knit to him with love and gratitude, as to render his " yoke easy to us, and his burthen light ?" Is liberty or life itself of no account with us, if by the sacrifice of it we may glorify his name ? Then indeed we may be said to know him ; then have we that " knowledge of him which is life eternal." But, O, how rare is this! Beloved brethren, search and try your own hearts in relation to it ; and if, as is to be feared of too many amongst us, you have never yet been transported with love to his name, beg of God to "reveal him in your hearts " by his Holy Spirit, and to " shine into your hearts, to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."]