to be reading it with a view to the welfare of their souls. I ask then, Whence does all this proceed? and what does it argue, but that they are ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? They have none of these feelings in reference to other places of worship, or to other books, no, not even to plays and novels : it is plain therefore that the Gospel is that which creates the offence ; and that the dread of the odium attached to it diverts them from prosecuting the knowledge of it. Such persons may obtain mercy of the Lord, even as did Nicodemus, whose chil- dren they are ; yea, they may, like him, become distinguished ornaments of the Gospel : but they are in great danger lest God give them over to their unworthy fears, and leave them to " perish for lack of knowledge."]
2. From making an open profession of it —
[After that men have attained the knowledge of the truth, the same evil principle frequently operates in their hearts, to make them ashamed of confessing it. They see that the followers of Christ are still at this day, no less than in the Apostolic age, " a sect that is everywhere spoken against3;" and they cannot bring their minds to participate their reproach. They would partake of the blessings of the Gospel, without " partaking of its affliction :" they would enjoy their Lord's crown, but not bear his cross. But such cowardice is ex- pressly designated as a being "ashamed of the Gospel b;" and it will assuredly rob them of all the advantages which they desire to possess. If they would be Christ's disciples indeed, they must " deny themselves, and take up their cross daily, and follow Christ0." Like Moses, they must " choose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt3:" they must not be contented with honouring Christ in secret, but must " follow him without the camp bearing his reproach e." Indeed it is not reputation merely that they must be willing to sacri- fice, but life also, for Christ's sake : and, if they stop short of this, they "lose their souls" for everf. In some respects these are in a worse state than they of whom we have before spoken ; because they sin against greater light and knowledge, and are guilty of infinitely greater ingratitude towards their Lord, whose love and mercy they inwardly acknowledge, and from whom they expect all the blessings of grace and glory. To these therefore our Lord speaks in very awful terms, and warns them, that as they are ashamed of him, and deny him, " he will be ashamed of them, and deny them, in the presence
a Acts xxviii. 22. b 2 Tim. i. 8. c Matt. xvi. 24, 25.
(1 lleb. xi. 25, 26. e Hob. xiii. 13. f Matt. x. 38, 39.