that he loves, and admires, and glories in the cross of Christ ; yea, and determines never to his latest hour to glory in any thing else*5.]
Address —
1. Let not any of yon then be ashamed of the Gospel —
[Let not the rich; for it will make you richer than ten thousand worlds : " the riches of Christ are absolutely un- searchable0." Let not the poor; for it raises them to an equality with the greatest on earth, and gives them crowns and kingdoms for their inheritance11. Let not the learned be ashamed of it ; for in it is contained " the manifold wisdom of God ;" and even angels are made wiser by the revelation of it to the Church e. Let not the unlearned; for it will "make them wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Let not any thus dishonour it, till they cease to need its blessings, or have found a substitute worthy to supersede it. God is " not ashamed to be called our Godf :" O ! be not ye ashamed to become, and to be called, his people.]
2. Let not the Gospel be ashamed of you —
[Many, alas ! who profess to love the Gospel, are in their conduct a disgrace to it. Their pride, their passion, their worldly-mindedness, perhaps too their want of truth and honesty, together with a variety of other evils predominant in them, cause " the way of truth to be evil spoken of g," and " the very name of God to be blasphemed." In every age, and in every Church, such instances occur; and lamentable it is to say, that no people are more unconscious of their guilt than they. It is on account of such persons that our Lord says, " Woe unto the world because of offences ! for it must needs be that offences come : but woe unto him by whom the offence cometh : it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the depths of the seah." Look to it then, ye professors of godliness, that this tremendous evil be not imputable to you : and endeavour so to walk, " that the adversary may have no evil thing to say of you," and " that they may be ashamed, who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ'."]
b Gal. vi. 14. c Eph. iii. 8. '* Jam. i. 9. and iv. 5.
e Eph. iii. 10. f Heb. xi. 16. b 2 Pet. ii. 2.
h Matt, xviii. 6, 7. • Tit. ii. 8. and 1 Pet. iii. 10.