tening should be executeds. And certainly the Apostle Paul, whose labours and sufferings for the good of his fellow-creatures were unparalleled*, would gladly have submitted to any tem- poral calamity, if it might but operate for the salvation of Israel. And who, that considers what Jesus has done for the salvation of men, does not see the reasonableness of such a disposition? Who does not condemn himself for his want of love to his fellow-immortals, and his want of zeal in their ser- vice ? If we condemn the world for their supineness, methinks the people of God have yet more occasion to blush for their own : for, what the world do, they do ignorantly ; but they, who are taught of God, can see the state of those around them, and yet too often look upon them, either with cold indifference, or inactive pity. But let every Christian cultivate a better spirit ; nor ever be satisfied, till he can appeal to God, and say, " I would endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory u."]
Infer —
1. How far are they from a Christian spirit, who not only use no means for the salvation of others, but oppose and thwart them that, do !
[If a faithful servant of God exert himself for the good of mankind, how many will cry out against him as officious and fanatical, ostentatious and uncharitable ! Who, among the Prophets, or Apostles, or who, even in the present day, has ever shewn, in the smallest degree, the disposition manifested in the text, without exposing himself to much calumny and contempt ? But let the opposers of vital godliness and holy zeal, compare themselves with the Apostle, and ask, whether they breathe any thing of his spirit ? And let them no longer persist in fighting against God, and destroying their fellow- creatures ; but rather turn unto God, that they themselves may be partakers of his proffered mercy.]
2. How earnest should every Christian be in seek- ing his own salvation !
[If we ought to be deeply concerned about the souls of others, and to be willing either to do or suffer any thing, in order to promote their welfare, how much more should we lay to heart our own state, and exercise self-denial for the good of our own souls! If we duly estimated the privileges which God has given us, if we considered the happiness to which an improve- ment of those privileges would lead, and the misery that will
s Exod. xxxii. 32. « 2 Cor. xi. 23—27. u 2 Tim. ii. 10.