cable to himself e ? In truth, there are seasons, even
with the best of men, when the divine life comparatively lan- guishes within them, and when " the things which remain in
them are in appearance at least ready to dief
This may arise from different causes: sometimes from " the cares of this world" pressing upon the mind ; sometimes from " the deceitfulness of riches," or the gratifications of sense beguiling the soulR; and sometimes from " the abounding of iniquity in those around us11." But from whatever it proceeds,]
" It is high time that we awake out of sleep" —
[With all of us much time has been lost : and how little remains, who can tell ? At all events we have a great work to do ; and no man should relax his labours, till he can say, " Father, I have glorified thee on earth ; I have finished the work which thou hast given me to do1."
I call you then, my brethren, to arise, and " do your first works," lest God abandon you to the power of your great adversary, and to the evils of your own hearts. If St. Paul felt the need of " keeping his body under and bringing it into subjection, lest by any means, after having preached to others he himself should become a cast-away k," think not that such care and such fear are unsuitable to you. To the most stable amongst you I would say, " Beware, lest being led away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness1 ; and to the most confident amongst you all, " Be not high- minded, but fearm." Let every one of you look to himself, that he lose not the things which he has wrought, but that he receive a full reward"."]
To impress on your minds this admonition, let me call your attention to,
II. The consideration with which it is enforced —
"Salvation" is the prize held forth to all who be- lieve in Christ : and who shall adequately express or conceive what is comprehended under this term ?
Yet this, with all the blessedness attached to
it, is daily hastening towards you.
You are daily " nearer" to,
1. The termination of all your conflicts —
[Whilst you are in this life, you must of necessity have trials of some kind to sustain. A corruptible crown is not
e 1 Thess. v. 2 — 7. f Rev. iii. 2. e Matt. xiii. 22.
h Matt. xxiv. 12. ' John xvii. 4. k 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27.
1 2 Pet. iii. 17. m Rom. xi. 20. » 2 John, ver. 8.