but committed himself to Him that judge th righteously k." Beloved brethren, set the Lord Jesus Christ before you in these respects. See what lamentable evils prevail, both in the Church and in the world, through the want of these heavenly dispositions. Verily, the different Churches of Chris- tendom, yea, and almost every individual Church in Christen- dom, present us rather with one continued scene of " strife and envying," whereby infidels are hardened in their prejudices against the Gospel, and the very name of God is blasphemed in the world. Surely the contentions of Christians are a scandal to Christianity itself. " Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, hum- bleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do yel."~\
3. His entire devotedness to the service of his God—
["His ear was bored;" and from his engagement he never receded, no, not for a moment. It was at all times " his meat and his drink to do the will of Him that sent himm;" and never did he relax his exertions, till he could say, "It is finished." Thus let your hearts "be steadfast, im- moveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord:" and never cease to prosecute your heavenly calling, till you can say, with him, " Father, I have glorified thee on earth ; I have finished the work which thou hast given me to do11." Account nothing done, whilst any thing remains to be done : but " forget what is behind, and reach forward to that which is before ; and press on for the prize of your high calling0," till you are acknowledged by God himself as having gained the victory, and are called to sit down with your victorious Lord upon his throne of glory p.]
The Apostle yet further urges his admonition,
II. In a way of salutary caution —
We must guard against every thing which may- impede our progress —
[Every man has some "besetting sin," which he ought most carefully to put away0-. He should mark what his con- stitutional or acquired propensities are, and exert himself to the uttermost to mortify and subdue them. Instead of pro- viding for the gratification of them, he should abstain from
* 1 Pet. ii. 21—23. > Col. iii. 12, 13. m John iv. 34.
« John xvii. 4. ° Phil. iii. 13, 14. p Rev. iii. 21.
<i Heb. xii. 1.