Rom. xv. 5, 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be Ukeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus : that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.*
IN order to glorify God, we should deny ourselves for the benefit of others.
In the apostolical Churches there were many evils to be corrected. These arose, partly from the vast diversity of states from which the converts were brought to unite with each other in one Church ; but they arose also, more particularly, from the corrup- tions of the human heart. Selfishness is not peculiar to any age or place, but extends itself through the whole race of mankind ; and to correct this is one of the great objects of the Gospel of Christ. For the correction of it the Scriptures supply the richest instruction : for the correction of it they exhibit also the brightest example. To both of these we are directed in the passage before us.
We will consider,
I. The example of Christ here proposed to us —
[To enter into this we must consider the state in which our blessed Lord was from all eternity ; his glory and felicity in the bosom of his Father. What would he have done had he considered only his own happiness ? He would have left the world in the same way as he did the fallen angels. But how did he act ? He assumed our nature in its fallen state ; submitted to all the evils incident to that state ; endured the contradiction of sinners throughout his life ; bore the very wrath of God himself even unto death ; and by this has redeemed our souls from death, and restored us to the favour of our offended God. Thus, instead of pleasing himself and disregarding us, he disregarded himself to benefit us.]
II. The obligation that lies upon us to follow it —
[Our blessed Lord is set forth as an example to us : in the above respects we need more especially to follow him. Man as fallen, thinks of nothing but his own personal gratification :
* A Sketch extemporaneously given to a young friend.