man, as redeemed, continues also but a selfish creature. Self- denial is a grace which we are very averse to exercise : we press even duty to the side of self-indulgence, and enlist con- science in the service of our own lusts. But love should be seated on the throne of our hearts ; its dictates alone should be followed in all things. The waving the felicity of heaven for a season, and incurring for a season the pains of hell, would scarcely be too high a standard to aim at for the good of others. This was our Lord's example ; and in this we should endeavour to follow his steps8.]
III. The high attainments to which we should aspire in the prosecution of it —
[The want of this spirit produces much disunion in the Church, and brings much dishonour to God ; the exercise of this spirit renders the Church a prelude to heaven. To glorify God should be the one object of all ; and in this there should be one heart, one mind, one faith, throughout the whole. To the attainment of this should every one aspire, and to contri- bute towards it should be the one labour of his life.
But it may be asked, How can all this ever be attained ? how can creatures, who have so little natural forbearance, in whose minds there is such a proneness to irritation and dis- quietude, ever be brought to such a state as this? Truly, if we looked into ourselves, our state would be hopeless ; but in God there is all that we stand in need of. Need we patience ? He is a God of patience ; possessed of it in all its fulness. Does such a fulness of comfort appear beyond the reach of mortal man ? God is a God of comfort also ; ready to bestow it out of his own inexhaustible, immeasurable fulness ; and to him we are here dii'ected to lift up our eyes, in earnest and assured expectation. There is nothing which he cannot work in the mind of man. He who wrote his law on tablets of stone, can write it on the fleshy tables of our hearts : he who upheld his own law in all that he did and suffered, can effect the same blessed work in us also ; and this he has promised to his Church and people ; has promised it by covenant and by oath. Look to him then as your covenant God and Father ; plead with him the glory that will result to himself from the exercise of these graces ; and, in dependence on his strength, go forth to the fulfilment of this duty : " Seek not your own things;" " prefer others in honour before yourselves ;" "seek not even your own profit" as abstracted from that of others, but " seek the profit of many, that they may be saved ;" and know that the more you deny yourselves for the benefit of others, the more you will resemble Christ, and. glorify your God.]
* Phil. ii. 4,5.
1921.] UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST^ KINGDOM. 5i9