2. What inestimable privileges he possesses —
[Is he Christ's? Then Christ acknowledges him as his, and fixes his eye upon him for good, and orders every thing for his eternal welfare. Yes, the Lord Jesus " keeps him even as the apple of his eye," and will suffer neither men nor devils " to pluck him out of his hand." To the Christian the Saviour looks as to the brightest jewel in his crown, and as a trophy, in whom he will to all eternity be glorified. It was in reference to him that the Saviour, in his last, his intercessory, prayer, said, " Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me^:" and never will he cease to watch over every one of thevi, till that prayer is answered, and they are enthroned with him in glory, at the right hand of God.]
3. How plain and obvious is his duty —
* Ps. ex. 3. » Rom. xii. 1 *> Jer. 1. 5.
= Eph. V. 30. d 1 Cor. vi. 17. = John xvii. 24.
[Are you Christ's? Then for him you must live; and every faculty you possess, whether of soul or body, must be improved for him. Your whole life must be a comment on those words of the Psalmist, " Depart from me, ye wicked ; I will keep the commandments of my God." Having obtained this stupendous, this inconceivably exalted honour, you must " walk worthy of your high calling ■'' or, rather I should say, of Him ivho hath called you, yea, " worthy of the Lord him- self unto all pleasing." There should be no bounds to your desire after holiness, no limit to your efforts. You should desire to be " pure as Christ himself is pure," and " holy as your Father which is in heaven is holy." This is what the Lord Jesus expects at your hands *^, and what your relation to him imperatively demands. Seeing that " you are not your own, but bought with a price, it is your bounden duty to glorify him with your body and your spirit which are his^."]
f Tit. ii. 14. 8 1 Cor. vi. 20.