2. Of ascertaining our state in relation to it — [Often should we bring ourselves to the touchstone, to try
what our state is before God. We have seen how high we may be in the estimation of men, whilst yet we are nothing in the sight of God. Perhaps there are no persons more eminent in their own eyes, than tliose who attract great attention by their talents, or by liberality and zeal have high credit for their attainments. But such persons often fearfully deceive their own souls^. If we would form a right judgment of our cha- racter, let us study this chapter thoroughly, and apply to our hearts and consciences every one of those properties by which Christian charity is there distinguished. Let us further study the character of the Apostle Paul, and of our blessed Lord himself: and thus shall we know, with some considerable mea- sure of certainty, what is God's estimate of us, and what his sentence will be upon us in the great and awful day.]
3. Of cultivating the growth of it in our souls —
[There is no measure of Christian charity with which we are to rest satisfied : we are always to be pressing forward for higher and higher attainments. St. Paul commends the Thessalonians, because "their faith grew exceedingly, and the charity of every one of them towards each other abounded*." Let us seek to merit that commendation. It is in that way only that we can make our profiting to appear, or give evi- dence that we are growing from babes to young men, and from young men to fathers. Love is the image of God ; and the more we increase in it, the more we adorn our Christian profession, and attain " a meetness for the heavenly inheri- tance." Let us all then " follow earnestly this best of gifts ;" and however much any of you may have attained, " we beseech you to abound more and more'^."]
h Gal. vi. 3. i 2 Thess. i. 3. ^ i Thess. iv. 9, 10.