if we are counted worthy to suffer for him, and welcome even death itself, if only "his name may be magnified?" If to entertain such sentiments, and to pursue such conduct, be madness, I would to God that we all were as obnoxious to the charge as Paul himself! But let the world say or think as they will, such a devotedness to God is " a reasonable service^."]
2. That the very end for which the Lord Jesus Christ has conferred those obligations upon us, is, that he may bind us to himself in a state of holy obedience —
[It is not to rescue us from death and hell only, that Jesus has died for us, but to deliver us also from sin and Satan, and to bring us back to the state from which we are fallen. Were we created holy and happy, even like the angels them- selves ? to that state would the Lord Jesus elevate us again, that both in this world and to all eternity we may delight ourselves in God. This is declared to be the express purpose of his death^." Did he then " die to redeem us from all iniquity," and shall we still live in sin of any kind ? Did he die to purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works ; and shall we not labour to attain this blessed character? Shall there be any bounds to our zeal ; or shall we restrain it because a blind and ungodly world agree to call it madness ? What if Mary was censured by the proud Pharisee for her over-righteous zeal ; did Christ condemn it ? Did he not even compel the Pharisee unwittingly to condemn himself^ ? We mean not by this to justify any departure from real sobriety of mind ; for religion is a sober thing, being not like the transient glare of a meteor, but like the steady course of the sun : but this we would do ; we would dissuade all from living in any measure to themselves, and bring them to live wholly and entirely to their God ; and, if the world deride this as enthu- siasm, and prescribe to us a lower standard of duty, we would say with Peter, " Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye ;" for we cannot but consult his will, and approve ourselves to him''.]
Application —
L Let us all seek an interest in Christ —
[Has he died for us ; and shall we die too ? God forbid. It is a blessed truth, that he has " died for all," and " given himself a ransom for all," and " tasted death for every man,"
e Rom. xii. 1. f Tit. ii. 14.
8 Luke vii. 37—47. ^ Acts iv. 19, 20.