and that laying aside, as it were, for a season that glory, he become a man, and lived and died for you ; that by his atoning blood he might reconcile you to God, and by his all- perfect righteousness he might obtain for you a title to an heavenly inheritance. You believe that if ever you possess the felicity of heaven, it must be altogether through the poverty which he submitted to for you : and all your hopes of heaven you found on him alone.
Hold fast then this faith. Yet let it not be in you as a mere speculative truth, but seek to improve it,]
2. As an influential principle — [It is in this view that it is particularly brought forward in my text. And in this view chiefly was it endeared to the Apostle Paul, who bears this testimony respecting it ; *' The love of Christ constraineth me." He rightly judged, that, "if one died, then were all dead ; and that he died for all, that they who live, should not live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again ^." Now then has it that same influence on you ? Does it fill you with wonder and ad- miration, that the God of heaven and earth should stoop so low for you, and submit to such indignities for you, and endure such sufierings for you, and by such mysterious methods obtain eternal glory for you ? My dear brethren, if you know this mystery aright, it will so operate upon you, as to make you feel, that all you are, and all that you have, is Christ's, to be employed solely and exclusively for him, whose you are, and whom you are bound to serve "*. " You will live not to yourselves, but altogether for him who is by every possible claim the rightful liord both of the dead and living".
The consideration of this love too will lead you to walk in his steps, and to shew to others, as far as you are able, the love
which he has shewn to you ° True indeed, you are
not in existing circumstances required to impoverish yourselves to enrich others : but to make " your abundance the means of supplying the necessities of your poorer brethren " you are called P ; yea, and you are bound so to improve your talents, in order " to shew the sincerity of your love to Christ^" ]
Application —
1. Seek then this knowledge — [You well know with what labour and industry worldly knowledge is obtained : and will you grudge the labour that is
1 2 Cor. V. 14. m 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. " Rom. xiv. 7—9.
" If this be a subject for a Charity Sermon, this idea must be greatly amplified.
P ver. 13, 14. i ver. 8.