derived from a compliance with such or such a temptation. He calls in question the import of such divine declarations as militate against his views, or at least the danger of acting in opposition to them : and by these devices he beguiles many to their everlasting ruin.]
Persons so tempted are generally unconscious of their danger ; and hence arises,
III. The duty of those to whom God has committed the oversight of them —
The work of a minister is but just begun when he has been the means of bringing any soul to Christ : he has yet to watch over that soul, and to prepare it and make it ready for its destined honours.
At a period yet future is the servant to present the bride to her Lord and husband —
[Even the horrid and disgusting offices performed for the virgins who were to be presented to king Ahasuerus, may, when divested of the sensuality connected with them, serve to illustrate the purification necessary for every member of the Christian Church. In the great day of the Lord Jesus we are to present to him our every convert " as a chaste virgin." Yea, the Lord Jesus Christ himself is now by his word and Spirit preparing the Church, " that he may then present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it may be holy and without blemish*^." If she be not made ready for him, and " clothed in fine linen clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints','' she can never be acknowledged as his bride. Any fundamental error in faith, or any allowed deviation from his law in practice, will entirely make void the covenant entered into at the espousals, and will cut her off from any hope of that felicity after which she aspires : and thus will all the minister's " labour prove in vain '"."J
Till that period arrive, he must be jealous over her with a godly jealousy —
[If he see any declension from the simplicity that is in Christ, he must instantly raise his waiming voice. If he see only a device of Satan whereby her piety may be endangered, and her mind may be in any respect corrupted, he must instantly put her on her guard. He is not to wink at any thing whether in doctrine or practice that is contrary to the mind of God. If there be only a secret leaning towards any
»^ Eph. V. 25—27. 1 Rev. xix. 8. "^ Gal. iv. 11.