world should stand, rather than make a weak brother to offend ^ Whatever be the stumbling-block in our brother's way, we should be inflamed with a desire to remove it, as much as we should to rescue an only child from any peril to which he was exposed. The value of his soul, and the honour of God as interested in it, should be present to our minds; and we should labour with all our might, and with the utmost tenderness of spirit, for the recovery and salvation of his
soul ]
And now see, from hence,
1. How arduous is the office of a minister !
[Had he indeed only to perform a certain routine of duties, his office would be easy enough : but when he has to give an account of every soul committed to his charge, and should be able to say of every individual among them, " Who is weak, and I am not weak ? Who is offended, and I burn not?" methinks the most zealous minister in the world must perform his office " in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling ^" St. Paul himself was constrained to say, " Who is sufficient for these things*?" ]
2. How lovely is true religion !
[Religion consists, not in the adoption of any creed, but in a conformity to the Divine image. Doubtless there is no salvation but in Christ Jesus ; and, whatever measure of holi- ness we attain, it can form no ground of glorying before God : but the faith which alone will save us, is " a faith that worketh by love." We may have the knowledge of angels, the liberality of saints, and the zeal of martyrs ; and yet, for want of love, " be only as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal." See the Lord Jesus, during his ministry on earth : " He bare our sins and carried our sorrows," first in a way of sympathy ", and afterwards as an atoning sacrifice ''. In the latter sense, this was his exclusive office ; but in the former, it is ours also. Let us then shew forth in our conduct the excellence of his Gospel ; and exercise towards others the tenderness and com- passion which we have ever met with at his hands ]
r 1 Cor. viii. 13. » 1 Cor. ii. 3. ' 2 Cor. ii. 16.
u Matt. viii. 16, 17. ^ Tsai. liii. 4.
MiMXLIH.