2. When our love is laborious —
[Our " love is not to be in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth :" nor must it have respect to men's bodies merely, but to their souls ; leading us to consult their spiritual welfare to the utmost of our power, at the same time that we gladly deny ourselves to relieve their spiritual wants. The voice of inspiration assures us that he who exercises such love is born of God d.]
a 1 Thess. i. 3—5. b jam. jj. i9? 20.
c Phil. i. 29. Eph. i. 19. M John iv. 7.
3. When our hope is patient —
[The Christian's hope will have much to try it ; but it is to be the anchor of his soul, that shall keep him steadfast*5 in this tempestuous world. He will often experience " fightings without, and fears within :" but beyond and " against hope, he must believe in hopef,'' saying, "I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have com- mitted to him against that dayg." And every one who has such a lively hope, may be sure that he has been begotten to it by God himself'1.]
To enter fully into the Apostle's assertion, we must shew,
II. On what grounds we may be confident that he who has begun this good work will finish it- -
If this work were wrought by man, the Apostle would never express such confidence respecting his completion of it ; since no dependence can be placed on the stability of man's virtue. But since he that accomplishes this great work is God\ we may be assured, that " he will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ."
We may be assured of it —
1. From the declarations of his word —
[Numberless are his declarations to this effect, that having once been the " author of a good work within us, he will be the finisher of itk." " He will not forsake his people, because it hath pleased him to make them his people l." He has promised in the strongest possible manner, that " he will never never leave them, never never forsake themm." True, they have many enemies: but " he will suffer none of them to pluck them out of his hands11." Have they manifold temptations ? They shall " have none without a way to escape, that they may be able to bear them0." Not even their unbelief shall prevent Jehovah from executing his gracious purposes towards them p. As for " Satan, he shall be bruised under their feet shortly*1." Through weakness they may occasionally fall: " yet shall they not be utterly cast down1"." " God will restore their souls8 :" and make their very falls the means of augmenting their future caution
e
Heb. vi. 19.
f Rom. iv. 18. e 2 Tim. i. 12.
h
1 Pet. i. 3.
1 ver. 3 — 5. and 2 Cor. v. 5. and John i. 13
k
Heb. xii. 2.
1 1 Sam. xii. 22. m Heb. xiii. 5, 6.
n
John x. 28, 29.
0 1 Cor. x. 13. p 2 Tim. ii. 12, 13
q
Rom. xvi. 20.
r Ps. xxxvii. 23, 24. 8 Ps. xxiii. 3.