1 . The purity of his law —
[It is not only in " bearing one another's burthens," but in obeying all the precepts of the Gospel, that we are to " fulfil the law of Christ." Now the extent of this law is not in any degree imagined by the world at large : they have no idea of the motives, the principles, the conduct which the Christian code inculcates. But when a child of God is enabled to act up to his profession, he shews to all around him the beauty of holiness : he commends to them the law which he obeys : he constrains them to see and acknowledge its transcendent excellence : and in advancing thus the honour of the law, he honours also the Lawgiver: " In adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour," he adorns and magnifies the Saviour himself.]
2. The perfection of his character —
[The Christian follows the steps of his Divine Master, and endeavours to " walk as he walked." Now if his path be luminous, what must that of the Lord Jesus have been ? The most eminent of our fallen race was no more in comparison of him, than a twinkling star (I should rather say, a glow-worm) in comparison of the meridian sun. If therefore the effulgence of a poor and sinful creature like ourselves be such as to attract the admiration of all that behold it, much more must the splendour of Emmanuel's holiness exceed in glory; inso- much that the attainments of Paul himself have no glory by reason of his glory that excelleth.]
3. The blessedness of his service —
[If we see a person grudging every labour that he per- forms, we naturally conclude that his task is irksome, and that the master whom he serves is not (in his esteem at least) worthy of any high regard. But if we behold a person strain- ing every nerve, and exerting himself day and night in the most arduous services, and, after all, complaining only that he cannot perform one half of what he wishes to do for his master, we conclude, of course, tha,t he loves both his work, and his master too. When therefore we behold an exemplary and laborious Christian devoting all his powers to the service of his God, and all the while taking shame to himself as an unprofitable servant, we are constrained to say, that (in his eyes at least) his Lord is worthy of all honour, and the work in which he is engaged is perfect freedom. The devotedness of the servant is a high and public commendation of his Lord.]
4. The power of his grace —
[It is to this chiefly that the Apostle refers : and it is by a display of this that Christ is chiefly magnified. A river