Consider, further, how kindly Christ will accept such labours at your hands. He tells us respecting things
of a mere temporal nature, that what we have be- stowed on others for his sake, he will accept as conferred on himself ; " I was hungry, and ye fed me ; naked, and ye clothed me ; sick and in prison, and ye visited me." And will he not much more acknowledge himself indebted to us for the spiritual blessings we confer on others ? ' I was in darkness, and ye enlightened me ; I was far from God, and ye brought me near ; I was perishing, and ye saved me.' O what a thought is this ! how animating ! how im- pressive ! Are there any amongst us that will not seek such an honour as this ? Stir up yourselves then, my brethren ; and let us all join with one heart to secure at least this testimony from our blessed Lord, knowing assuredly that " we shall receive our reward," not according to our success, but " accord- ing to our labour."
Lastly. Consider, how necessary it is to resemble Christ, if ever we would participate his glory. It is not by our profession that we shall be judged in the last day, but by our true character exhibited in our practice. Think not that the formal, the careless, the supine, shall meet with tokens of God's accept- ance : it is the man who abounds in " works and labours of love for Christ's sake," who shall be ho- noured with the approbation of his Judge. It is not he who bears the name of Christ, but who has within him the mind of Christ, who shall be counted worthy to dwell with him for ever. He himself tells us, that "not he who merely says, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of our Father which is in heaven."
If then ye cannot be moved by more ingenuous considerations, reflect on this : and tremble, lest after all your profession of Christianity, you prove only as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Let those whose consciences condemn them for their past in- activity, cry mightily to God for the pardon of their sins, and the renovation of their souls. And may God pour out upon us this day a spirit of faith and love ; that we may feel a holy ambition to engage in