acknowledge him ; but will surely " deny them in the presence of his Father and of his holy angels." Hence St. Paul laboured to effect this also ; even to impress their minds so deeply with this mystery, that they might rejoice and glory in it, and be willing to bear all the sufferings that could ever be inflicted on them for their adherence to it.
And for this we also would labour. Against a timid con- cealment of men's convictions we would bear the most decided testimony. We know, indeed, that a confession of Christ before men will bring persecution with it. But if any man be unwilling to bear his cross after Christ, or even to lay down his life for his sake, we declare that he is not, nor can ever be, accepted of him. " If he love father or mother more than Christ, he cannot be Christ's disciple:" "if he love his own life," so as to save it here, "he shall assuredly lose it" to all eternity. Amongst those for whom a place is prepared in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone, " the fearful and unbelieving " are no less numbered, than those who have been guilty of idolatry or murder f. " If we would approve our- selves the servants of Christ, we must not only bear our cross after him, but rejoice that we are accounted worthy to suffer shame, or even death, for his sake." " We must be faithful unto death, if ever we would obtain the crown of life."]
3. To bring them to an union of heart with each other, by means of it —
[" Knowledge," were it as great as that of angels, would be of no value, without love. Nor would zeal itself, even though it led us to endure the flames of martyrdom for Christ's sake, be accepted of our God, if it were destitute of love. An union of heart amongst the disciples of our Lord is that by which, in a pre-eminent degree, they are to be dis- tinguished. By love they are to be " knit together ;" even as beams of timber, when joined and compacted by the builder of an edifice. In the whole universe, there exists no other bond like this. The ties of nature are feeble, when compared with it. It resembles, as far as any thing can resemble, the union that subsists between the Persons of the Godhead : and by it, more than by any thing else, is the power of religion displayed. " I pray for them," says our Lord, " that they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ; that the world may know that thou hast sent meg." This, then, the Apostle sought : and this would we seek : nor would we ever be satisfied, till we see it attained and exercised amongst you.]
f Rev. xxL 8. % John xvii. 20, 21.