[In times like ours, it is easy to retain orthodox opinions, and to keep up a profession of religion : but many are found enlisted under the banners of Christ, who are not really " fight- ing the good fight of faith." Even in matters of plain truth and honesty, it is not every professor that can bear a scrutiny into his conduct : yea, there really is often found a higher sense of honour and integrity amongst the men of this world, than amongst some, of whom better things might have been hoped. In respect of tempers, too, there are many who will talk of Christ, and shew a love to his Gospel, who are yet proud, haughty, imperious, passionate, contentious ; many who are so fretful and impatient on every trifling occasion, as to make all around them uncomfortable ; many too, who, when they ought rather to be judging themselves, are constantly judging others with uncharitable severity. But let not those who possess so little of the meekness and gentleness of Christ, imagine that they are standing fast in the Lord : for, whatever experience they may have had in times past, they are certainly in a state of awful departure from him. We must possess the image of Christ, and we must advance in the attainment of it, or else our faith and our profession will be vainf.
But if there be no particular deviation from the path of duty in these things, yet may we have greatly declined from true religion. We must preserve a spirituality of mind, a zeal for God, a love to his ways, a delight in secret communion with God, and a tender regard for the temporal and eternal welfare of our fellow-creatures. This is the stability which chiefly characterizes the growing Christian, and which is the surest evidence of an interest in Christ.]
That all may be stirred up to seek this stability, we shall shew,
II. Why the attainment of it lies so near to the heart of every faithful minister —
A minister stands related to his people as a pastor to his flock, over which he is to watch, and of which he must give a strict account: and his solicitude about them, instead of terminating when they are brought into the fold, may be said then more properly to commence. He will be anxious about their attain- ment of stability in the divine life,
1. Because the honour of God is deeply interested in it —
f Jam. i. 26.
2198.1 minister's joy in people's stability. 300
[Let any professor of religion either renounce his profes- sion, or dishonour it by any misconduct, and the world will immediately cry out against religion, and represent all the pro- fessors of it as hypocrites. Thus it was that " the name of God was blasphemed " on account of David's fall : and thus "the way of truth is evil spoken of" at this time; as though religion were only a cloak for wickedness. On the other hand, the name of God is glorified, when his people adorn their holy profession : the light which they reflect around them, compels many to acknowledge the beneficial influence of his Gospel, and the powerful efficacy of his grace g.
And can ministers be indifferent about the honour of their Divine Master? If they are so dear to him, that " whoso toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye," ought not He, and His interests, to be dear in their sight ? Ought not rivers of tears to run down their eyes, when men keep not his law, and especially when his sacred name is blasphemed through those who bear his name and profess his religion ? Yes ; much as they must feel when an injury is done to themselves, their grief is incomparably more poignant, when they see their blessed " Lord crucified afresh, and despite done to the Spirit of his Grace."]
2. Because their salvation altogether depends upon