served him not On this subject St. Paul had no
doubt and therefore, "knowing the terrors of the
Lord, he both persuaded men" to seek these necessary at- tainments, and implored of God to communicate to them all needful supplies of his Spirit and grace.]
Application —
Permit me now to express the same benevolent wish respecting you —
[We have no wish to proselyte men to a party, or to lead them into any enthusiastic notions or pursuits. All we desire is, that they should love that God who has so loved them, and be found patiently waiting for the Bridegroom when he shall call them to the marriage. And, I ask, is this unreasonable ? Is it any thing more than what I ought to wish ; or than you
yourselves either do, or will soon, wish for yourselves ?
Be not offended, then, if we express this wish : be not offended, if we urge upon you what we know will tend so much to your present happiness, and what we are assured is necessary to your happiness in the future world ]
f Ps. Ixiii. 5. Matt. v. .'3—12. s 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8.
Let me also request that you will adopt this wish
for yourselves —
[Surely I shall have spoken to good effect, if only oue amongst you all shall be stirred up to pray for himself, " Lord, direct my heart into the love of God, and into a patient waiting for Christ." Happy will it be, if any of you begin to wish that you had loved God, and that you might from this time become objects of his favour. Happy will it be, if any of you begin to say, ' I will take up my cross and follow Christ : I will follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach. He died for me ; O that I might have grace to live and die for him! He is coming to judge me ; O that I might be ready for his appearing, and give up my account to him
with joy and not with grief!' Cultivate these desires :
beg of God to stir them up in your hearts by his Holy Spirit: and when you have attained a measure of this grace yourselves, cultivate it to the utmost in the hearts of others.]