be regarded by us at no higher rate than the enemies of God, and the children of the wicked one? Assuredly not: " if we love Him that begat, we ought, in a pre-eminent degree, to love those who are begotten of him'^."]
2. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is more deeply interested in them —
[They have sought through him the remission of their sins : to him alone they look, as their only hope. On his word they rely: in the fountain of his blood they have washed: in his righteousness they are clothed : they habitually live by faith upon him, and receive their all out of his fulness. They are, in fact, the members of his body': yea, surprising as it must appear, " they are one spirit with him"." And does the Lord Jesus Christ so identify himself with them ? does he even say, that " what we do to the least of his brethren, we do it unto him?''' and shall we place them on a level with others who have no relation to him ? It were quite absurd to imagine, that others, who stand in no such relation to him, should be placed on a level with them: it cannot, it must not be.]
3. Because they are more nearly related to our- selves—
[In a natural sense, we are all children of one common parent; but in a spiritual sense, there is a very wide difference between us and others : others are still " strangers and foreigners; but we (supposing, I mean, that we have been truly converted to Christ) are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God"." Yea, being all " one body in Christ, we all are members one of another °." Let any one then judge: has the eye or ear no claim upon the hand or foot ? Does not Nature herself teach us, that " the members of the same body should all have the same care one for another P?" and that, whatever attention we shew to others, our highest regards are due to these ?]
4. Because they are themselves of superior worth — [God himself has said, and therefore ive may say it
without vanity, " The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour"'." He is " a partaker of the Divine natures" The Holy Ghost himself dweileth in him: yea, " the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ come to him, and make their abode with him^" They are altogether the Lord's — his property,
^ 1 John V. 1. ' Eph. v. 30. '" i Cor. vi. 17.
n Eph. ii. 19. o 1 Cor. xii. 12, 20, 27.
P 1 Cor. xii. 25. i Prov. xii. 26. •• 2 Pet. i. 4.
« John xiv. 23.
IkJO PHILEMON, 7. [2266.
his people. Their faculties and powers, whether of mind or body, are devoted to his service. They live but to advance his glory in the world : and with a view to their welfare does God himself govern and direct the world*. So highly are they esteemed in heaven, that the very angels account it an honour to be their servants"? Is there not then a pre- eminent regard due to them from us? There is: and we should shew it in all our conduct towards them. We should be particularly careful to supply their wants ; to supply them, too, in such a way, as not only to relieve their bodies, but to " refresh their souls.'' Our tender feelings towards them, our affectionate expressions, our sympathizing teai's, should shew them that we feel an identity of interest with them; and that we are God's messengers, sent expressly for the relief and comfort of their souls.]
I well know that this kind of love will, to many, appear partial and confined: but it is such as God approves : and in proof that it is so, I will point out,
II. Its excellence, when so employed —
To prevent misapprehension, let me again say, that the exercise of love is ?wt to be corifined to the saints, but only to be maintained towards them in a superior degree. A love of benevolence and bene- ficence is due to all : a love of complacency is due to the saints alone : and towards them it should be exercised to such an extent, that we should be will- ing even to " lay down our lives for them''." How estimable this divine principle was in the judgment of St. Paul, may be seen from the manner in which he speaks of it : "\ have great joy and consolation in thy love ; because the bowels of the saints are re- freshed by thee, brother." He evidently had a high idea of its excellency. And on what grounds ? Because he felt,