To guard effectually against it we should watch over each other —
[Sin, from the foregoing qualities, naturally hides itself from our view, and renders us inattentive to the means of prevention. But ignorant as we often are of our own spirit, we see clearly enough the defects of others ; yea, perhaps we condemn with severity in others the very things which we allow in ourselves. To watch over each other therefore, and to warn each other of those declensions which we either see or apprehend, is a most valuable service ; and, if performed with discretion and love, it can scarcely fail of producing the happiest effects. This is a duty to which God has solemnly called us in his word*^; and it is to be a part of our " daily" work. Our time for it will be very short : either we or our brother may be speedily removed; and our opportunity of benefiting his soul may be lost for ever. We should exhort one anotlier therefore " daily, while it is called To-day ;" and, though it is often an unpleasant office, we should use all fidelity in the execution of it. By this means we may restore a brother before he has relapsed too far, and preserve him from that departure from God, which would otherwise termi- nate in his destruction.]
Still further to enforce the caution given us, the Apostle adds,
III. A motive to regard it —
Our final participation of Christ's benefits depends on our steadfastness in the pursuit of them —
[Without entering into the question, whether God have decreed the final perseverance of the saints, we may be fully assured, that none can attain salvation but by persevering in the way of holiness to the end of life : the Scriptures con- tinually speak this language, " He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved:" " but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him'=." It is true that believers are already in a measure " partakers of Christ:" bvit the com- plete enjoyment of his benefits is reserved for the future life : and we must not only have a scriptural and well-founded confidence at first, but must keep it steadfast even to the end, in order to attain that full possession of our inheritance. You may call yourselves " brethren," and may boast of " your con- fidence in Christ :" but it is to you, yea, to all of you, that the caution is addressed ; and to you I address myself, saying,^ " Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
b Lev. xix. 17. = Matt. xxiv. 13. Heb. x. 38.