was slain from the foundation of the world." They all lived and " died in faith." " To their faith they added patience." They, no doubt, as well as we, had " fightings without, and fears within;" and sustained many sore conflicts, both with the world around them, and with their own hearts. But they " ran their race with patience," and " endured unto the end."]
These therefore we should propose to ourselves as patterns.
We should imitate,
1. Their faith—
[If we begin not here, we can never stir one step in the way to heaven. We must " have like precious faith with them," renouncing all dependence on ourselves, and " making Christ our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our complete redemption."]
2. Their patience —
[" If we set ourselves to seek the Lord, we must prepare our hearts for temptation." Cain and Ishmael have their followers in every age. We must not be offended and turn aside on account of persecution, but must " possess our souls in patience." Nor must the love of this present world, or the difficulties of our spiritual warfare, be permitted to divert us from the path of duty : having " put our hand to the plough, we must never look back," " lest, having a promise left us of entering into God's rest, we should come short of it" at last.]
3. Their diligence —
[It is in this view more especially that we are called to follow them ; *' Be not slothful, but imitate them." Even those amongst them, who, like Moses and David, had a king- dom to govern, were yet exceeding diligent in every duty of religion, devoting themselves entirely to the service of their God. Let us then tread in their steps: let us " walk, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Let us " give all diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end ;" and " whatever our hand findeth to do, let us do it with all our might."]
If any motives be wanting to enforce the Apostle's advice, consider further, 1. The effects of dihgence in this life — [The more earnest we are in serving God, the more will our hearts be comforted, our fellow-creatures benefited, and God glorified. Let us place ourselves more especially on a death-bed, and look back from thence, not with pride and self- complacency, but with gratitude and thanksgiving, on a life