b 2 Tim. i. 7. c 1 Chron. xii. 32.
li Prov. iii. 21—23. e Ps. ci. 2.
catalogue of graces it would appeal a small thing to say, that we should abstain " from surfeiting and drunkenness;" (though that doubtless is necessary for Christians too'.) We are, as has been before noted, in a state which calls for bold and judicious exertions: and as those who contended in the Grecian games were " temperate in all things,*' in order that their bodily strength and agility might qualify them for their contests g, so are we to be temperate, in order to ensure success in our spi- ritual conflicts. We should sit loose to all the things of time and sense, as well to those which are lawful as those which are unlawful ! " using every thing so as not to abuse it'1," and " keeping under all our bodily appetites, and bringing them into subjection, lest, after all our profession, we become repro- bates'."
" Patience" is another grace which must be added to all the former. And this too, like all the former, must be understood in somewhat of a larger sense, not merely as a meek submission to trials, but as a persevering effort to fulfil all the will of God. We are told, that " we have need of patience, that, after we have done the will of God, we may obtain the promise k :" and it is only " by a patient continuance in well-doing, that we ever can ohtain glory, and honour, and immortality1." This grace then must be added to all the rest. We must never be weary, either in doing, or in suffering, the will of God : but, as the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain ; so must we " be patient, and establish our hearts, till the Lord himself shall come," to crown, and to reward our labours"1.
We must not however rest here. " To patience we must add godliness :" for without a pious regard to God, all our efforts will be in vain. We may conceive of all the foregoing graces as exercised by a heathen : but we must have that sublime piety which no heathen can possess. We must see the hand of God in every thing ; and receive every thing as from him ; and do every thing as for him ; making his will the rule, and his glory the end, of all our actions. At the same time, we must walk with him, and delight ourselves in him, and maintain sweet fellowship with him as our Father and our Friend, and must look for his approbation as our great reward.
To this there is yet another grace which we must add, and that is " brotherly-kindness," We are all one family, and must regard every member of that family with a truly fraternal affection. It is " by this love one to another that all men are
f Luke xxi. 31. el Cor. ix. 25. '' 1 Cor. vii. 29—31.
' 1 Cor. ix. 27. k Heb. x. 3G. > Rom. ii. 7.
m Jam. v. 7, 8.