« Eph. i. 4. d 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. e Rom. ii. 7.
t 2 Cor. v. 1. 8 1 Cor. ix. 27.
h 2 John, vcr. S. and Ileb. iv. 1.
fill us with a delight in heavenly things ; " brotherly-kindness," that shall knit us to every member of Christ's mystical body ; and " charity," that shall engage us in all offices of love even to our very enemies. All of these graces we should cultivate ; and, having attained any measure of them, we should seek to grow in them daily; resting in no attainment " till we come to the measure of the full stature of Christ1."
In labouring after these things, we shall " make our calling and election sure :" we shall not only prove that we have been elected of God, and called by his grace, but shall " strengthen the things that remain," and " make firm" the work that has been begun in our souls. Indeed the very pursuit of virtue must in itself tend (in proportion as we are diligent) to keep us from declensionk: and it is certain, that God will prosper those who conscientiously labour to approve themselves to him1.]
Here then is our duty, viz. to secure by unwearied diligence in good zaorks the final enjoyment of those blessings to which God has elected us by his grace, and called us by his good Spirit. And, to aid us in the discharge of this duty, the Apostle sets promises before us for,
II. Our encouragement —
" Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." But more particularly God engages to give his diligent and devoted people,
1. A steadfast life : "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall" —
[It too often happens that professors of religion are left to dishonour their holy calling by open and scandalous offences : nor have any of us any security against such falls, except as we are upheld in God's everlasting arms. But this security shall be afforded to the zealous and faithful follower of Christ. My text says, " If ye do these things, ye shall never fall." The diligent Christian doubtless will, even to his dying hour, have reason to acknowledge, that he is a poor imperfect creature : but he shall be kept from flagrant transgressions ; and shall, in respect of them, " be preserved blameless unto God's heavenly kingdom." Numberless are the promises of God to this effect111 And O, what encouragement do
> ver. 5 — 7. k Prov. iii. 21—23.
1 2 Chron. xv. 2. «» 1 Sam. ii. 9. Ps. xxxvii. 23, 24.