Still more particularly is his redeeming love proposed to us in this view both as a motive and a pattern ; a motive which we should in no wise withstand1 ; and a pattern which to the very utmost we should follow, even to " the laying down of our lives for the brethren™." To stimulate us to it the more, he tells us, that he will receive every thing as done to himself" ; that he will account himself our debtor for it0 ; and that he will submit to be accounted " unrighteous " if he fail to acknow- ledge and reward it in the last dayp. For our further encou- ragement he assures us, that, however light we may think of such a service, it is " a sacrifice with which he is well pleased q."
Now if all this do not prevail with us to shew kindness to our brethren, what shall we say? Have we any gratitude to God ? No ; we are more stupid and senseless than the beasts themselves r ]
3. Any zeal for his glory 1
[We are commanded to " make our light shine before men, that those who behold it may be constrained to glorify our Father which is in heaven s." And our Lord assures us, that " herein is the Father glorified, when we bring forth much fruit*," yea, that " all our fruits of righteousness are by him to the glory of God the Father"." But in a more particular man- ner is our liberality to the saints spoken of in this view, inas- much as it calls forth " abundant thanksgivings to him " from the persons relieved, and causes them to glorify God for our professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, the proper ten- dency of which is to generate these heavenly dispositions, and
to augment the happiness of all mankind*
Now suppose a man to neglect this duty, what zeal can he have to promote the glory of his God ? He may fancy himself religious; but he has no more love to God than Satan himself; for, if " faith without works is no better than the faith of devils," the religion of such a man is no better than the religion of devils y. For so hath God said: "In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil : whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother*."]
Let me now add,
1 . A word of caution —
1 2 Cor. viii. 7 — 9. m ver. 16. n Matt. xxv. 40.
0 Prov. xix. 17. p Heb. vi. 10. i Heb. xiii. 16.
r Isai. i. 2, 3. s Matt. v. 16. * John xv. 8.
u Phil. i. 11. * 2 Cor. ix. 12—14.
y Jam. ii. 17—19. z 1 John iii. 10.
l.)l 1 JOHN, ILL 20,21. [>150.
[It is eas) to mistake alms-deeds for Christian liberality.
But the Apostle cautions us against all such mistakes*
Nothing is truly Christian but what proceeds from love to God as reconciled to us in Christ Jesus, and is done for the advance- ment of his glory — ]
2. A word of encouragement —
[Abound in this duty, and it shall bring a rich re- wardb ]
a ver. 18. We should draw forth not our money only, but our soul, to the hungry. Isai. lviii. 10, 11. '• 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19.