4. Look up to God for daily supplies of wisdom and grace —
[It is by the grace of God alone that we can do any good thing. If we attempt any thing in our own strength, we shall fail. But God has promised, " if any man lack wisdom or grace, and ask it ol him, he will give him liberally and without up- braiding^." Beg of him, therefore, to give you such continued and abundant grace, that you may be enabled to " stand per- fect and complete in all the will of God."]
* See Jam. i. 5. and Isai. xli. 10.
Matt. X. 22. He that endureth to the end shall he saved.
ONE cannot but admire the faithfulness of our blessed Lord, when calling his Disciples to follow him. It almost seems as if he intended rather to deter them from following him, since he forewarns them that such a step would inevitably bring upon them the heaviest trials from all around them. He goes so far as to tell them that they would be only " as sheep among wolves," in danger every moment of being devoured by their enemies. And all the consolation he admi- nisters to them is taken from the hope of his presence here, and his glory hereafter. You will have to sustain all these things ; " but he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved." In these words we have,
I. A caution intimated —
It is evident that our Lord intended to tell them what they must expect to endure for his sake ; and how much depended on their patient perseverance in well-doing.
They must experience great and heavy trials in their way to heaven —
[Much they would have to contend with from within — a carnal mind — a corrupt heart — a tempting world — a subtle adversary, whose devices are capable of beguiling the most wary soul : all these they would have, to obstruct their way to heaven ; and all of them must be withstood, in order to a