be made in the assured prospect of eternal happiness and glory ? Know, then, that this is the alternative set before you. You may not, indeed, be actually called to lay down your life for Christ ; but you must be ready to do so at any moment, and in any manner that you may be called to do it : and if these terms appear too severe, nothing remains for you, but " ever- lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." If, on the contrary, you accept the Lord on these terms, even though you should be eventually required to lay down your life for his sake, you will be gainers in the issue ; since " the sufferings of this present life, how severe or protracted soever they may be, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Thus, " are life and death set before you." Our blessed Lord has warned us, that " if any man come to him, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be his disciple ^" Of course, we are not called positively to hate our relations, and our own life ; but comparatively we are : and nothing under heaven, whether pleasing or painful, is to have any influence upon our minds in comparison of love to the Saviour's name, and zeal for his glor}'.]
Lest, however, this subject should be in any wise mis- apprehended, let me add a few words of advice —
1. Do not affect needless singularity —
[Piety will make you sufficiently singular, without dis- tinguishing yourselves by any marks, which a hypocrite may assume as well as you. Be as eminent for that as you will : but in things that have no real connexion with vital godliness, I should rather recommend a conformity with those of the age and station to which you belong.]
2. Do not lay too great a stress on non-essential matters —
[There are some things which are essential to the main- tenance of a good conscience before God: and these things must be done or forborne, according to the dictates of your own judgment. But there are many things which are really indifferent; and which may be either done or forborne, accord- ing to the views which different persons entertain respecting them. In reference to such things, endeavour to understand, and to maintain, your liberty. Only use not your own liberty to the endangering of another's welfare ; and neither judge those who allow themselves in a greater latitude than you, nor despise those who have not the sanue insight with you into the full Hberty of the Gospel '*.]
«= Luke xiv. 26. ^ Rom. xiv. 3.
1347.] Christ's answer to John's disciples. SSS
3. Be particularly attentive to your own spirit —
[You may be right in the line of conduct you pursue, and yet be highly criminal in respect to the spirit you indulge in pursuing it. A parent, for instance, will urge upon you a conformity to the world, in some things that are positively and intrinsically evil : and you do right in resisting his solicitations or commands ; because " you must obey God rather than man." But if you do it with petulance and disrespect, you sin against God : for no conduct on the part of your parent can absolve you from the duty of honouring him, even whilst the sinfulness of his injunctions prevents you from obeying him. A meek, humble, modest, and respectful deportment must be observed towards all persons, and under all circumstances. Every vio- lation of this is decidedly and unquestionably wrong. Your duty is, to " shew all meekness to all men."]
4. Take the word of God alone as your rule —
[Your friends wiU often bring before you the examples of difierent persons, as sanctioning this or that conduct. But men are no examples to you. You must go to the word and to the testimony ; and be regulated only by Scripture-precepts, and Scripture-examples. If you adhere not to this standard, no one can tell whither you may be drawn. By complying with every thing that any reputed saint has ever done, you may be drawn into evils without end. Leave others to stand or fall to their own Master ; and be you careful to approve yourselves to Him, whose judgment will determine your eternal state.]