2. How to requite his love —
[On this our Lord insisted with peculiar emphasis. In the words following the text it is said, " Then said Jesus unto his disciples. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,'' &c. But another Evangelist informs us, that he called the people to him on this occasion, that they, together with his disciples, might hear what was so highly interesting, so univer- sally obligatory, and so unquestionably right and reasonable^. He expatiated on the duties he required of all his followers, and declared, that all who would approve themselves to him, must deny themselves after his example, and be willing to lay down their lives for him ^. This at first perhaps sounds harsh : but if Jesus laid down his life for us, and was so intent upon it that he resented in the highest degree any suggestion that could be made against it, what does he not deserve at our hands? If he did that for us who were his enemies, what should not we be ready to do for him, our Lord and Saviour ? Truly, if we had a thousand lives, we might well sacrifice them
all for him Let us not then be ashamed to confess him,
or afraid to suffer for him: but let us "follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach," and *' esteem the reproach of Christ greater treasures than all the riches of the world."]
3. How to act towards those who offer us their
friendly advice —
[We have before shewn how we are to act when menaced by the avowed enemies of Christ. But how are we to act towards those who profess themselves his friends ? I answer, Try their counsel, and examine carefully lohetherit savour of the things of
e Acts xxi. 11—13. f Mark viii. 34. s Mark viii. 35—38.