Many are the promises which God hAS made to his people. Promises to the penitent, the tempted, the afflicted, the mourner, the weak, the perplexed, etc. Now, all these promises are perfectly reliable. Of this we have many guarantees; e.g. : 1. Hi$ if'lji,nite intelligence. "When be promises anything, he sees everything which may binder, and e~erything which may promote the execution of it, so that he cannot diHcover a~ythmg afterwards that may move him to take up after-thoughts: he hath more ~nsdom than to promise anything which he knows be cannot accomplish." 2. His almighty power. He is able to perform all and everything that he has promised, "Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." S. His perfect faithfulness. "It is impossible for God to lie" (eh. vi. 18; 'l'itus i. 2). "God is not a man, that he should lie," etc. (Numb. xxiii, 19; 1 Sam. xv. 29). "With him can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning" ~Jas, i. 17). "How many soever be the promises of God, in Jesus Christ is the yea,' etc. (2 Cor. i. 20). 'l'he fidelity of God to his glorious promises should ensure our fidelity in the confession of our hope in the Lord Jesus Ch1ist.-W. J. Ver. 24.-The duty and des£gn of mutual consideration. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love," etc. An interesting connection of our text with the preceding verses of this paragraph is pointed out by Delitzsch. "How beautifully is the exhortation here disposed in conformity with the Pauline triad of Christian graces (1 Cor. xiii. 13; 1 Thess. i. 3; v. 8; CoL i. 4, 5) ! First, the injunction to approach in the full assurance of faith ; then that to hold fast the confession of our hope ; and now a third, to godly rivalry in the manifestation of Christian love." L THE DUTY OF MUTUAL CONSIDERATION. "Let us consider one another." This exhortation does not warrant any impertinent interference in the concerns of others, or sanction the conduct of busybodies and gossips. It calls upon us to cherish a mutual regard, and to exercise a. kind consideration one for another. We should consider the wants, weaknesses, temptations, trials, successes, failures, and varying experiences of ea.eh other. With a brother in his shortcomings and sins we should be patient and forbear• ing, slow to condemn, but quick to raise and restore. " Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass," etc. (Gal. vi. l, 2). With each other we should sympathize in our respective joys and sorrows. Our religious duties, motives, aims, trials, joys, a.ud hopes are very similar in their character; therefore "let us consider one another," sympathize with one another, and strengthen one another. II. THE DESIGN OF MUTUAL CONSIDERATION. "To provoke unto love and good works." "To provoke" is here used in a good sense-to excite, or to call into activity for a worthy purpose. "Consider one another" in order to produce in each other a. i::enerous rivalry in love and good works. Mark the importance of these two things. 1. Love. It is the supreme grace of Christian character (1 Cor. xiii. 13). It is the most Christ-like. It is the most God-like. "God is love." It is that which most truly represents our Saviour to the world. It is that which is most extolled in the sacred Scriptures. The llible abounds in exhortations to love one another and to love God \Lev. xix. 18, 34; Deut. vL 5; L 19; Matt. :xxii. 36-40; John xv. 12; 1 Cor. xiii.; Col. iii. 14; 1 Tim. L 5; 1 Pet. iv. 8; 1 John iii. 11-24; iv. 7-21). On earth and in time love exalts and imparts an attractive lustre and beauty to the character. And it qualifies for the glories of heaven and eternity. 2. Good works; beautiful actions. Love is the fountain of all beautiful deeds. Our works a.re beautiful in proportion as love is our mozive and inspiration in them. That which is done selfishly, grudgingly, or in the spirit of a hireling, has no goodness or beauty. Love ia the purest and rnightest inspiration. No difficulties deter love; no dangers appall it; no toils are too arduous or prolonged to be accomplished by it. The venturing and enduring power of love is wonderful. And, thank God! illustrations of it are not scarce. See it in the unwearying vigil and the unfailing ministry of the mother, night and day, day and night, by the couch where her sick child lies; or the wife by the bed of her a.fllictecl husLand, etc. Love delights in self-sacrificing service for the beloved. "Provoke unto love and good works." To teach a. class well in the Sunday or the Ragged school; to visit the neglected, the sick, and the dying; to comfort some troubled heart or cheer sume depress~d spirit; to perform common duties with diligence and fidelity, or irksome duties with cheerfulness ; to bear physical pain or social trial patiently; to suffer Ion~ OH, X, 1-39,] 'fHE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 283
by reason of the faults of others, and still be kind to them ;-these are "good works," benutiful works. H is to love and good works that we are to provoke one another, and for this purpoRe we have to kindly consider each other. Put no obstacle in the path of any true worker, but cheer him, strengthen him. Perhaps the best way to stimulate others to love and good works is to set a good elliample in respect of these things. Learn here the most effective method of preventing strife and securing unity amongst Christian brethren. Kindly mutual consideration, love, and good works preclude dis- agreement, and unite hearts in sacred and blessed fellowship.-W. J,