ing; a life of trial, sometimes from our friends, and oftentimes from enemies. To the last moment, it is, in some degree, a contest between the animal and the spiritual part of our nature; a fight, under the banner of the great Captain against the destroyer of souls, whether heaven or hell shall be our portion. But thou, O man of God! strive to realize by faith, all that is revealed for our eternal good. Behold an Almighty Father, inviting to glory! A Saviour, clearing away sin, which would otherwise be imputed, from day to day! A Comforter, purifying, perfecting, and cheering the willing disciple! Be thou of a contrite, faithful, and humble spirit. Be thou persevering in resistance to sin; zealous in higher attainments of grace. And this life of trial shall be found a life of peace; it shall pass away into a state of blessedness amidst the mansions of the Lamb of God.

264

LECTURE XIV.

1 TIM. vi. 13 TO THE END.

"I GIVE THEE CHARGE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, WHO QUICKENETH ALL THINGS, AND BEFORE CHRIST JESUS, WHO BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE, WITNESSED A GOOD CONFESSION; THAT THOU KEEP THIS COMMANDMENT WITHOUT SPOT, UNREBUKEABLE, UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: WHICH IN HIS TIMES HE SHALL SHEW, WHO IS THE BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, THE KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS; WHO ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY, DWELLING IN THE LIGHT WHICH NO MAN CAN APPROACH UNTO; WHOM NO MAN HATH SEEN, NOR CAN SEE TO WHOM BE HONOUR AND POWER EVERAMEN. CHARGE THEM THAT ARE RICH

LASTING.

IN THIS WORLD, THAT THEY BE NOT HIGH-MINDED, NOR TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES, BUT IN THE LIVING GOD, WHO GIVETH US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY; THAT THEY DO GOOD, THAT THEY BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO DISTRIBUTE, WILLING TO COMMUNICATE; LAYING UP IN STORE FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION AGAINST THE TIME TO

HOLD ON ETERNAL

COME, THAT THEY MAY LAY
LIFE. O TIMOTHY, KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMIT-
TED TO THY TRUST, AVOIDING PROFANE AND VAIN
BABBLINGS, AND OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE, FALSE-
LY SO CALLED WHICH SOME PROFESSING, HAVE
ERRED CONCERNING THE FAITH. GRACE BE WITH
THEE.

As he draws nigh to the end of this valuable Epistle, St. Paul, if possible, increases in the earnestness of his admonitions, "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate, witnessed a good confession, that thou keep this commandment, without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

With such exhortations before him, could the overseer of the Church at Ephesus, consecrated as he had been to his high office, ever slumber or sleep on his most important station? Could he be backward in the open acknowledgment of the gospel, when Christ is thus set before him, in his meek but undaunted demeanour?

N

Should he be brought before rulers and kings for Christ's sake, he that sent down his Spirit for the strengthening of his disciples, would inspire his servant with the feeling, that no man, nor Satan himself, could have power against us, unless it were granted him from above. Should he even have the crown of martyrdom bestowed on him, God, who quickeneth all things, was able to restore him to life, to a better life through Jesus.

With these awful adjurations, saith the Apostle, do I now charge thee, "to keep this commandment;" to observe all that has been directed in this solemn exhortation. Let those who come after thee, find thy name without spot of wilful sin; or imputation of neglected duty. Be thy whole course unrebukable; so that even they who disapprove of the strictness of thy conduct, and are ignorant of the nature of those heavenly principles, by which thou art governed, and the Church under thee ruled, may have no evil thing to advance against thy name. Yea, persevere

with regularity, with unabated zeal, “until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Communicated by thee under much grace, and carried on, as unto God, the influential doctrines of the Gospel shall be handed down from generation to generation: and thus "both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, shall rejoice together," in the great and glorious day of final judgment. This sentence shall indeed be duly manifested, in the season appointed by God himself. And I desire that thou wouldest meditate on the nature of the supreme Jehovah-the only Being in whom power essentially resides; the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality; in whom is life, the fountain of all existence, independently residing; "who dwelleth in light inaccessible;" whom no man, with fleshly eyes can behold, and live,such is the dignity of His spiritual nature! To Him be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

1 John iv. 36.