eousness, and judgment to come, made the profligate Felix tremble upon his throne.k The denier of God's word, the blasphemer, the drunkard, the extortioner, the unclean, the dishonest, will find little by which their minds, in their present state, can be gratified, in learning that God shall "bring to light the hidden things of darkness," and "make manifest the counsels of the hearts:" that "we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."m They "that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," must regard the appearing of our Lord only as "the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." " n But "to them, who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality," the final restitution of all things affords a subject of encouragement and hope. With this consolation St. Paul supported himself, even under the apprehension of immediate death. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."0 St. Peter, in like manner, comforts his converts under their affliction, by referring them to this final object of their hope. "Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” P The Apostle Paul, after informing the Thessalonians of the circumstances of that awful day, concludes with the command, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." And precisely with the same view, in the comprehensive scheme which we have been considering, he represents true Christians as especially "looking to that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." IV. Jesus Christ, for whose glorious appearing we are commanded to look, being truly • 2 Tim. iv. 8. P 1 Pet. i. 6, 7. "the great God and our Saviour," how wonderful is the dispensation, which through him has been revealed to fallen man. He, who was "in the form of God," and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God," is the same "who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." 66 1. All that Christ did and suffered for our sakes was voluntarily undergone. Throughout his whole ministry, in his sufferings, and death, he gave himself for us." Even the sacrifice of his life was made by his own will. To Peter, who drew forth his sword in his defence, he said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" And, on another occasion, he declared expressly, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." And this offering of himself was made for us: "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the Phil. ii. 5. 5 Matth. xxvi. 53. suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."" 2. This voluntary oblation of himself was made by our Lord, "that he might redeem us from all iniquity:" that he might free us from the guilt of sin, and from the severe consequences attached to it; from the slavery of sin in this life, and not only from temporal, but from eternal death. "The wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." X The Scripture has included all men under sin. "By one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." But the same Scripture declares "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Such was the mercy of Christ, that, while we were yet sinners, he "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." 3. But while Christ has done so much for man, man is required to do something for himself; to shew forth the sensible effects of a holy and religious life. For Christ gave himself for us, that he might "purify unto u Heb. ii. 9. y Rom. vi. 23. a 1 Cor. xv. 22. * John viii. 34, 36. z Rom. v. 12. himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." When God had redeemed the people of Israel from their Egyptian bondage, and distinguished them from the rest of the world by rites and ordinances of His own appointment, he declared to them, "Now, therefore, if ye will obey,r ,my voice indeed, and keep my my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people,' "b In allusion to this selection of the Israelites, the apostle Paul here denominates those who are true believers in Christ as "a peculiar people," zealous, not of outward rites and ceremonies, but of good works. In a subsequent part of his Epistle, St. Paul again exhorts Titus to set forth the same doctrine. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." C Works of charity, works of beneficence, works of holiness, these are the fruits by which the faith of a man can be made manifest: and such are the fruits required. After all that we can do, it is true we are but unprofitable servants; we can claim nothing as a reward. But they are the only evidence which we can b Exod. xix. 5. < Tit. iii. 8. |