PART ii. SERMON VIII. 121 in every line ? What compassion and tenderness to the babes in Christ ? What condescending affection to theyoung men, and hearty good -will to the fathers, who were thenhis equals in age ? With what obliging language does he treat the beloved Gains, in his third letter ; and withhow much civility, and hearty kind- ness, does he address the elect lady and her children, in the second ? In his younger years, indeed, he seems to have some- thing more of fire and vehemence, for which he was surnamed Aeon ofthunder ; Mark iii. 17. But our Lord saw so much good temper in him, mixed with that sprightliness and zeal, that he expressedmuch pleasure in his company, and favouredhim with peculiar honours and endearments above the rest. This is the disciple who was taken into theholy mount with James and Peter, and saw our Lord glorified before the time ; this is the disciple who leaned on his bosom at the holy supper, and was indulged the utmost freedom of conversation with his Lord ; John xiii. 23, 24, 25. This is the man whoobtained this glorious title, The disciple whom Jesus loved; that is, with a distinguishing and particular love. As God, and as a Saviour, he loved them all like saints , but as man, he loved St. John like a friend ; John xxi. 20. and whenhanging upon the cross and just expiring, he .committed his mother to his care ; a most precious and convinc- ing pledge of special friendship. O how happy are the personswhomost nearly resemble this apostle, who are thus privileged; thus divinely blessed ! How in- finitely areye indebted toGod your Benefactor, and your Father, who has endowed you with so many valuable accomplishmentson earth, andassures you of the happiness of heaven ? It is he who -lias made you fair, or wise ; it ishewho has given you ingenuity, or riches, or, perhaps, has favoured you with all these; and yet has weaned yourhearts from the love of this world, and led you to the pursuit of eternal life : It is he that has cast you in so re- fined a mould, and given you so sweet a disposition, that has inclined you to sobriety and every virtue, has raised you tohonour and esteem, has made you possessbrs of all that is desirable in this life, and appointed you a nobler inheritance in that which is to come. What thankfulness does every power of your natures owe to your God ? that heaven looks down upon you, and loves you, and the world around you fix their eyes upon you, and love you : That God has formedyou in so bright a resemblance of his own Son, his first-beloved, and has ordained you joint-heirs of heaven with trim ; Rom. viii. 17. 'Watch hourly "against the temptations of pride ; remember the fallen angels, and their once exalted station ; and have a care lest ye also be pursed up, andfrill into the condemnation of the devil. Walk before God with exactest care, and in deepest hu-
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