396 cmtrsxrAn aroasr;rre. How tender were the compassions of his heart! Howextensive the benevolence of his soul ! What melting language of lave dropped from his lips hourly ! And how were his mortal and immortal powers employedin procuring infinite blessings for sinful men, in distributing them amongst the rebellious ! O that we could learn to think, and speak, and act like our blessed Saviour whose lifeandwhose death was a rich and various scene of divine and human love ! III. I might draw further arguments from the examples, and from the writings of the apostles and holy men in the pri- mitive days of christianity ; when they were all of one heart and one soul, and did every thing to please and serve their fellow- christians. I would 'mention the epistles of St. John ; what a divine spirit of love breathes in them ! But next to our Lord Jesus, I should rather turn your eyes and thoughts to thetemper and conduct of St. Paul, the greatest of the apostles, and the nearest to Christ. How did he please all men, not seeking his ownprofit, but their salvation, even as Christpleased not himself! And he leaves us his own example in subordination to his Lord, Be ye followers of me, even as i also am of Christ; Rom. xv, 1-3, and give none offence, neither to Jew nor Gentile; 1 Cor. x. 32. Who is there sorrowful among you, and I sympathize not ? Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not share in the pain ? 2 Cor. xi, 29. I bear and endure all thingsfor the elect's sake, that they may be saved; 2 Tim: ii. 10. How lovely was his behaviour in all respects? His epis- tles are full of it, it shines through every page: His character demandsa volume to describe it, all worthy of our imitation and our wonder. ButI must hasten to.the last motive derived from christia- nity, and that is the nature and design of the gospel itself. It is the most lovely of all religions. Wisdom, humility, peace, patience, meekness, moderation, and love, run through every part of the covenant of grace, like so many bright and beautiful colours, joined together in the rainbow, that stretches its glory round the lower sky, and seals an ancient and everlasting peace between earth andheaven. There is therefore the most sovereign and constraining obli- gation laid upon us christians, to do all things that -are lovely, that we may make our holy religion appear like itself, and cause ehristianity to be beloved of men. Every christian is in some degree entrusted. with the honour of Christ, and with the credit and renown of his gospel. Let us be watchful then to take all opportunities, and use all pious methods.tomakeour hope appear glorious, and set the .name of Christ in its own amiable light, and to ádoira the doctrine of God_our Saviour.
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