DISCOURSE IL ñ9$ ians, 1 Fpist. xv. 58. " Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast; immoveable, always abóunding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Now that great labour and diligence, that stedfást- liess in profession, and that seal in practice, to which the apostle exhorts them, might seem to be in vain, if those who were far less laborious, less zealous, and less stedfast, should obtain an equal recompense. It ib upon the same principle that he encourages themto holy patience under afflictive trials ; 2 Cor. iv, 17. when he says, "our light affliction which is but for a moment, worked' for us á 61 more exceedingand eternal weight of glory ; while we look not to the things that are seen," and temporal, but to the things in- visible and eternal. Now if the saint, who was called to heaven almost as soon as he Was made a christian, and avent through no sufferings, should possess the saineweight of glory with the mar- tyrs andconfessors, under the long and tedious train of cruelties which they sustained from men, or painful trials from the hand of God ; I cannot seehow their afflictions could be said to work for them a far more exceeding weight of glory. lleurges them also to great degrees of liberality from the same motive ; 2 Cor. ix. " This I say, he that soweth sparingly, shall reap also spa- ringly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall also reap bond- fully, " Which words may reasonably be construed to signify the blessings of the life to come, as well as the blessings of the pre- sent life ; for this apostle speaking of the same duty of liberality, expresses the saine encouragement under the same metaphors; Gal. vi. 6, 7, 8, 9. " Let him, that is taught in the word, com- municate to Min that teacheth in all good things. Be not de- ceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall lie also reap : For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he.that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, ifwe faint not." When God distributes the riches of his glory amongst the saints inhea- ven, he pours them out in a large and bountiful manner upon these who have distributed the good things of this life bounti- fully to thepoor ; but he rewards the narrow-souledchristian with a more sparing hand. With the same design does the apostle encourage Christians to great watchfulness against sin and heresy, as well as ministers to a solicitous care of their doctrine and preaching.; 1 Cor. iii. 12, 13, 14, 15. If any man, build gold, silver, or precious stones upon the true foundatiou;Jesus Christ, and raise a glorious superstructure of truth. and holiness, he shall receive a reward answerable to his skill and care in building ; for his work shall stand, when it is tried by the fire ofthe judgment day : But if ho
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