and by him makes believers co-heirs with him. In this manner, he is the earnest given by God of the future glory. By him God moulds and fashions them to this end, working them in that faith which unites to the Son of God.

IV. We proceed to consider the effects which the expectation of this glory has upon the conduct of believers. This the apostle describes, when he says, "Wherefore we

labour, that, whether present or absent, σε we may be accepted of him." This labour includes in it both the doing and suffering of the will of God.

1. To do the will of God, is to perform the duties which we owe to him, to our fellow-men, and to ourselves.

Of these duties he has given us the fullest information in his word, so that he who runs may read and understand them. I shall not now endeavour to unfold them to you, even in a brief detail, having given you a summary on another occasion'. Suffice it to say, that these duties include every thing which is calculated

k Owen's two Discourses on the Holy Spirit, dis. 1. ch. 7. 7 Ser. i. The Constraining Influence of Christ's Love.

to promote our individual benefit, the real happiness of our fellow-men, and the glory of God.

These duties the apostles, and all believers anointed by the same Spirit, perform with industry, fortitude, and perseverance. On these particulars I shall not detain you, as you cannot but recollect that they have already been illustrated and enforced". Your attention is more particularly solicited,

2. To suffering the will of God, which is an important part of the labour of which the apostle here speaks.

This suffering constitutes a part of the believer's cross, which he must take up and bear, not with stoical apathy, but with resignation, with cheerfulness; yea, with joy. Many are the predictions of the Redeemer to his followers, that in the world they should have tribulation. But with these predictions he connected assurances of his presence and support. "Be of good cheer," said he, "I have overcome the world"." Nay, he says, "Blessed are ye, when men

m Ser. x. The Duty of Well-doing.

n John xvi. 33.

« shall revile you, and persecute you, and << shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great your reward " in heaven"."

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The history of the Church abundantly proves both the truth of the predictions, and the reality of divine support in the hour of trial. Not to say any thing about the internal conflicts of believers, how sadly have they suffered in their external state, in all ages! They have every where been spoken against as the men who turn the world upside down. They have trod the same painful, wearisome, and afflicting path with their Master. They have always been the smallest number in any one portion of time, and have experienced the opposition and hatred of a world in arms against its Maker and Sovereign. They have been repeatedly called to contend with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places. They have "had trial of cruel "mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, "of bonds and imprisonments. They were "stoned, they were sawn asunder, were

p Matt. v. 11, 12.

"tempted, were slain with the sword: they "wandered about in sheep-skins and goat"skins; being destitute, afflicted, torment"ed: they wandered in deserts, and in "mountains, and in dens, and caves of the "earth"."

Under these accumulated sufferings they did not sink into despondence or despair. They displayed those virtues which adorn and dignify human nature. They refrained from murmurings against God, and cherished forgiveness towards their enemies. They manifested a loftiness of spirit, with a holiness of life, which astonished the world.

What was it, then, that supported them in their trials?

They had not the interest or the affection of the world to encourage them; for their interest was hostile to that of the world; and instead of its affection, they were the innocent victims of its most direful and implacable hatred.

They had not the expectation of being cherished in the recollection of the multitude. On the contrary, they well knew that the multitude would malign and revile their memory.

d Heb. xi. 36-38.

They were heartily despised and insulted; their motives were misrepresented, and they themselves considered as fools and madmen; nay, as the offscouring of the earth, utterly unworthy of the least attention.

They were actually, without regard to sex, age, or condition, dragged to the stake, the gibbet, the block; deprived of life in the most painful and ignominious manner. Every ingenuity was exerted to aggravate the tortures of bodily feeling, and the anguish of the mind.

No

They had, therefore, none of the supports which the warrior, the patriot, and the statesman enjoy. No place in a Roman Pantheon was to be allotted to their 'remains, or monument in a Westminster Abbey to be erected to their memory. earthly splendour emblazoned their names. No earthly crown encircled their brows. No earthly reward awaited their victories. Every motive which can operate upon the unrenewed heart, was entirely wanting in their case. Whatever the motives were which influenced their conduct, they did not partake of the nature of those motives which actuate the majority of man