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constitution of man that our happiness is enhanced when participated by those in whose welfare we feel interested; and no doubt the admission of every saint to the joys of heaven will be a new source of blessedness to all who have entered before. They shall come from the East, and from the West, from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, rejoicing with each other, and mingling their acclamations to him who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his blood.

This entrance shall be ministered to them abundantly, or as it may be translated richly. It is mentioned of some that "they shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able :" They were not willing to come in exclusively by that door which is opened in the gopel, that is the mediation of the eternal Son who alone is "the way, and the truth, and the life." They depended partly on their own performances, and would not stoop to be wholly indebted to divine grace as it reigns through the Saviour's cross, and therefore they are not admitted at all: They rested satisfied with an empty form of religion; with running the routine of duty, but never secured its power by "repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ;" and consequently their expectations were disappointed. Except a man be born again he cannot enter this kingdom of God. Many who are first in their own.

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estimation; who like the Pharisee console themselves that they are not extortioners, that they pray often, and pay tithes of all which they possess ;" many such will be lowest in the estimation of God, and excluded at last from the immunities of his kingdom.

We read of others who are scarcely saved, or saved as by fire. As members of the Redeemer, and therefore interested in his unchanging covenant, they cannot possibly perish their title to the heavenly kingdom through his atonement, and obedience is unalienable, and their entrance is secured beyond the possibility of failure. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and shall not enter into condemnation; Yet they "minded too much their own things," their own interests, and enjoyments, and neglected" the things of Jesus Christ ;" their hearts were not duly enflamed with his love, nor zealous for his glory; they did not spend of that affluence which a bounteous God had given them in diffusing the knowledge of his name, or ministering to the necessities of his saints; they were not diligent in promoting their own graces, or exhorting, and encouraging others to seek the Lord, and therefore although they are saved, they are scarcely saved; they do not enjoy that abundant entrance into the kingdom, nor that exceeding weight of glory which might have been secured by greater earnestness, and disin

terestedness in his cause. "They sowed sparingly," as it is expressed by the apostle," and therefore they shall reap sparingly:" They were not active in promoting the honor of God, and therefore he will not be so liberal in bestowing honors upon them. To others, it is here promised, that "an entrance shall be given abundantly; they were industrious in occupying the talents with which the Lord God had intrusted them; they were frequent in supplication for blessings on themselves, and for the prosperity of Zion throughout the world; they entertained affecting conceptions of the grace of our Lord Jesus, and therefore felt constrained to disinterested exertions for the advancement of his cause; they followed him through glory, and reproach, maintaining their profession of his name at the hazard of all that was dear in this world, and to such through the exceeding riches of his mercy "an entrance shall be ministered abundantly. Every sacrifice of ease, or interest, which is now made in the cause of Jesus, shall hereafter be recollected, and rewarded "a hundred fold." We thus behold him looking round on his disciples when collected together, and asking them, "who then is that faithful and wise servant whom his Lord will make ruler over all his house?" To such he will offer a seat near to himself upon the throne, and dispense crowns of pre-eminent lustre. By this assurance of a future reward for their services the divine

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Redeemer makes his appeal to the hopes, may I not add, to the ambition of his followers: He encourages them to remain "stedfast, immovable," neither lured by the false smiles, nor shaken by the reproach or persecution of the world, from the consideration "that their labors shall not be in vain in the Lord." He thus exhorts us to "make to ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness;" to convert to purposes of piety and charity the wealth of this world, which is often acquired by unrighteous means, and is at best perishable in its nature, "that when these fail" the poor of Jesus whom we have relieved may receive us into everlasting habitations." The same animating truth is taught in this chapter from which our text is selected. "Giving all diligence add to your faith virtue;" see that you possess a genuine faith, a cordial reliance on Jesus Jehovah for righteousness, and sanctification, and support. This is the cardinal grace, and without it you can no more expert holiness here, or happiness hereafter, than you can expect a solid superstructure without laying the foundation, or a flourishing branch without union to the vine. Add to this faith virtue, a becoming magnanimity, a holy heroism in the cause of your Master, not terrified either by the number, or power, or rage of your adversaries: "And to your virtue knowledge," let a manly courage in the cause of your Lord be connected with prudence in every part of your conduct,

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and with a growing knowledge of his person, and of that glory which is to be revealed at his second appearing: "And to your knowledge temperance," shew your moderation to all men in all things; mortify the "lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye,” and like holy men in former ages, "put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; which is in the sight of God of great price:” “ And to your temperance patience;" exercise a becoming submission under all the discouragements of life; recollect in the hour of trial that these afflictions are short in their duration, and will issue in an exceeding and eternal weight of glory: "Andto patience godliness;" aspire after more exalted conceptions of his glory and grace, of the tender relation in which he stands to you as your Creator and Redeemer, and of your reasonable obligation to adore and love him: "And to godliness brotherly kindness; out of love to him who begat, love ardently those who are begotten of him; love as brethren," as redeemed by the same blood, as adopted into the same family, and heirs of one incorruptible inheritance: "And to brotherly kindness charity" consider this last as among the most important, and ornamental graces, and through its influence be always ready to distribute to the necessities, and to cover with a mantle of love the imperfections of each other: "If ye do these things-an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly," your evening sun will go down in glo

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