have apprehended; but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Here then is one motive to holiness: the holiness of him into whose favour they had been brought, and in whose service they were enrolled. But this is not the only motive. The apostle justly urges, in addition, the greatness of the price which had been paid for their redemption, and the mercy which had made them partakers of the blessing.

17. And if ye call on the Father, who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers :

19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot:

20. Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ; 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.

Captives taken in war, or by any means reduced into bondage, are often ransomed by silver and gold. That which is their value to those who have purchased them, is given in their stead, and the bondman is set at liberty. If a large ransom is received, it is proof either of the high value which they bear

7 Phil. iii. 13.

in the eyes of their possessors, or of the esteem in which they are held by those who provide the ransom. And yet, what are silver and gold, corruptible things, short-lived treasures, compared with the price of your redemption, the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot?

Forasmuch, then, as God has purchased you to his service at so great a price, and has encouraged you to call upon him as Father,-pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: in fear, lest you should act unworthily of his mercy: in fear, lest "a promise being given you of entering into his glory, any of you should seem to come short of it.' God, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work. And if they whom he has called to holiness, are not holy in their conversation if they whom he has redeemed, lead the same lives as those who are still in bondage to Satan, they defeat the purpose of God's mercy, and count themselves unworthy of eternal life. They reject the mercy, too, which is so much the greater, because to you that has been granted, which others had long looked for, but had not enjoyed. The manifestation has been reserved for you, of that which had been fore-ordained before the foundation of the world. The promise had been made to the fathers but they received not the fulfilment, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.""

All these were additional reasons why they should pass the time of their sojourning here in fear. Not in that servile "fear which hath torment" with it;10 and from which those are relieved who are at peace with God through Jesus Christ. But in that wholesome fear, which a man feels who has a precious treasure, and guards it with watchful care. There would be great cause to doubt whether a man really valued a possession, which he had no fear of losing. In this sense, happy is the man that feareth always" far happier than another, who may think that he stands so secure, as to take no "heed lest he fall."

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LECTURE XXVII.

THE CHRISTIAN'S NEED OF BROTHERLY LOVE.

1 PETER i. 22-25.

22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren; see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

The more separate and distinct any party is, the more needful it becomes that they should be cordially united among themselves. The Christians to whom the apostles wrote, were a distinct and separate party surrounded by Jews from whose faith they

had turned aside, or by heathens who still adhered to the idols worshipped by their fathers. Hence the constant injunction, See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Despised, detested, or persecuted by others, see that ye love one another, and let no envious, no jealous, no angry feelings disturb the sincerity or chill the fervency of your affection. For to this ye were called; and this is the proof that ye have been called effectually, and have not received the grace of God in vain," that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren. Where the soul is not purified, this love is wanting, or is frequently disturbed. Pride, envy, covetousness, engender wrath, emulation, strife. But when the truth as it is in Jesus is obeyed, the Spirit cleanses the soul from those evil dispositions, through which men hate one another instead of loving one another.

When this same apostle who writes these words asked of our Lord, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?—the question showed that some natural passions still lurked within, waiting for an opportunity to break forth. And when the Lord replied, I say not unto thee, until seven times-but until seventy times seven; he instructed him to purify his soul unto a more loving and forgiving temper, through the Spirit working with him.

1

No doubt, this is a new nature, very unlike the original character of the heart. But they are re

1 Matt. xviii. 21.

minded, that as Christians, they have a new nature: and on this very ground he addressed them, and expects this of them.

23. Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The Lord Jesus had declared, that " except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And now St. Peter says, that these had been born again. The authors of their first being were corruptible; liable to death, and sure to perish; the author of their second being was incorruptible, eternal, even the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.

But how do we read, that the word of God is the author of this new birth? How often is the word of God both read and heard, and no such result follows? The heart remains what it was before. The word of God is the instrument which the Spirit uses and makes effectual. The word of God is the outward cause; the Spirit of God the inward agent. Multitudes heard the word spoken, or read it written, and remained unchanged; it was seed falling upon parched and unbroken ground, and never penetrated the soil. But when the Spirit opened the way, and prepared the heart to receive the word, there it lodged; and there it sprang up, and there it produced the plant which brings forth christian fruit of every kind; and among the first of its fruits, love, and all that leads to love among mankind; meek

2 So James i. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.