sins in his own body on the tree'." His hand was stretched out to save us, his arm to help us,-and shall we grudge him our bodily services? But we must ask ourselves, further, whether we are transformed by the renewing of our mind?" It is an important question, and should not be overlooked altogether or lightly answered; for much depends upon it. Will our members do the Lord's work, if our souls do not acknowledge his authority? And will they hesitate a moment, if there be first a willing mind? The answers to these questions cannot be doubted. Hence then let us gather the unspeakable importance, the vital necessity of true conversion to God, and ascertain the foundation of the Christian character, and the right method of proving "what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Are we thus changed? Our own hearts will tell us, our own life will shew us, how we severally stand in this respect. The Scripture duly consulted will teach the right way. The world, truly estimated, will reveal its own hollowness. The world is the enemy of God. The Scripture bids us come out of it. Are we changed toward the world? Does the world find us changed? We cannot test ourselves better than by comparing ourselves thus with the world and with Scripture. May the Spirit prompt the inquiry, guide the inquirer, and sanctify the solution! Those who have really undergone this change, should, however, beware of that tempter and seducer of the most truly converted, pride. Is this fleshly principle springing up amid the spiritualized affections of any of us? Are we beginning to "think of ourselves more highly," of others less highly, " than we ought to think”? The Apostle gives us two most excellent reasons for thinking more rationally, more soberly, on both these subjects. "God has dealt to us our measure of faith," our measure of grace, our measure of every thing good, and we have no right to presume upon it as though it were our own. Others have a demand on our good offices, and we must exert them strenuously in their behalf, abating our self-love, bringing down our high looks, dismissing our uncharitable thoughts, and centering all our joy and boast in the ripening faith of brethren. And humility, deep humility, the higher we rise in spirituality ourselves, should be our watchful aim and careful endeavour. Presenting our bodies a living sacrifice," "transformed in mind,” not conformed to the world,” how shall we take such effectual 66 11 Pet. ii., 24. means of making our calling and election in all things sure, as by taking heed that no offence cometh, laying aside every weight, wiping away every blot, and watching and examining our hearts continually, and praying for grace, as continually, unto him, who, if we abide faithful, will "keep us and water us every moment, lest any hurt us; will keep us night and day1." THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. THE EPISTLE. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. another with brotherly love; in 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to things, but condescend to men of low estate. L The Apostle, in this portion of Scripture, set apart for the use of this day, applies practically, and carries out in detail, a doctrine laid down on the last Lord's day, namely, that God has "dealt to every man his measure of faith," and appointed to him certain duties arising therefrom, as a member of his spiritual family. And as in that former portion of Scripture, the Apostle took this method of guarding the converts from the danger of spiritual pride, so does he here urge a minute attention to other practical duties, upon the same principle, and in the same spirit. As if he had said: "the spiritual gifts with which the grace of God has endowed you, were not intended to minister to vainglory, and to puff you up with exceeding pride, as though you were personally superior to, and exalted above, your brethren. They were given you for a very different purpose, even for the edification of the Church, and the good of the whole Christian community." 1 Isai. xxvii., 3. This truth he developes at length in the portion of Scripture now before us, first pointing out the necessity of making each spiritual gift or office minister all the edification of which it is capable, and then directing attention to the numerous social, relative, and other obligations, which the Christian, divesting himself entirely of all selfish considerations, should fulfil. Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, should each, he assures his brethren, be thus handled, and applied to the spiritual uses for which they were ordained. There should be no highmindedness on the part of the prophet, because God enables him to prophecy; no assumption on the part of any other steward of the grace of God, because God gives unto him any particular part or lot in the ministry of reconciliation; but, on the contrary, a diligent desire and determination on the part of all to put the spiritual gifts they possess to a good use, employ them in the work of conversion, devote them to the extension of Christ's spiritual kingdom. And instead of thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to think, they must think rather of the wants and afflictions of others; think rather of their own weaknesses and infirmities; do the greatest good they can in their generation, spiritual and temporal; and stablish, strengthen, and perfect themselves continually in every good 'word and work. But next comes the question, how shall we turn the many valuable practical suggestions contained in this portion of Scripture to our soul's greatest advantage? This, I think, we shall do in the clearest, and hence very probably, in the most profitable manner, by reminding ourselves, first, that the Apostle addresses the holders of any office appertaining to the soul, and secondly, all Christian persons whatsoever. First, the Apostle addresses the holders of any office appertaining to the soul. And what does he say to such persons? "Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation." Let us give ourselves up to the duties connected with our respective spiritual offices, and to them alone. One of us may be a minister of the Gospel; another a teacher in a school. One of us may be a distributor of tracts; another an occasional visitor in a sick room. What does the spirit, nay, rather the letter of the Apostle's admonition, prescribe to us? It pre scribes to us, that whatsoever office appertaining to the soul we are commissioned to hold, we should devote ourselves entirely and heartily to its due discharge; and setting aside all personal pretension arising from our position, concentrate on it our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. The minister of the Gospel is set apart to his sacred function by prayer, and the laying on of hands. He engages and is enjoined "never to cease his labour, his care, and diligence, until he has done all that lieth in him, according to his bounden duty, to bring all such as are, or shall be committed to his charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among his people either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life'." Must not then the minister "wait on his ministering," and "draw all his cares and studies this way"? Must he not, 66 as much as he may, forsake and set aside all worldly cares and studies?"? Must he not be "studious in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manners both of himself and of them that specially pertain to him, according to the rule of the same Scriptures"? Must he not so endeavour himself, from time to time, to sanctify the lives of himself and his, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that they may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow*"? 66 And so, in like manner, must those who are appointed to any minor spiritual function, discharge its obligations. The teacher in a school must "wait on teaching;" give his mind wholly to it, qualify himself sufficiently for it, that his profiting may appear to all, that the profit of his pupils may appear to all. The distributor of tracts must be equally diligent in his vocation, select his tracts with judgment, and suit them to the circumstances of the receivers. And the occasional visitor in a sick room must be instant at the appointed season in exhortation, rebuke or encourage as he sees occasion, call attention to the origin of the affliction, and adapt his prayers, readings, and instructions, to the exigencies of the Christian patient. Prominence will thus be given, as it ought, to a spiritual office; and without neglect of any worldly duty, highest interest will be taken in that which concerns the soul. soever. Secondly, the Apostle addresses all Christian persons what- implies a variety of duties appertaining to Christian perfectness, and the difficulty of attaining, nay even of approaching the high standard of its excellence. And surely it implies the necessity of fixing the whole attention upon "the strait and narrow way which leadeth unto life," and the folly and sin of exalting that fleshly nature which, even in a state of comparative spirituality, is prone to infirmity. How much must we think of the manner of performing a Christian duty! "He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." And how much must we think of the motive! "Let love be without dissimulation." And how fixed, how unalterable, how uncompromising, must be the one line of duty we take. "Abhor that which is evil: cleave to that which is good." And how elevated in their nature must be our affections one toward another, now that we are disciples of Christ, our exalted and heavenly Saviour. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another." And who should be so diligent in his worldly vocation, as the faithful Christian,-the Christian who undertakes, in obedience to his Master, to be instant in all acceptable service, spiritual or temporal? Who should be so careful as he "not to be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord"? And in all his distresses, where will he find such sure consolation, as in the promises of Jesus Christ, the prophet and dispenser of all good things, he who encourages us to be "joyful in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer," and requires of us, if we would be thus perfect, to be thus minded? Whatever means of helping our poorer brethren we possess, we must exert, if we would work out the principles we espouse; especially in the brotherly offices of distributing to the necessity of believing brethren, and "bringing the poor and them that are cast out to our house'." And, further, we must put a restraint, with the help of the grace of God, upon our naturally irritable feelings; and "bless them that persecute us; bless rather than curse." And how full of sympathy must we be with those "that rejoice and with those that weep," if we would do the work given us to do, and call forth the feelings of a true and lively faith. Yea, must we not be of "the same mind one towards another," in all seasons and under all circumstances; living with all in peace; thinking of them charitably; agreeing with them, 1 Isai. Lviii., 7. |