suffering as an evil-doer-as an inconsistent and undecided follower of Him who was holy, harmless and undefiled. Blessed is that Disciple who is looked on with contempt and scorn for the name of Jesus! Rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings! The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you! But oh! if there be a pitiable sight, enough to make angels weep, it is to see an inconsistent, faithless, worldly professor making a gain of godliness-having the form but denying the power of Christ's Gospel. "Enemies they are of the Cross of Christ-whose God is their belly—whose glory is in their shame-who mind earthly things." This language being addressed to the daughters of Jerusalem, in its most general application speaks to professors, and cautions them not to look with disdain on Believers in Jesus-who, though “rich in faith," are "poor" after the flesh, or because of their failings and imperfections of life. It may seem a needless caution, but it is one which the Apostle gives-"Be not high-minded, but condescend to men of low estate," A proud disdainful Christain ! It is a contradiction in terms. Yet are there not some who loudly profess Christ-who yet think it beneath their dignity to sit at the same table and join in the same society for doing good, because 1. Rom. xii. 16 they must meet with those whose rank of life, and station in society, they consider inferior to themselves? Cometh this, Brethren, from Christ? Is it not a leaven of the old man-a spice of that abominable thing which God hates-PRIDE? But the professor is also cautioned not to look with disdain on Christ's Church, because of their failings and imperfections. Ah! it is a sad proof of great declension in spirituality, when a professing Disciple of Jesus takes pleasure in reproachfully entreating a fellow Christain for his failings and infirmities! How sad to hear the uncharitable tongues of the backbiter and busy-body enlarging, with evident delight, on the failings of some servant of God! Is this like Christ, who, (when they brought to him a sinner, and were loud in their accusations against her)—rebuked them all, saying “He that is perfect among you let him cast the first stone.”1 Is this like St. Paul, who "wept over the enemies of the Cross of Christ ?" Take heed, I charge you, how you look with disdain on any tempted, failing, child of God! Consider yourselves! you are yet in the BODY and therefore liable to fall also. Consider Jesus in His conduct towards his fallen, faithless Peter! Thrice with oaths and cursing he had denied his Lord-Did Jesus rebuke him before all? 1. Jno. viii. 7. 2. Phil. iii. 18. They were in the same room together. Jesus before the tribunal, Peter with the Servants. Now was the time you would say to reprove this faithless treacherous follower. But, what said Jesus ?Peter had been loud in his curses and bold in his denial. Jesus was silent. We read, (and oh! they are touching thrilling words) "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter!" Oh! what a look must that have been. Who can describe that thrilling look, which, unseen by others, pierced the soul of Peter! What volumes did that look speak to the already bursting heart of Peter! "The Lord looked!".......... .......We must wait till we meet with Peter in Glory, that he may tell us of that look! He looked upon Peter, and that single glance of his eye-like an arrow, pierced Peter's soul. He remembered the word of the Lord, and "went out and wept bitterly" Learn then from the Saviour not to look with scorn and disdain on your brethren in Christ, who like Peter, may fall into the hands of the great Sifter and be sifted like wheat. Look with the eye of pity on such an one, remembering yourselves also, lest ye be tempted. But, in another sense, the Church of Christ saith, "Look not upon me,” viz. after a curious, prying 1. Luke xxii. 16 fashion: looking into her failings and searching out her imperfections. She warns the daughters of Jerusalem against a practice so dishonorable to religion and so contrary to His Spirit, who said "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye ?” Never did Christians need this caution more than they do now. There are not a few, in many respects most admirable, whose peculiar fort seems that of discovering the failings of their fellow Christians. Never do they seem so well employed as when they are dissecting the character and delivering their judgement on their brothers in Christ. -Their eyes" like Vultures' talons fasten upon nothing else save corruption."-" Their tongues are like sharp razors, having the poison of Asps under their lips." Now of all pitiable characters these need the greatest share of compassion and long-suffering. Generally speaking, such persons are most ignorant of that knowledge for which they are least excusable. They are for the most part stupid in discerning and most careless in correcting their own faults. While they are pulling out motes from their brother's eye-they consider not the beam that is in their own eye. Ye hypocrites, &c. 1. Mat. vii. 3. |