enrolled with theirs? If so, then let me thankfully take the comfort of this apostolic affirmation, and indulge a humble confidence, that the warm affection I feel for the servants of God, affords a significant token that I really form a part of the same honourable household.

Lest, however, any man should impose upon himself in a matter of so great importance, I will here proceed to lay down several sure characteristics of that divine love, out of which arises the holy confidence expressed by the apostle in this passage. And,

First I would observe, my brethren, that it is a peculiar and most appropriate kind of love.

There is a general kind of love, which we owe to every man, as being of the same species with ourselves. This is properly termed a love of benevolence, since it inclines us to wish well and do good to all men, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep. But the love of which St. John speaks in my text, is a love of complacency, disposing us to seek and delight

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Let us suppose a Christian anxiously engaged in the painful work of selfexamination. After searching deeply, and inquiring minutely, he fails to find in himself those decisive characters of grace which he longed to discover there. He meets with nothing but deficiencies and imperfections; his knowledge is obscure, his faith is weak, his humility is doubtful, and his progress uncertain; insomuch that he can perceive nothing in his experience whereon he may reasonably take his stand, and say -Upon this I ground a satisfactory persuasion of my acceptance with God, and my adoption into his family. Now let us suppose that, in this state of anxious suspense, the doubting disciple's attention is drawn to the first epistle of John, where he presently discovers the encouraging passage now before us. What effect is this discovery calculated to produce upon him? Will he not immediately return to the investigation of his heart with such inquiries as these: Do I not sincerely love the children of God? Do I not, on all occasions, admire and honour them? And is it not the highest point of my ambition to have my name

enrolled with theirs? If so, then let me thankfully take the comfort of this apostolic affirmation, and indulge a humble confidence, that the warm affection I feel for the servants of God, affords a significant token that I really form a part of the same honourable household.

Lest, however, any man should impose upon himself in a matter of so great importance, I will here proceed to lay down several sure characteristics of that divine love, out of which arises the holy confidence expressed by the apostle in this passage. And,

First I would observe, my brethren, that it is a peculiar and most appropriate kind of love.

There is a general kind of love, which we owe to every man, as being of the same species with ourselves. This is properly termed a love of benevolence, since it inclines us to wish well and do good to all men, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep. But the love of which St. John speaks in my text, is a love of complacency, disposing us to seek and delight

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in the society and conversation of those, who are the objects of it; and who, in this case, are especially, and indeed exclusively, the children of God. Persons of this description are here emphatically called the brethren; because they form but one vast and happy household, of which Christ himself is the Head, and among whom he dwells as the great and gracious Master of the family. These were the peculiar objects of our Lord's regard while he sojourned upon earth, and they still continue to be treated as such now He is seated at the head of all principality and power.

While our gracious Master was once addressing the surrounding multitude, one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee; to whom Jesus made this memorable reply, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And immediately stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he added, Behold my mother, and my brethren! Note here, that he who truly loves the brethren, will feel for them what Jesus felt for his disciples on this occasion. Overlooking all the common circumstances of neighbour

hood and consanguinity, he will direct his highest and tenderest attentions to the acknowledged followers of his Lord, exclaiming with him, Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The love which a godly man maintains and exercises towards the children of the kingdom, bears but little resemblance to the ordinary attachment exhibited among men. He loves the children of God, because they are such-not because they are of the same country or kindred with himself; not because they have heretofore done him good, or are likely at some future period to further his worldly interests: no; but rather because they are holy, and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke; because they bear the mark of God in their foreheads; because they love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, adorning in all things the Gospel of God their Saviour. In a word, such a person loves the brethren for those very qualities and habits, which render them contemptible in the eyes of the world.

It seems to be a circumstance altogether unaccountable, that extraordinary degrees