in that labour. We must never be seduced from duty by temptations, or driven from it by threatenings. There is no period in our lives, when we may discontinue in well-doing; for piety, justice, charity, and the like, never cease to be duties. We may never sit down supinely, saying, "Our work is "done" for one duty follows short upon another. As long as we are in the world, we have something to do, and that ought to be done agreeably to the will of God.

By perseverance in duty, the habit of welldoing becomes more and more permanent, and the practice more easy. The more diligent we are in the service of God, the more pleasant that service becomes. The more good we do to others, the more we desire to do, The passions and appetites become more manageable, temptation loses its power, our knowledge increases, our love to God and men becomes more and more intense, so that, instead of being weary in well-doing, we pant after and strive for growth in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We “give all "diligence," according to the apostolic precept," to add to" our "faith, virtue; and

" to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, "temperance; and to temperance, pa"tience; and to patience, godliness; and "to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity"."

Such is our obligation, thus to persevere in well-doing, growing more and more industrious, more and more courageous. This is the last idea included in the exhortation of

the apostle : "Let us not be weary in welldoing."

What a lesson does it teach us! what a duty does it enjoin! A lesson of admirable wisdom, suited to our case, and necessary for our weakness; a duty which calls into exercise every noble and generous feeling, and is calculated to mature every virtue. He who learns this lesson, and performs this duty, cannot fail to excite the admiration of mankind! How interesting and grand the spectacle which he exhibits! How worthy of imitation by all!

But his reward is not confined to the applause of his cotemporaries, or even of posterity. It is not confined to a world whose fashion passeth away. His reward

n 2 Pet. i. 5-7.

is on high; it is with his God. brings me,

This

II. To the argument which the apostle uses to enforce his exhortation. "In due 66 season we shall reap, if we faint not."

As well-doing, in the previous verse, is expressed figuratively, by "sowing to the "Spirit," so here the reward is expressed figuratively, by reaping in due season. This season, which will be the harvest to all who labour in God's field, is eternity. Perhaps

that reward which, in this life, awaits those who do well, may be included. Though God defers this often, for the trial of their faith, yet, in due time, he is pleased, in a variety of instances, to grant that they may see the fruit. of their labour in this world. Their great reward, however, is that which they will receive, after death has closed their eyes on the scenes of this life. They will then enter on that state which is unchangeable, and reap "eternal

"life." This is the reward to which the apostle refers, as appears from the preceding verse. It is that rest which remaineth for the people of God; that joy at God's right hand, and those pleasures for evermore,

Though

which they shall taste in heaven. perfect, as to its quality, immediately after the dissolution between soul and body, it will not be perfect in degree till the resurrection, when soul and body will again be united, never to separate. It is a reward in which both parts of their constitution will share, according to their respective natures. They will not be disappointed in their expectations of it; it will exceed their imaginations; they will enjoy it for ever.

1. They will not be disappointed in their expectations of it.

"God is not unrighteous," saith the apostle, addressing the believing Hebrews, "to forget your work and labour of love, " which have shewed toward his name, "in that ye have ministered to the saints, "and do minister. And we desire that

ye

every one of you do shew the same

diligence, to the full assurance of hope "unto the end; that ye be not slothful, "but followers of them who, through "faith and patience, inherit the pro"mises. For when God made promise to "Abraham, because he could swear by no

greater, he sware by himself, saying,

Surely in blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And

So,

after he had patiently endured, he ob"tained the promise. For men verily

swear by the greater, and an oath for con"firmation is to them an end of all strife. "Wherein God willing more abundantly "to show unto the heirs of promise the im"mutability of his counsel, confirmed it by

an oath; that by two immutable things in "which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who "have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the

hope set before us; which hope we have "as an anchor of the soul, both sure and "steadfast, and which enterėth into that "within the veil: whither the forerunner "is for us entered, even Jesus, made an

high-priest for ever, after the order of "Melchisedec"." Surely words cannot be more explicit than these, to show that the reward of those who do well is certain, unless indeed the promise and oath of God both fail. They will not-they cannot be disappointed in their expectations. "Their "hope maketh not ashamed; because," says

b Heb. vi. 10-20.