My brethren, let us not be contented with looking at and admiring this picture; let us give diligence that we may attain its reality. Let us gird up the loins of our mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us keep the end in view, subordinating to it all our pursuits, and living each day, and performing each duty, as men who are waiting for their Master's coming. If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him. The death to sin, the denial of self, must precede the life of glory; and to them that thus look for him, will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

LECTURE III.

ABOUNDING LOVE THE PREPARATION FOR THE

ADVENT.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM NIVEN,

INCUMBENT OF ST. SAVIOUR'S, UPPER CHELSEA.

1 THESS. III. 12, 13.

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

Ir the inspired author of these words was distinguished by the zeal with which he proclaimed among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ, if he proved himself to be a chosen vessel, by turning many from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, he was no less

remarkable for the anxiety which he manifested for the spiritual advancement and improvement of those already converted to the faith. It was not enough for him to see men shielded from the wrath to come. It was not enough for him to know that their iniquities were forgiven, and that they were accepted in the Beloved. He sought to urge them onwards; to stimulate them to aim at the highest point of Christian attainment on earth, that the Divine glory might be promoted by them, and their own best happiness advanced.

The text affords us a striking instance of this. The apostle was addressing the Thessaloniansthat Church which was his glory and joy; he was communicating to them words of wisdom and of love; he was warning every man, and teaching every man; and whilst thus engaged, he reveals to them the great object of his desire on their behalf; and it was, "That their hearts might be established unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." How high, how holy was this object! How worthy of an apostle of the Lamb! For this he laboured, for this he prayed. Nor does he conceal from them the means for the attainment of this end. There was one grace which, above all others, he saw to be important, and which he prayed that they might yet more abundantly

enjoy. It was the grace of love: "The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do toward you." To the contemplation of this spirit of love, in connexion with the advent of our Lord, our attention is this evening to be directed: and in entering upon the consideration of it, let me premise,

I. That the highest exercise of this grace is love towards God.

This is not expressed in the text, but, undoubtedly, it is implied in it. Nay, there is reason to believe that the spirit of love towards God was largely shed abroad in the disciples at Thessalonica. The terms employed to describe their spiritual state seem to convey to us this idea; they had received the Word "in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:"* and such was the grace bestowed upon them, that they had become "ensamples to all that believe."† Can we doubt that this first-fruit of the Spirit was abundantly present with them, that their hearts were directed to the love of God?"

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How important is the place assigned to this amongst the graces of the Christian character! It is the best evidence of the conversion of the heart.

What is conversion? Is it not reconciliation with God? Our natural state is that of enmity † 1 Thess. i. 7.

* 1 Thess. i. 6.

with God. Sin has estranged the affections from him in whom they ought to centre. The glorious Gospel intimates that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself."* It tells us of the mighty sacrifice through which a fountain has been opened in the house of David for sin and for uncleanness, and it invites us to be reconciled to God. This reconciliation is conversion, and the most obvious sign that we can know of the reality of this is, when the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. It is in this sense we may venture to declare that, 66 every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God;" and, "he that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love."† This is in its nature closely allied to that spirit of adoption which is granted to the children of God, of which it is written, that, "because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."+

It is this spirit of love, of love exercised towards God, that we who minister the Word amongst you so greatly desire to see. Oh! tell us not of your clear intellectual views of Divine truth; tell us not of your ability to defend even the most important points connected with our holy faith, but give us in addition to these, the assurance that * 2 Cor. v. 19. + 1 John iv. 7, 8. Gal. iv. 6.