March 21

Let us seek to excel in sanctity. Without obedience vain is our knowledge—"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." What is it to understand all mysteries, and not bridle the tongue or govern the temper? To be orthodox and not moral? To be taught by the gospel every thing except to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world? Holiness is the beauty, the dignity of the soul. It is the radiance of the divine image. The design of God in all his commands, promises, dispensations, and influences is to make us "partakers of his holiness."

Let us seek to excel in charity. "Covet earnestly the best gifts," says the apostle, "and yet I show unto you a more excellent way:" and this he immediately explains to be our acquiring and exercising the best graces, and principally charity; for the greatest of these is charity—love to God, and to our fellow creatures, and especially to them that are of the household of faith. By this all men are to know that we are the disciples of Jesus; and by this we ourselves are to know that we have passed from death unto life. This is that which the apostle so commends in the Thessalonians: "As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia." Yet he adds; "But we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more." And after many admonitions to the Colossians, he says, "and above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Let us seek to excel in usefulness. If the unprofitable servant be a wicked one; and if every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit be hewn down and cast into the fire, what becomes of the religion and the hope of many? What good of any kind or of any degree do they perform—or even endeavour to perform? The endeavour indeed is execution with him who looketh to the heart, and says, where there is a first willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. It would be well if they deserved the commendation pronounced upon Mary; "She hath done what she could." But is this their case? Is there one of their powers or resources which they fully tax? What good work at the end of a day or a week have they ever to review; we do not mean with self-exultation, but with thankfulness to God that they do not eat, and drink, and sleep, and live in vain? In a world like ours, if we are disposed, we can never be at a loss for opportunities or means of doing good. And if we have no profession or business, we are the more bound to be useful, because we are the more free from care. Has not God promised that he will not only save his people, but make them a blessing? Is it not most delightful and honourable to resemble him who went about doing good? Be teachers of babes in our Sunday schools. Be eyes to the blind. Let the blessing of him that is ready to perish, come upon you. Cause the widow's heart to sing for joy. Serve your generation according to the will of God; and "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church."

Seek to excel in reputation. A bishop must have a good report of them that are without; and Christians are to be blameless, as well as harmless. They are not to be unconcerned about what people say of them, but to take heed that their good be not evil spoken of.