March 11

But followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. - Hebrews 6:12.

THIS injunction implies three things. First, That there is nothing unattainable and impracticable in the example of those who have gone before us. We may, we can follow them. They were exercised by the very same trials and temptations, and they had the very same passions with us. What they were they were by grace; what they did they did by grace, and that grace is the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever; there is no reason, therefore, that we should ever despond.

Secondly, That we should acquaint ourselves with them. Without this we cannot follow them. We cannot follow what we are ignorant of. Imitation is something voluntary-intentional-that requires frequent observation, and to have the thing much before the eye of the mind, in order to have the mind impressed. We should, therefore, search the Scriptures to see what God has there recorded of their principles, their actions, and their sufferings. We must behold them in the various relationships and conditions of life; how they behaved in prosperity and in adversity, in life and in death.

And the Third thing is, That we should not be satisfied with anything short of resemblance and conformity. With these men labouring in the vineyard we are to work too. If they denied themselves, we are enjoined also to deny ourselves. With them we are to have also our conversation in heaven, and to walk by faith, and not by sight, even as they also walked. In regarding this injunction we may observe-That we are to distinguish what was peculiar in their situation to themselves, and what was common and general. For want of doing this, the Apostles were rebuked by the Saviour, to whom he said, “Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of.” We may notice also that with regard to those things in which they were exemplars, we must attend to them chiefly as regards ourselves. There is a disposition in many the very reverse of this. They love to hear of the duties of others, not of their own. It is far better for us all to seek after our own particular duties, and whatever be our rank, whatever our condition in life, to say with David: “I will hear what God the Lord will speak;” or with Paul, “What wilt thou have me to do?”