July 23

"Who also were in Christ before me." — Romans 16:7.

WHILE it is the character of every Christian, that he is in Christ,

IT IS THE PRIVILEGE OF SOME, THAT THEY ARE EARLY IN CHRIST. Let us consider the peculiar advantages of those who are early united to the Saviour.

They are sooner delivered from their spiritual miseries. Is not this desirable? The blessedness of the young convert above that of the old, may be illustrated by the case of two men cast into prison for debt: the one is released from his confinement by the creditor, at the expiration of a few weeks; the other is not liberated till twenty or thirty years afterwards: the condition of the former is far preferable to that of the latter, if liberty is better than bondage.

They are prevented from the commission of much sin. What a painful reflection must it be for aged converts, that they have spent the best of their time in dishonoring God, and have perhaps been the means of enticing many from the path of rectitude, and leading them on in the way to eternal ruin! It is probable when Paul spoke of Andronicus and Junia being in Christ before him, he reviewed with the deepest sorrow and regret his own past history, in persecuting the church, and blaspheming the name of God.

They are more likely to attain to eminent piety. Those who are early brought to the knowledge of the truth, have more time and opportunity for making progress in their Christian course; and the longer grace is improved, the more we are likely to grow and increase in it. Early piety generally leads to eminent piety.

They have greater opportunities of being more extensively useful. The Christian is to live to God, in a way of personal piety, and to others, by relative usefulness. Those who embrace Christ, just as their sun is beginning to set, can do but little in his cause; for as soon as they begin to labor in the vineyard, the shadows of the evening gather around them, and warn them of the night, when no man can work. We might add, that the attainment of eminent piety and extensive usefulness will be crowned with greater glory above, "for one star differeth from another star in glory," 1 Corinthians 15:41; Dan.

xii. 3. Though all the vessels in glory shall be filled to overflowing, yet some shall be capable of holding more than others. Let young converts rejoice and go forward. Let young inquirers be encouraged, and never rest till they are in Christ. Let the thoughtless and giddy young seek Christ as their chief good. Let the aged, who are yet out of Christ, remember that he can save even at the eleventh hour.