exhortation, as well as those which have preceded it, to the glory of God, and the consolation and joy of our souls.

The Epistle for this day closes with another important direction, to which our attention is now to be paid more particularly. Whatsoever

ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. From these words we may consider, First, The general direction which the apostle gives for the rule of our conduct.

Secondly, The reason why it is given, and Thirdly, The means whereby it is to be followed.

First, The direction is, Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. This applies both to our words and our actions. In the regulation of both we are to consider the obligations under which we lie to our Lord Jesus Christ, and what He has commanded us to observe and to do. The Psalmist prayed, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer 79 and at another time, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. It becomes those who profess to be the people of God, to be careful that no corrupt communication proceed out of their mouth, but that

80

79 Psalm xix. 14.

80 Psalm cxli. 3. 81 Eph. iv. 29.

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which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers,81 and for this purpose, to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom, that their speech may be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, or savoury and profitable to those who hear it. Our Saviour solemnly declared, I say unto you, that every idle, or evil, word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.83 How careful then does it become His people to be continually with regard to the words which they speak, that they may not mislead others or bring condemnation upon themselves. Corrupting speech is however that which seems to be particularly intended, that which may do injury to the souls of those who hear it. All evil speaking and falsehood however are to be avoided as well as filthy communication; and together with these things the persons who make use of them. Christians are to give no countenance to any thing of the kind; but as the wise man advises, to go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. And they are to be careful for themselves that they give no occasion to wicked men to speak evil of the ways of God by any unbecoming speeches of their own; remembering

82 Col. iii. 16; iv. 6. 83 Matt. xii. 36, 37. 84 Prov. xiv. 7.

that the Lord Jesus requires of those who are called by His name to speak on all occasions the words of truth and soberness.

And as the words which we speak, so likewise the actions which we perform are to be such as are pleasing to Him, that our conversation, or conduct in life, may be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. Those who profess and call themselves Christians are thus to look to their words and to their actions; or as the apostle directed Titus to affirm constantly, They which have believed in God must be careful to maintain good works, because these things are good and profitable unto men.85 They are, as our Saviour exhorted His disciples, to let their light so shine before men, that they may see their good works, and glorify their Father which is in heaven.86 They are to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus ; their words and their actions are to manifest their obedience to His holy will and commandments, and the gratitude which they feel to Him whose name they bear. To do all in His name, is to act altogether in obedience to His command, and in submission to His authority, or as He hath in His holy word willed and commanded to be done. If the word of Christ be thus a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, we shall go on our way safely, and our feet will not stumble. We shall

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85 Titus iii. 8.

86 Matt. v. 16.

87 Ps. cxix. 105.

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speak good of His name; the promotion of His honour and glory will be our end and aim; and we shall do that which is pleasing in His sight.

The reason why we are to act in this manner is, Secondly, Because of the obligations we are under to our Lord Jesus Christ for His redeeming love. What do we owe to Him for having come into the world to save sinners; or because, as He said Himself, the Son of man came to seek We were lost to and to save that which is lost.88 God, in danger of perishing everlastingly, but Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth to be our Redeemer and Saviour, to suffer for our sins, to bleed and die for us, that in Him we might have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace.89 He came to fulfil all righteousness for us in His own sacred person, that by the obedience of One many might be made righteous.90 We are told that Christ hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour;91 and therefore we are called upon to love Him, because He first loved us, and to devote ourselves to His service, that we may live to His glory, and show forth His praise, as those who are not our own, but are bought with a price, even with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;93 and there

88 Luke xix. 10. 89 Eph. i. 7.

90 Rom. v. 19. 91 Eph. v. 4.

fore should glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are God's. The language of our hearts should ever be, What has Christ done for us! What love ought we to manifest to Him for it, what gratitude, what obedience! There is nothing but the consideration of the great love wherewith the Lord Jesus Christ hath loved us, that will produce this effect; there is nothing else that will cause universal obedience to His holy will and commandments in word and in deed. But if we have an abiding sense of the love of Christ, it will constrain us, because as the apostle argues, we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again;95 who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.

The means whereby this disposition of mind is to be cultivated by those who partake of these benefits from the Lord Jesus, is the

Third thing to be noticed. They are to be giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. As through Him they are reconciled to God, they are by Him, as their Mediator and Advocate, who ever liveth to make intercession for them, to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of their lips, giving thanks to His name.96 They

92 1 John iv. 19. 93 1 Pet. i. 19. 94 1 Cor. vi. 20. 95 2 Cor. v. 14.