Church discipline

Above all, let us propose to ourselves the blessed example of the holy JESUS, "who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."

 

 Let us frequently remember what great things he has done and suffered for us poor sinful wretches, even while we were enemies and rebels to him. How that in all the passages of his life, and all the bloody scene of his sufferings, he was acted by the same " love to his enemies," which he calls for at our hands. It was this which moved him to descend from heaven, and clothe himself with the frailties of our nature, and endure the troubles of a calamitous life, and the pains of a bitter death, to deliver us from that eternal misery whereinto we had plunged ourselves. And may not his goodness to us, mollify our hearts, and overpower the corruption of our revengeful nature, and inspire us with earnest desires and resolutions to imitate his blessed example After all that he has done and suffered for us, can we be guilty of such a shameful ingratitude, as to deny him this poor satisfaction and acknowledgment, to pardon an enemy for his sake Has "he died for us when we were "his enemies," and shall we refuse to live at, peace with ours Remember with what patience he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself; " with what humility he did condescend to wash the feet of that wicked miscreant, who was at the same time resolved to betray him! With what mildness he bore the supine negligence and stupidity of -his disciples, who slept in the time of his agony! What meekness did he evince toward those who sought his life! He could have called for legions of angels to destroy them, or made the earth open her mouth and swallow them up; but he would not employ his miraculous power, save only for their good, restoring a servant's ear, and reproving the preposterous zeal of him who cut it off. Yea, while he hung upon the cross, and was approaching to the. gates of death, all the cruel pains of body, and far more intolerable pressure of spirit which he then sustained, did not lessen his wonderful tenderness and affection for his bloody murderers: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Let us be frequent and serious in the meditation of these things, and if we have any veneration for the example ofour SAVIOUR, and any sense of his infinite mercy, this will dispose us to the practice of his precepts, and particularly of this necessary, this reasonable, and delightful duty,-that we "love our enemies."