and as followed by faithful persons, distinguished from others, who had deserted his banner; that is, had apostatized from the purity of his religion, and had gone over to the enemy of truth and righteousness. Elsewhere, in this book, Christ is represented as a leader, contending against the adversaries of his cause, and having with him a body of those who are called, and chosen, and faithful. By following Christ, then, we are to understand, a pure and invincible attachment to him as our divinely appointed leader, and the support of a character and conduct, corresponding to such affection.

Such is the general account of following Christ. Permit me to illustrate the point, by descending to particulars; and

1st. He who follows Christ, has a settled faith in his authority to command; that "all power is given unto him in heaven and earth,”—that "God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." The scriptures are full in declaring, that Christ is exalted at the right hand of power; and those who follow him, account it a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, "that he is set as king on the holy hill of Sion." Thus following Christ, is an acknowledgement of his authority, and right to lead. Others may pretend to a power and right to guide and restrain the consciences of men, and to determine their modes of faith and worship, as the bishop of Rome has done, and many, even among Protestants,

assume to do; the one taking away the scriptures from the people, and the other denying christian privileges and even the christian name to those who interpret the scriptures differently from themselves. But the character in the text admits no authority but what is subordinate to that of Christ, and is exercised consistently with his own revealed will. He keeps ever in mind the words of Christ himself, "Call no man Rabbi, or master, or father upon earth; for one is your master and all ye are brethren." Any absolute decision of religious matters, or denial of the right of any— of all to interpret the will of God, revealed in his word, for themselves, the true follower of Christ regards as an usurpation of the authority of the great Head of the church. And that honor which is due to him alone, he refuses to give to any man, or body of men, uninspired. But,

2. They who follow Christ not only firmly believe his authority; they listen attentively and submissively to his command. They are solicitous to know his will; and they search in the divine word, to learn "what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." The sincerity of those professions of attachment to Christ is much to be suspected, which are unattended with diligence to learn his requisitions. "1 follow Christ so far as I know his will," may be the anguage of some, who have very limited conceptions of him, and of his gospel; and this, not through any deficiency of natural talents, or suitable opportunity to enlarge them, but because they have used no proper diligence to that important end. They content them

selves in culpable ignorance. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do!" was the exclamation of the awakened Paul; and the same disposition is characteristic of every sincere follower of Jesus. It is not his art to know as little as possible of the will of Christ, that he may have the less difficulty to perform it. He desires that his knowledge may be perfect, that his obedience may approach as nearly as possible to perfection. And he knows that he must be active to acquire this knowledge; for to suppose that it is imparted to the mind, without any effort on his part to acquire it, would be absurd and dishonorable to the grace of God. If this precious knowledge is imparted in a direct and sovereign way, it is difficult to say why a revelation has been given for us to consult. Men do not become eminent in any art or science, or in any profession or station, without study, and the use of proper means. Can we suppose, then, that inquiry is needless to be made into the requisites of the christian character, as drawn by the great Teacher, in the gospel? The word of Christ is profitable for instruction in righteousness, "that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work." With what diligence, then, should that blessed word be consulted, It should be the subject of our meditation, day and night. It is by this that our heavenly leader guides his people, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." This, this is now the pillar of cloud and of fire, by which he guides us to the land of everlasting rest. proceed to add farther

3. "Following the Lamb," implies not only an acknowledgement of his authority, and diligence to learn, his will, but a cheerful obedience to it. And in this is implied,

1. A profession of his name. The disciples of Christ are not ashamed to assume the proper badge of their relation to him, whatever it be that he appoints for that purpose. Some, of a diffident temper, may have scruples on the subject, about their sincerity, and their right to the privilege, which may detain them, for a season, from a public profession. But none, who can be justly styled followers of the Lamb, will refrain from the fullest profession, either through shame, or a reluctance to incur its duties and self-denial. And far from contentment with the omission of any ordinances which Christ has appointed, especially the affectionate memorial of his dying love, they devoutly labor to remove their scruples, and to improve their graces, that they may, in the most public manner, avow their high respect and warm attachment to their heavenly leader.

2. It need scarcely be said, that the follower of the Lamb is a strict observer of his will, in all its moral branches. Christ himself was holy, and so must his disciples be. The warmest professions of faith and attachment to him, he will disregard or rebuke, which are not accompanied by those moral duties, implied in sobriety, righteousness, and charity, which are of everlasting obligation. These duties in the gospel are exacted and enforced with arguments entirely new, and of infinite weight. "Without holiness no man can see

the Lord." And however constantly men may have pretended an allegiance to Christ, if they have done iniquity, they will be rejected in the final day.

Such, my friends, is the character, drawn in concise terms in the text. The follower of the Lamb firmly believes his authority, sincerely seeks to know his will, and resolutely yields obedience to him, in his positive and moral commands.

There is one striking clause on which I have not yet remarked-follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. This last clause is important. There are many, who, like Naaman, wish to be pardoned in a few things, which they design to do or omit, and who hope, on such terms, to be acknowledged disciples of Christ, But our blessed leader admits not of the idea of a partial and compromising obedience. "We must follow him whithersoever he goeth." By this clause, then, we learn that the true christian shrinks not from the commands of his Master, into whatever present dangers, difficulties, and sacrifices they lead him. It is not his calculation to assume the obligation of the religion of Jesus, just so far as may consist with his ease, convenience, or secular advantage. It is a warfare he has entered, and he is resolved to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ. He adopts the animating language of Paul-"None of these things move me, neither count life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy." Thus, if we would follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, we must render to him an obedience, affectionate, uniform, and universal.

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