Page:The Parochial System (Wilberforce, 1838).djvu/99

 houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecution, and in the world to come, eternal life ."

The language of part of these verses is of course figurative; but thus much is clearly promised, that what thing soever any Christian shall give up for Christ, he shall receive for the same a reward in this world, proportioned to the sacrifice, but exceeding it an hundredfold; and having enjoyed this reward here, shall moreover inherit everlasting life. Let us not fear, lest the words of Christ, received in their plain and obvious sense, should excite in us a false and self-righteous estimate of the merit of our own works and obedience; nor set ourselves with an unfaithful and irreverent caution to extenuate their force. For He knew best what it is well for us to be told; and every Christian knows, that could he fulfil all the law he would still be an unprofitable servant, and that instead of fulfilling it, his best deeds are stained with sin, and require to be washed in the blood of Christ. But still He who has taught him this, has taught him moreover, that being washed in that blood, the service and offering of his love is acceptable unto God, through Jesus Christ ; and that being thus accepted, every