borrowed part, the actors part of a great scene, but at home the mask is removed, and men are what they seem. Take care of your home duties.
12. Yet again, my brethren, before I leave the point, imitate Jesus in secret. When no eye sees you except the eye of God, when darkness covers you, when you are concealed from the observation of mortals, even then be like Jesus Christ. Remember his ardent piety, his secret devotion — how, after laboriously preaching the whole day, he stole away in the midnight shades to cry for help from his God. Remember how his entire life was constantly sustained by fresh inspirations of the Holy Spirit, derived by prayer. Take care of your secret life: let it be such that you will not be ashamed to read it at the last great day. Your inner life is written in the book of God, and it shall one day be opened before you. If the entire life of some of you were known, it would be no life at all: it would be a death. Indeed, even of some true Christian we may say, it is scarcely a life. It is a dragging on of an existence — one hasty prayer a day — one breathing, just enough to save our souls alive, but no more. Oh my brethren strive to be more like Jesus Christ. These are times when we need more secret prayer. I have had much fear all this week. I do not know whether it is true; but when I feel such a thing I like to tell it to those of you who belong to my own church and congregation. I have trembled lest by being away from our own place, you have ceased to pray as earnestly as you once did. I remember your earnest groans and petitions — how you would assemble together in the house of prayer in multitudes, and cry out to God to help his servant. We cannot meet in such style at present; but do you still pray in private? Have you forgotten me? Have you ceased to cry out to God? Oh! my friends, with all the entreaties that a man can use, let me appeal to you. Remember who I am, and what I am — a child, having little education, little learning, ability, or talent; and here am I called upon week after week to preach to this crowd of people. Will you not, my beloved, still plead for me? Has not God been pleased to hear your prayers ten thousand times? And will you now cease, when a mighty revival is taking place in many churches? Will you now stop your petitions? Oh! no; go to your houses, fall upon your knees, cry aloud to God to enable you still to hold up your hands like Moses on the hill, that Joshua below may fight and overcome the Amalekites. Now is the time for victory: shall we lose it? This is the high tide that will float us over the bar; now let us put out the oars; let us pull by earnest prayer, crying for God the Spirit to fill the sails! You who love God, of every place and every denomination, wrestle for your ministers; pray for them; for why should God not even now pour out his Spirit? What is the reason why we are to be denied Pentecostal seasons? Why not this hour, as one mighty band, fall down before him, and entreat him for his Son’s sake, to revive his drooping church? Then all men would discern, that we are truly the disciples of Christ.
13. III. But now, thirdly, WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS IMITATE CHRIST? The answer comes very naturally and easily. Christians should be like Christ, first, for their own sakes. For their honesty’s sake and for their credit’s sake, let them not be found liars before God and men. For their own healthful state, if they wish to be kept from sin, and preserved from going astray, let them imitate Jesus. For their own happiness’ sake, if they would drink clear well aged wine, if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them imitate Jesus Christ. Oh! my brethren, there is nothing that can give you such an advantage, nothing can so prosper you, so assist you, so make you walk towards heaven rapidly, so keep your head upwards towards the sky, and your eyes radiant with glory, like the imitation of Jesus Christ. When by the power of the Holy Spirit, then you are enabled to walk with Jesus in his very footsteps, and tread in his ways, you are most happy, and you are most known to be the sons of God. For your own sake, my brethren, I say, be like Christ.
14. Next, for religions’ sake, strive to imitate Jesus. Ah! poor religion, you have been severely shot at by cruel foes, but you have not been wounded one half so much by them as by your friends. No one has hurt you, oh Christianity, so much as those who profess to be your followers. Who have made these wounds in this fair hand of Godliness? I say, the professor has done this, who has not lived up to his profession; the man, who with pretences, enters the fold, being nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Such men, sirs, injure the gospel more than others: more than the laughing infidel; more than the sneering critic, does the man hurt our cause, who professes to love it, but in his actions belies his love. Christian, do you love that cause? Is the name of the dear Redeemer precious to you? Would you see the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ? Do you wish to see the proud man humbled and the mighty abased? Do you long for the souls of perishing sinners, and are you desirous to win them, and save their souls from everlasting burning? Would you prevent their fall into the regions of the damned? Is it your desire that Christ should see the travail of his soul, and be abundantly satisfied? Does your heart yearn over your fellow mortals? Do you long to see them forgiven? Then be consistent with your religion. Walk before God in the land of the living. Behave as an elect man should do. Remember what manner of people we ought to be, in all holy conversation and godliness. This is the best way to convert the world; yes, such conduct would do more than even the efforts of missionary societies, excellent as they are. Let men only see that our conduct is superior to others, then they will believe there is something in our religion; but if they see us quite the contrary to what we avow, what will they say? These religious people are no better than others! “Why should we go among them?” And they say it quite rightly. It is only a common sense judgment. Ah, my friends, if you love religion, for her own sake be consistent, and walk in the love of God. Follow Christ Jesus.
15. Then, to put it into the strongest form I can, let me say, for Christ’s sake, endeavour to be like him. Oh! could I bring the dying Jesus here, and let him speak to you! My own tongue is tied this morning, but I would make his blood, his scars and his wounds speak. Poor dumb mouths, I bid each of them plead on his behalf. Oh how would Jesus standing here, show you his hands this morning! “My friends,” he would say, “behold me! these hands were pierced for you; and look here at my side. It was opened as the fountain for your salvation. See my feet; there entered the cruel nails. Each of these bones was dislocated for your sake. These eyes gushed with torrents of tears. This head was crowned with thorns. These cheeks were smitten; this hair was plucked; my body became the centre and focus of agony. I hung quivering in the burning sun; and all for you, my people. And will you not love me now? I bid you be like me. Is there any fault in me? Oh! no. You believe that I am fairer than ten thousand fairs, and lovelier than ten thousand loves. Have I injured you? Have I not rather done all for your salvation? And do I not sit at my Father’s throne, and even now intercede on your behalf? If you love me,” — Christian, hear that word, let the sweet syllables ring for ever in your ears, like the prolonged sounding of silver toned bells — “if you love me, if you love me, keep my commandments.” Oh, Christian, let that “if” be put to you this morning. “If you love me.” Glorious Redeemer! is it an “if” at all? You precious, bleeding Lamb can there be an “if?” What, when I see your blood gushing from you; is it an “if?” Yes, I weep to say it is an “if.” Often my thoughts make it an “if,” and oft my words make it an “if.” But yet I think my soul feels it is not an “if,” either.
Not to my eyes is light so dear,
Nor friendship half so sweet.
“Yes, I love you, I know that I love you. Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you”; can the Christian say. “Well then,” says Jesus, looking down with a glance of affectionate approbation, “since you love me, keep my commandments.” Oh beloved, what mightier reason can I give than this? It is the argument of love and affection. Be like Christ, since gratitude demands obedience; so shall the world know that you have been with Jesus.
16. IV. Ah! then you wept, and I perceive you felt the force of pity, and some of you are enquiring, “HOW CAN I IMITATE HIM?” It is my business, then, before you depart, to tell you how you can become transformed into the image of Christ.
17. In the first place, then, my beloved friends, in answer to your
