SERMON XII.

DO ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

COL. iii. 17.

"Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

THE precept thus given by St. Paul, is, you perceive, a precept of most extensive obligation. It applies to every thing that we do or say. "Whatsoever ye do in word or "deed." It is most important therefore, that we should consider it well; that we should give this precept our fixed and earnest attention, in order that we may effectually carry it into our practice; that as a presiding and governing principle, it may constantly regulate all our words and actions.

The injunction to do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, implies, in general, that the whole of our behaviour, "all we "say or do," should have a constant reference to Him, that we should never for a moment lose sight of the sacred relation which we bear to Him, or of the obligations which result from such relation.

Some more particular and confined senses of this expression, however, are suggested to us in the Scriptures, three or four of which I will now place before you, in the humble trust, that thus, by the blessing of God, this apostolical injunction may make the deeper and more lasting impression on your memories.

First, then, we may be said to do in another's name, that which we do for his sake, from a feeling of love and affection to him. Thus, when it is said by our Lord, Whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of cold water in my name, or in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward1; in a parallel passage it is added, “because

1 Matt. x. 42.

ye are Christ's;" that is, the giving it in His name, means giving 'out of respect to Christ, because of your relation to Him. And thus, surely, we ought to do every 'thing in Jesus' name; all our actions ought 'to proceed from a principle of grateful love, and reverence towards our gracious Re'deemer1. When we reflect When we reflect upon what He has done and suffered for us, upon the great, the inestimable benefits, which we derive from His sufferings, and upon the hopeless state in which, but for those sufferings, we must have remained, a deep feeling of gratitude and love to Him, ought to take possession of our souls, and to become the animating, the guiding principle of our conduct, of "whatsoever we do in "word or deed." This was the feeling, the principle, from which proceeded the zealous devotedness of St. Paul, and by which he was influenced and supported in his indefatigable labours, in spreading the know"The love of Christ,"

ledge of the Gospel.

1 Barrow; from whose Sermon on the same text, many

of the sentiments in this discourse are derived.

says he," constraineth us; because 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." The love of Christ, and a regard to His honour and service, ought, as a matter of common feeling and common right, always to have precedence, always to be more attended to by us, than any private wishes, or inclinations, or interests of our own.

If we really feel any of this love to Christ, we shall be anxious to advance His honour, to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion, among all within our reach. This, as I just now said, will be the ruling principle and motive of our actions.

Our Lord, Himself, tells us, and common sense and reason tell us the same, that the best evidence, the best token, we can give of our love to Him, is the doing as He bids us. "If ye love me," says He, "keep my com

12 Cor. v. 14, 15.

"mandments." And again, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he "it is that loveth me." Therefore,

In the Second place, doing in the name of the Lord Jesus means, acting in obedience to His authority, to His commands. This sense also is suggested to us by the Scriptures. When the High Priest asked the Apostles, by what power, or by what

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name," they had healed the lame man. that sat at the beautiful gate of the Temple, their answer was, by the name, or in the name, of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They did it, acting under His authority.

Nearly akin to which is obedience to His authority, the observance of all His precepts and commands. As the love of Christ ought to be, in general, the animating, the influencing principle of all our words and actions, so in each particular instance must our words and actions be guided and governed by His will. We must have respect "unto all "his commandments," without exception; and must endeavour to obey them with