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Yes; health, and riches, and talents of every kind, are valuable according to their application; and are well improved in such degree as the prosperity of the soul is promoted. John had heard of Gaius by means of others, probably by certain preachers of the Gospel who had been at his place of residence, and the report he received gave him much pleasure; "For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth." He then adds the words of the text: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

By his "children," he means his Christian friends; and particularly such as had been converted by his instrumentality. Paul writes to his Christian friends at Galatia: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you." To the Corinthians he writes: "For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel." In the same sense, having been the instrument of his conversion to God, he calls Onesimus his son, whom," says he, “I have begotten in my bonds." But nothing was more becoming than for John, an old disciple, venerable in years and piety, and whose heart was peculiarly affectionate, to speak of those who had been spiritually benefited by him, as his "children;" to speak thus indeed of all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. He felt himself of the same family with them he was conscious of the tenderest, the kindest emotions towards them.

In speaking from the text, two inquiries are worthy of consideration-What it is to " WALK IN

TRUTH?"-Why is this an occasion of "JOY" TO ́ CHRISTIAN MINISTERS?

I. What is it to "L WALK IN TRUTH ?"

1. It implies sincerity of principle; honesty of intention; in opposition to every thing of dissimulation or guile. The Lord's promise to David was ; "If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth," that is, sincerely and uprightly, "with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel." Of David himself it is said: "He walked before the Lord in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart.” Nothing is of more evident and of more radical importance, in the formation of Christian character, than sincerity of principle; that in us there be no allowed deceit; that the intention of our minds, and the feeling of our hearts, be such as correspond with the profession of our lips, and the tenor of our lives. In order to this, our earnest prayer should be for "a new heart," and " a right spirit;" and so far as we are conscious that to attain these is our honest concern, we may appeal to the Most High: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

2. Walking in truth includes decided attachment to evangelical doctrine.-Whatever importance belongs to sincerity, it is not all that is intended. "Truth" regards sentiment believed, no less than

principle possessed. Our Lord says, "Ye shall

know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." And Paul speaks of some who "walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the Gospel :" he

refers particularly to the doctrine of justification by faith, from which those professors of Christianity were beginning to swerve, and to substitute in its stead a vain notion of justification by the works of the law. And he says, in the same chapter, concerning the men who were endeavouring thus to pervert their minds and lead them into dangerous error; "to whom we gave place by subjection," that is, by sinful indifference and compliance, "no not for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you *."

To hold the truth of the Gospel, and to walk in it, are matters of greater moment than is commonly imagined. It is our duty to be accommodating and yielding in things of lesser consequence; but we ought to be decided where the purity of essential truth is in question. The radical The radical principles which the Apostles preached, and which in all their letters they explained and vindicated; the fundamental doctrines for which the Martyrs bled, and in defence of which our eminent Reformers exerted all their energies, and struggled through the greatest difficulties; -to these we must not be indifferent. And among these doctrines are chiefly distinguished, the lost and ruined condition of man by sin-his recovery wholly by grace the proper Deity of Christ, the Son of God -the glorious efficacy of his obedience and death, as the Surety of transgressors-the necessity of faith in him, in order to personal acceptance with the Father; and of the Spirit's influence, in order to renewal of heart and holiness of life. Our first care must be to know what evangelical doctrine is; to learn" the truth as it is in Jesus," from the Fountain of truth

Gal. ii. 5. 14.

itself; and then to hold it with a firm hand; to take heed that we walk in the steady belief and cordial love of it.

3. To walk in truth also includes habitual regard to personal holiness.-There is truth of practice, as well as of principle ;-there is truth of general deportment, as well as of religious sentiment; and while we walk in the one, we must also advance in the other. Let a man's sincerity be ever so fairly ascertained, and his orthodoxy ever so clearly manifest, he does not walk in the truth unless his words and actions be correct.

It is not necessary to enumerate passages of Scripture in which personal holiness is inculcated. The whole Gospel is holy; and the invariable tendency of Christianity, in all its principles and precepts, is, to promote purity of heart, and holiness" in all manner of conversation."

The Apostle could remind the Corinthians: "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience; that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God," according to the dictates of the Gospel of his grace," we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-wards." This was walking in truth. This was exemplifying the power of religion on the heart, by its practical and visible effects. This was adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour. This was letting the world see that the grace of God, bringing salvátion, teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

4. To walk in truth is also to make progress in Christian excellency. There is no such thing as being stationary in religion; and if there were, it would be very far from desirable. If we are in the truth, we

are required to walk in it. We must "go go forward;" and should there be difficulties in the way, still we must labour to surmount them; forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forward to the things which are before; we must " press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

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Are we sincere in principle, in motive, and intention? We must cultivate a still higher degree of sincerity. Are our views of scriptural doctrine in the main correct? We must still be candidly inquiring, open to conviction, enlarging our knowledge, and rectifying our mistakes. Are we conscientiously obeying the will of God, esteeming his precepts in all things to be right, and endeavouring to conform to them? Still there are in us many imperfections and defects; we have not yet tained," neither are we "perfect." "Who can understand his errors?" Brethren, let us look into our hearts; let us try our tempers; let us review our principles and actions; let us bring them all to the standard of God's holy law, and compare them with the obligations of gratitude and love which the glorious Gospel presents, and we shall see much cause to lament our manifold deficiencies: we shall readily be convinced that there is great room for improvement; the most evident need to be growing grace, and advancing in whatsoever things are true and lovely.

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We proceed to inquire,

II. Why this walking in truth should occasion the

JOY OF CHRISTIAN MINISTERS.

John, no doubt, had his trials. He lived in an age of persecution. He was exposed to malevolent

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