51.  We come now to that part of scripture, which is the most important of all, and which you must make your constant study, not only till you are thoroughly acquainted with but all your life long; because, how often soever repeated, it is impossible to read the life and death of our blessed Saviour, without renewing and increasing in our hearts that love and reverence, and gratitude towards him, which is so justly due for all he did and suffered for us!  Every word that fell from his lips is more precious than all the treasures of the earth; for his “are the words of eternal life!” They must therefore be laid up in your heart, and constantly referred to on all occasions, as the rule and directions of all your actions; particularly those very comprehensive moral precepts he has graciously left with us, which can never fail to direct us aright, if fairly and honestly applied:  such as, “whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them.”  There is no occasion, great or small, on which you may not safely apply this rule for the direction of your conduct; and, whilst your heart honestly adheres to it, you can never be guilty of any sort of injustice or unkindness.

52.  The two great commandments, which contain the summary of our duty to God and man, are no less easily retained, and made a standard by which to judge our own hearts—­“To love the Lord our God, with all our own hearts, with all our minds, with all our strength; and our neighbour (or fellow-creature) as ourselves.”—­“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour.”  Therefore, if you have true benevolence, you will never do any thing injurious to individuals, or to society.

53.  Now, all crimes whatever, are (in their remoter consequences at least, if not immediately and apparently) injurious to the society in which we live.  It is impossible to love God without desiring to please him, and, as far as we are able, to resemble him:  therefore the love of God must lead to every virtue in the highest degree; and, we may be sure we do not truly love him, if we content ourselves with avoiding flagrant sins, and do not strive, in good earnest, to reach the greatest degree of perfection we are capable of.  Thus do these few words direct as to the highest Christian virtue.  Indeed; the whole tenor of the Gospel, is to offer us every help, direction, and motive, that can enable us to attain that degree of perfection on which depends our eternal good.

Of the Example set by our Saviour, and his Character.

54.  What an example is set before us in our blessed master!  How is his whole life, from earliest youth, dedicated to the pursuits of true wisdom, and to the practice of the most exalted virtue!  When you see him, at twelve years of age, in the temple amongst the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions on the subject of religion, and astonishing them all with his understanding and answers—­you will say, perhaps, “Well might the Son of God,