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their works。〃
（b） The Lord Jesus knows the works of His own people； and weighs them。
〃By Him actions are weighed。〃 （1 Sam。 ii。 3。） He knows the why and the
wherefore of the deeds of all believers。 He sees their motives in every
step they take。 He discerns how much is done for His sake； and how much
is done for the sake of praise。 Alas！ not a few things are done by
believers which seem very good to you and me； but are rated very low by
Christ。
（c） The Lord Jesus knows the works of all His own people； and will one
day reward them。 He never overlooks a kind word or a kind deed done in
His name。 He will own the least fruit of faith； and declare it before
the world in the day of His appearing。 If you love the Lord Jesus and
follow Him； you may be sure your work and labour shall not be in vain
in the Lord。 The works of those that die in the Lord 〃shall follow
them。〃 （Rev。 xiv。 13。） They shall not go before them； nor yet by their
side； but they shall follow them； and be owned in the day of Christ's
appearing。 The parable of the pounds shall be made good。 〃Every man
shall receive his own reward； according to his own labour。〃 （1Cor。 iii。
8。） The world knows you not； for it knows not your Master。 But Jesus
sees and knows all。 〃I know thy works。〃
Think what a solemn warning there is here to all worldly and
hypocritical professors of religion。 Let all such read； mark； and
digest these words。 Jesus says to you； 〃I know thy works。〃 You may
deceive me or any other minister； it is easy to do so。 You may receive
the bread and wine from my hands； and yet be cleaving to iniquity in
your hearts。 You may sit under the pulpit of an Evangelical preacher；
week after week； and hear his words with a serious face； but believe
them not。 But remember this； you cannot deceive Christ。 He who
discovered the deadness of Sardis and the lukewarmness of Laodicea；
sees you through and through； and will expose you at the last day；
except you repent。
Oh！ believe me； hypocrisy is a losing game。 It will never answer to
seem one thing and be another； to have the name of Christian； and not
the reality。 Be sure； if your conscience smites you and condemns you in
this matterbe sure your sin will find you out。 The eye that saw Achan
steal the golden wedge and hide it； is upon you。 The book that recorded
the deeds of Gehazi； and Ananias； and Sapphira； is recording your ways。
Jesus mercifully sends you a word of warning to…day。 He says； 〃I know
thy works。〃 But think also what encouragement there is here for every
honest and true…hearted believer。 To you also Jesus says； 〃I know thy
works。〃 You see no beauty in any action that you do。 All seems
imperfect； blemished； and defiled。 You are often sick at heart of your
own short…ings。 You often feel that your whole life is one great
arrear； and that every day is either a blank or a blot。 But know now
that Jesus can see some beauty in everything that you do from a
conscientious desire to please Him。 His eye can discern excellence in
the least thing which is a fruit of His own Spirit。 He can pick out the
grains of gold from amidst the dross of your performances； and sift the
wheat from amidst the chaff； in all your doings。 Your tears are all put
into His bottle。 Your endeavours to do good to others； however feeble；
are written in His book of remembrance。 The least cup of cold water
given in His name shall not lose its reward。 He does not forget your
work and labour of love； however little the world may regard it。
It is very wonderful； but so it is。 Jesus loves to honour the work of
His Spirit in His people； and to pass over their frailties。 He dwells
on the faith of Rahab； but not on her lie。 He mends His Apostles for
continuing with Him in His temptations； and passes over their ignorance
and want of faith。 （Luke xxii。 28。） 〃Like as a father pitieth his
children； so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him。〃 （Ps。 ciii。 13。） And
as a father finds a pleasure in the least acts of his children； of
which a stranger knows nothing； so I suppose the Lord finds a pleasure
in our poor feeble efforts to serve Him。
But it is all very wonderful。 I can well understand the righteous in
the day of judgment saying； 〃Lord； when saw we Thee an hungered and fed
Thee； or thirsty and gave Thee drink？ When saw we Thee a stranger； and
took Thee in？ or naked； and clothed Thee？ Or when saw we Thee sick or
in prison； and came unto Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。 37…39。） It may well seem
incredible and impossible that they can have done anything worth naming
in the great day！ Yet so it is。 Let all believers take the fort of
it。 The Lord says； 〃I know thy works。〃 It ought to humble you。 But it
ought not to make you afraid。
III。 I ask my readers to observe； in the third and last place； that in
every epistle the Lord Jesus makes a promise to the man that overes。
Seven times over Jesus gives to the Churches exceeding great and
precious promises。 Each is different； and each full of strong
consolation： but each is addressed to the overing Christian。 It is
always 〃he that overeth；〃 or 〃to him that overeth。〃 I ask you to
take notice of this。
Every professing Christian is the soldier of Christ。 He is bound by his
baptism to fight Christ's battle against sin； the world； and the devil。
The man that does not do this breaks his vow。 He is a spiritual
defaulter。 He does not fulfil the engagements made for him。 The man
that does not do this is practically renouncing his Christianity。 The
very fact that he belongs to a Church； attends a Christian place of
worship； and calls himself a Christian is a public declaration that he
desires to be reckoned a soldier of Jesus Christ。
Armour is provided for the professing Christian； if he will only use
it。 〃Take unto you；〃 says Paul to the Ephesians； 〃the whole armour of
God。〃 〃Stand； having your loins girt about with truth； and having on
the breastplate of righteousness。〃 〃Take the